Clothes take longer to dry indoors and can lose the fresh smell you get after washing. However, hanging laundry outside to dry is not an option when the wet weather sets in, and running a tumble dryer is expensive.
Here are our favourite tried-and-tested ways to dry clothes and sheets inside during winter, without it gathering musky smells.
Put a dehumidifier next to your clothes airer
Dehumidifiers work by drawing in air, removing the moisture, then blowing drier air back out into the room – so positioning one next to your drying rack can help to remove dampness from the air as your clothes or sheets dry out.
Choose a heated drying rack
Heated clothes airers have become popular recently, featuring heating elements within the metal bars to dry clothes faster. Some also come with a cover to keep the heat in. While they do use electricity, this option is certainly more economical than running a tumble dryer.
Act fast after washing clothes
Leaving damp clothes in a washing machine or laundry basket can cause musty smells and mildew. Make sure to quickly take your clothes out of the machine as soon as it finishes – you may want to give heavier items like jeans or towels an extra spin cycle to remove as much water as possible.
Add a heater to the room you’re drying laundry in
An electric heater will raise the temperature in a single room, while a fan heater will also keep the air constantly circulating.
Avoid drying clothes on radiators
While it may seem like making the most of your central heating, drying clothes on radiators can increase the amount of moisture in the air, which can cause damp and mould. It can also raise your energy bills, as the heat is being used to dry your clothes rather than heat your room, so you may need to keep the radiators on for longer to feel the benefit.
Instead, hang laundry on a clothes horse positioned in a well-ventilated room. Avoid overcrowding your clothes airer as this will slow down drying.
