Yes, clothes can be dried in freezing temperatures due to the particular chemical properties of water. At normal atmospheric pressure, water freezes at subzero temperatures and turns into gas at more than 100 degrees. But clothes don't have to be 100 degrees for the water to evaporate from them. The explanation?
When we talk about water temperature, we mean the average kinetic energy of water molecules, energy that is partly converted into heat. There are always molecules that move faster; and some are transferred to the air.
With 100% humidity drying would be impossible. When the temperature drops below zero degrees, the wet towel freezes as soon as the water it contains cools and equalizes that temperature. But the fabric dries, since it has molecules that circulate faster, escape from the garment and go from solid to gas without going through liquid. The phenomenon is called sublimation .
