As the winter months roll in, many will be struggling to quickly get their clothes dried in a hassle free manner, with over three quarters of Brits reporting that their laundry smells musty when left to dry inside.
However, laundry experts from MyJobQuote.co.uk, who have teamed up with clothing company Joules, revealed this may be because 76 per cent of UK households are making a big mistake when it comes to drying their clothes at this time of year.
Although it is a common misconception that clothes can’t be dried outside during the winter and should be left indoors instead, expert Sarah Dempsey says different. She claims that hanging your clothes outside in the colder months can actually be more effective than doing so in summer, despite 61 percent of Brits revealing they don’t do this.
Sarah explains: “While heat is a very helpful tool for drying clothes, it’s not the only factor that goes into drying clothes. High levels of humidity in the air can result in longer drying time so, in some cases, you may find that your clothes dry much more quickly on a cold winter’s day than they would on a humid summer day.
“Solar radiation is the most effective method of evaporating the moisture in your clothes. Where possible, hang your clothes out in the sunshine for the best method of drying. When hanging your clothes outside, you’ll find that wind can even further speed up the drying process. Wind can also help with getting the creases out of your clothes.”
Sarah also noted that air-drying your clothes is not only a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to the tumble dryer, saving you money on your energy bills, but will also extend the life of your clothes, with a tumble dryer being the enemy for many knitted materials.
In terms of drying clothes indoors, Sarah warned of another big mistake many make is hanging their clothes on the radiator.
She said: “Drying your clothes on radiators can increase the moisture in the air, and this can lead to damp and mould forming. This increased moisture can cause health risks. This method will also likely increase your energy bills by quite a sizeable amount due to the increase in power consumption.
“If you do choose to hang your clothes on the radiators, it’s best to use radiator drying racks with the help of a dehumidifier to keep the moisture levels in the air down.”
Hanging your clothes outdoors might not be convenient or possible for everyone but neither is a smell of dampness in your home with knitwear and hoodies being the biggest culprit for holding smells when dried indoors.
Sarah has now teamed up with Joules to reveal her four top tips to stop clothes smelling once they’ve been dried indoors.
Consider Ventilation
Sarah has advised positioning your damp washing close by to an open window or somewhere that provides good airflow to stop dampness from building up.
Don’t add too many clothes to the airer
Sarah has advised to avoid layering too many clothes in the same area of the clothes airer as they may take longer to dry.
Alternatively, she explains: “Try spreading clothes at least an inch apart and turn them over every couple of hours to help them dry faster and more evenly.”
Use a Dehumidifier
Sarah states: “Drying clothes indoors can lead to extra moisture in the air, which can lead to damp. During winter, it is not always possible to keep your windows open for ventilation.
“This is where a good dehumidifier comes in handy. Place your dehumidifier close to your clothes airer, and this will help dry the clothes more quickly while also removing the extra moisture from the air.”
Avoid Drying Clothes on Radiators
Sarah explains that drying your clothes on radiators can increase the moisture in the air and can lead to damp and mould forming.
She said: “This increased moisture can cause health risks. This method will also likely increase your energy bills by quite a sizeable amount due to the increase in power consumption.
“If you do choose to hang your clothes on the radiators, it’s best to use radiator drying racks with the help of a dehumidifier to keep the moisture levels in the air down.”
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