It was a date night, and I was planning to put on my best suit.
But the moment I opened my closet door, my smile took a U-turn in a split second. The shape of the suit was a mess!
Damn, those wire hangers! How could I forget they’re not good at handling heavier items? This is where I decided to go for the best wooden hangers.
No, I didn’t skip researching the pros and cons of wooden hangers, and that’s what I’m about to share with you today as well.
So, keep scrolling if you too are planning to keep your heavy garments well-shaped with wooden clothes hangers.
Key Takeaways:
✅ You need to consider the size, style, and wood type before buying wooden hangers.
✅ Depending on the type of wood, the cost of these hangers can range from $1 to $98.
✅ Wooden hangers are ideal hangers as they’re highly durable and long-lasting, provide better support, prevent wrinkles, and have a better visual appeal.
✅ The drawbacks of wooden hangers are that they’re moisture-sensitive, comparatively bulky, have limited grip, and are a bit costly.
Types of Wood Hangers
Clearly, you’re not planning on picking up any random wood hanger, are you? But when it comes to picking the right one, you need to understand the type of hanger you need in the first place.
Wooden hangers can be categorized based on three things – size, style, and type of wood. They are as follows:
Based on Size
- 10″–12″: You can call these baby hangers. They’re mostly used for holding the clothes of kids from 3 months to 5 years old.
- 11″–14″: These are more children’s hangers. If you’ve got a kid whose age is 5 to 8 years old, these can be really useful for their outfits.
- 14″–16″: Hangers of this size help hang petite clothing. For instance, petite clothing usually needs a hanger that prevents clothes from stretching and sagging.
- 17″ – 18″: This is the usual size for adult hangers and can handle clothes with sizes from S to XL.
- 17″ – 20″: Wooden hangers of this size are perfect for heavier coats, jackets, suits, etc. Plus, they come with a bar to handle the pants.
- 20″+: These are made for oversized clothes or clothes that have broad shoulders.
Based on Style
- Standard hangers: Suitable for regular clothing items such as pants, shirts, jackets, and dresses.
- Wide-shoulder Hangers: Work great for delicate garments that need shape preservation and clothes like jackets, and sweaters.
- Suit Hangers: Can handle heavier items and have bars for accommodating trousers.
- Notched Hangers: Great for strappy dresses, such as tops and dresses with too many straps.
- Children’s Hangers: Made to handle smaller clothing items, especially children’s.
- Underwear hangers: The design serves undergarments, such as underwear and lingerie. Plus, they can handle some other types of smaller garments as well.
- Pant hangers: Designed specifically to hold pants. Some come with clips to keep the grip stronger.
Based on Wood Types
- Cedar: Comes with moth-repellent properties and is lightweight. Quite aromatic and can cost around $2 to $10. Mostly suitable for suits.
- Beech: Has a strong construction and comes with a smooth finish. Medium weight and can cost around $1 to $5.
- Mahogany: Luxurious, heavy, and comes with rich color. More durable than the other types and can cost around $5 to $20+. Great as high-end hangers.
- Cherry: Comes with a lucrative reddish hue and medium weight. Ideal for everyday clothes and can cost around $3 to $10.
- Walnut: Has a dark but elegant finish. High on durability but a bit heavy and can cost around $5 to $20+.
- Bamboo: Highly sustainable, biodegradable, lightweight, and eco-friendly. Great for lightweight clothes and costs only around $1 to $4.
Pros and Cons of Wooden Hangers for Clothes
When it comes to wooden hangers vs. other options, wood wins, most of the time. But does that mean it’s going to be the best for you?
Well, check out the pros and cons. I bet this will help you choose wisely.
Pros of Using Wooden Hangers
Benefits of wooden hangers—isn’t it the first thing that came to mind while counting them as an option?
The answer is ‘yes’ I guess.
But what exactly makes these hangers better than plastic or wire hangers? Variety of colors, materials, or overall lifespan? Here’s your answer:
Highly Durable and Long-lasting
Unlike plastic and wire hangers, wooden hangers are more durable. As this type of hanger is made of stronger material, it can handle heavier outfits with ease without giving a break or bending over time a chance.
On top of that, it takes a very long time for them to snap or crack. So, you can save your money in the long run, as you won’t have to put your hands in your pocket any sooner.
Better Support
Thanks to their sturdy construction, wooden hangers can easily prevent clothes from losing their regular shape. This plays an important part in maintaining delicate items. The same goes for clothes with structured shoulders.
So, wooden hangers are the best choice when you don’t want your clothes to struggle with sagging or stretching.
Prevents Wrinkles
I don’t know if there are any other hangers that can keep it as wrinkle-free as wooden ones. These hangers tend to have a smooth surface and let the clothes drape naturally.
So, this doesn’t allow wrinkles and creases to spoil the clothes. Clearly, you won’t have to use your iron as much as before.
Better Visual Appeal
Not only are wooden hangers more durable than wire or plastic hangers, but they are also visually appealing.
In fact, just as the décor of any room can change its vibe, wooden hangers can change the integrity of your garments. Some might say that velvet hangers can do that too. Confused between velvet hangers vs. plastic hangers?
