With the UK currently experiencing one of the coldest winters on record, it’s becoming harder and harder for homeowners to dry their washing anywhere other than inside.
However, clothes take longer to dry indoors and can lose the fresh smell you get after washing.
With searches for ‘how to dry clothes inside’ skyrocketing by 66% in the last month alone, experts at Shark Clean have revealed exactly how to dry your clothes indoors this winter.
Shark Clean have revealed their 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, and then blowing drier air back out into the room.
With this in mind, position one next to your drying rack to help remove dampness from the air as your clothes or sheets dry out.
Choose a heated drying rack
Heated clothes airers have become popular recently – in the month alone there have been 147,000 searches for the product. Featuring heating elements within the metal bars to dry clothes faster, they’re a great option for drying clothes during the winter.
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. Either way, consider adding a heater to the room where you’re drying laundry during the winter months.
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.
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