Which type of coat hanger should I use for my clothes?

The modern coat hanger first appeared in the late 1800s, and while a patent filed in 1869 by O. A. North of New Britain, Connecticut, appears to be the first, several others popped up around the same time.

Regardless of who actually invented it, the coat hanger has become a staple in our homes – a space-saving device that stores our clothes while keeping them wrinkle-free. But did you know that the type of coat hanger you use can make a big difference to how good your clothes look when it’s time to wear them? Here are some tips for choosing the right coat hanger for each garment.

Types of Coat Hanger by Garment

Pants

While it might be tempting to hang your pants over the trouser bar of your generic plastic coat hangers, you’ll likely end up with a horizontal crease across the thigh because the plastic is so thin. Plus, the weight of the trousers can make the plastic bend, causing the fabric to wrinkle as it slides down to gather in the dip. A traditional wooden hanger with a thick trouser bar will ensure your pants stay nice and flat.

Alternatively, you can get wooden clamp trouser hangers, two straight pieces of wood, usually lined with soft felt, that clamp together by flipping the hook upright. Ideally, hang your pants from the cuffs, as the weight of the waistband will help to pull out any creases. Most clamp trouser hangers have a concave area in the middle, providing extra space for the trousers’ leg seams.

You can also get metal hangers with clips to hang your trousers from the waistband or the cuffs. The width of the clips can be adjusted by sliding them along the bar. Choose coat hangers with padded clips so they don’t leave dents in your fabric.

Skirts

Skirts are best hung by the waistband on coat hangers with clips. To prevent visible clip marks, hang your skirts inside out. A space-saving trick is to get multi-layer clip hangers that hang from a hook in the centre of the one above, enabling you to store three or four short skirts in the space normally occupied by one garment.

Suits

Using a dedicated suit hanger is important to keep your expensive business suits looking their best. Ideally, use a solid wooden coat hanger with well-contoured shoulders wide enough to keep the jacket in shape without extending beyond the seam where the shoulder meets the sleeve. The hanger should have a sturdy, wide trouser bar.

Shirts and blouses

You can opt for lightweight hangers for your tops but look for nicely curved shoulders that don’t stick out into your sleeves, or you could end up with bumps in the sleeve fabric. One with rubber or velvet trim is a good option for silky or satiny garments that might slide off the hanger. A thick plastic hanger with well-contoured shoulders and divots in the top is a good all-rounder that works equally well for business shirts and blouses. The divots are designed to accommodate the loops sewn into delicate garments. The loops hold the garment in place and prevent it from pulling or stretching out of shape.

Coats

Light puffer jackets will be fine on most types of coat hangers, but if you have a heavy woollen coat, you’ll want something similar to a suit hanger. Solid wood with a metal hook and contoured shoulders that extend to the shoulder seam will keep your coat in shape and won’t give way under the weight.

Using Coat hangers on the washing line

Hanging clothes on coat hangers when drying them on indoor washing lines can be a convenient and space-saving method. Using hangers allows for better air circulation around the garments, speeding up the drying process. It also helps maintain the shape of the clothes, especially for drying woollen garments, reducing the need for ironing later on. Additionally, hangers can be easily moved around on the line, making it simple to rearrange items for more efficient drying. This method is particularly useful for small indoor spaces where a traditional drying rack might take up too much room.

To get your clothes nice and dry before you hang them up, invest in one of our high-quality head hoists, folding frames, or retractable clotheslines. We have washing lines to suit every home, and they all have long warranties.