In this regard, it would be better to go for wooden hangers!
Save from Moths and Bugs
When was the last time you saw a wire or plastic hanger saving your clothes from moths and bugs? Never, I believe.
But certain wooden hangers come with insect-repellent properties, especially the ones made of cedar.
So, apart from letting your clothes hang, these hangers can save your clothes from moths and other bugs. This is more useful when you’re leaving your outfit, such as winter coats or woolen garments, unattended for a long time.
Functional Variety
As I mentioned before, wooden hangers come in a variety based on size, style, and wood type. This means you’ve got plenty of options to pick from to accommodate different types of clothes.
There are hangers with trouser bars, and these wooden hangers can help you keep your suit set sorted in the closet.
And there are also hangers on a single piece of wood that can handle your everyday clothes. So, if you need to hang something, a wooden hanger will be there to deal with it if you want.
Cons of Using Wooden Hangers
Indeed, wooden hangers come with many benefits. These make them the right type of hanger to hang shirts, blouses, and heavier clothes like coats.
But let’s not forget the flip side of the coin—the cons. So, make sure to check them out before you start shopping for hangers:
Moisture Sensitive
The one thing you’re probably going to hate about wood hangers is their susceptibility to moisture. For wood, moisture means damage.
So, whenever you’re letting humidity take over too much, the hanger can crack or warp, even if you choose the best. That’s why I strictly suggest avoiding using these hangers if your closet and your clothes are in a damp basement.
Comparatively Bulky
Wooden hangers come with a bulky structure. Yes, even bulkier than metal hangers and plastic coat hangers. So, if you were planning to save some space in your closet, forget it.
On top of that, these hangers are also heavy in weight. So, if your hanging system has any weight restrictions, you need to think twice before buying them.
Insect Damage
Does it sound a bit contradictory to a few of my earlier words?
Yes, wooden hangers feature insect-repellent characteristics to save the garments by safeguarding them from unwanted guests. But that was true for certain woods, such as cedar and treated/coated ones.
I can’t say the same thing for untreated wood. The rest can transform your closet into an insect nest (if not maintained properly) and permanently damage your clothes.
Limited Grip
Often, wood hangers come with a smooth surface. This can be a problem for silky fabrics, as this type of clothing may slip off quite easily.
In such cases, it’s better to use extra gripper pads. Or you can simply get flocked hangers for those clothing items.
Cost
Like anything else, the choice of hangers depends a lot on their cost as well. Wooden hangers cost more upfront compared to any other hangers out there.
“In fact, exclusive hangers like Butler Luxury hangers come at many prices, and some of them can even cost up to $98.”
Bonus Hacks:
It’s better to go for cheaper options if it’s just the core advantage you’re asking for. Luxury hangers don’t deliver anything extraordinary; they’re just better in certain features.
Can I Afford Wooden Hangers for Self-Storage?
There’s no problem with using wooden hangers for self-storage. But if you’re asking for the affordability part, I’d say to look into your budget first.
As wooden hangers are comparatively expensive, the smart call is to opt for the most budget-friendly option in the woods. Besides, if you’ve got a tight budget, you can always try something like bamboo or beech hangers.
By the way, the cost depends on another thing – the quantity. If you don’t need too many hangers, buying wooden hangers should hurt your pocket.
Plus, if the size of the self-storage unit is not too big, you won’t have to buy a bunch of hangers, I guess. Also, make sure to check how many hangers you already have. Old hangers should help you a bit too.
Pro Tips:
Get wooden hangers for valuable items or delicate ones, especially the ones that need shape preservation.
Wrapping Up
If you’re still wondering why wooden hangers are better, I’d say to read the article again. After all, this blog is not about sharing the pros and cons of wooden hangers alone, but how they exceed others in performance.
Plus, I’ve mentioned which hangers you should pick in the first place if you’ve got a tight budget. So, I hope deciding whether to buy wooden hangers or not shouldn’t be a problem for you from now on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it better to use wooden hangers?
Of course, it is! Due to their sturdier construction, they’re good at keeping the clothes in shape. On top of that, they last longer as well, at least longer than plastic hangers.
Are wooden hangings better for the environment?
Wooden hangers are generally better for the environment than plastic ones. They’re often made from renewable resources and biodegrade at the end of their lifespan. Plastic hangers, on the other hand, contribute to plastic waste and can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills.
Are wood hangers better than metal hangers?
Yes, they are. They can preserve shape better than metal hangers, which helps the clothes last longer. Wooden hangers are also gentler on the fabric. On top of that, unlike metal hangers, they don’t bend over time. And yes, they’re more durable as well.
Are wood hangers better than plastic?
Of course, they are. Along with being eco-friendly, wooden hangers are also high in strength and support. Plus, they don’t snap out of the blue. And compared to plastic hangers, they’ve got a finer grip on the fabric while keeping the original shape intact.
Do wooden hangers take up more space?
Wooden hangers do take up more closet space than the other options. The reason is usually the bulkier size. So, if you see the hangers taking up too much space, you better get slimmer options.
