Ben Slater from Online-Bedrooms said: “In winter there’s less opportunity to hang the clothes outside to dry and a lot of people are sceptical about using their tumble dryers and racking up the energy bill.
“This means people will be using drying racks to hang their clothes which is perfectly fine. However, if done incorrectly you could actually cause some damage to your home by creating moisture and dampness.
“We don’t want to put people off using their airers, we just want them to be aware they need to be placed in well-ventilated rooms and well-spaced out to avoid any problems down the line.
“Remember you can still hang clothes outside on dry days, if the floor outside is dry, then generally speaking your clothes should dry too.”
1. Choose a well-ventilated room
According to the expert, the main thing to consider when drying clothes indoors is ventilation.
Make sure to avoid small rooms and instead consider drying clothes in rooms like the bathroom which has a fan or a room where a window can be opened.
2. Add an extra spin
Ben explained: “Adding an extra 10-minute spin to the washing machine is considerably cheaper than using the tumble dryer.
“It will remove extra water build-up meaning not only will the clothes dry quicker, but you won’t be hanging soaking wet clothes in your home.”
3. Avoid radiators and heated airers
Sticking clothes on the radiator can seem tempting when looking to dry clothes quickly, but according to the pro, the clothes will come into contact with the warm heat, letting more moisture into the air.
This may lead to damp and mould so avoid radiators and heated airers at all costs.
4. Burrito method
The expert noted: “Another way to soak up excess water is by using the burrito method which involves using a towel to soak up the excess water and moisture from clothing.
“Rolling the garment tightly into the towel like a burrito before wringing it out will significantly speed up the drying process.”
5. Use a dehumidifier
Consider using a dehumidifier throughout the winter to remove excess moisture from the air.
Some even have a certain laundry setting on them which works harder to dry the clothes.
6. Use outdoors
It can be easy to assume clothing won’t dry outside in the winter but if the sun is shining and the floor is dry, they should do.
Use an airer and check the weather forecast to make sure it won’t suddenly start raining.
