Homeowners are being given advice on how to dry their clothes indoors this winter without causing damp.
The experts at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk are urging Britons to stay clear of heated airers and small rooms when drying their clothes to avoid excess moisture in the home.
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As temperatures drop, many will begin drying their clothes indoors and on airers.
If not done correctly, this can cause damp and mould in the home which can pose several health risks for families.
Experts are encouraging people to space out their clothing on drying racks and use well-ventilated rooms when bringing their laundry indoors.
They are also advising to stay clear of using the radiator and heated airers to dry clothes as this can release moisture into the air.
Ben Slater from Online-Bedrooms said: “In the 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 a 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.”
How to safely dry clothes indoors in the winter to avoid damp:
- Choose a well ventilated room
The main thing you need to consider when drying clothes indoors is ventilation. Avoid small rooms and instead consider drying the clothes in the bathroom with an exhaust fan or a utility room with a window as both areas allow for good ventilation.
- Space out clothes
Cramming in laundry while it is drying could lead to a damp smell so ensure none of the clothes are overlapping one another. Ensuring that all washing is evenly spread out will also speed up the drying process.
- Add an extra spin on the machine
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.
- Avoid radiators and heated airers
Sticking clothes on radiators and heated airers may seem tempting but when the wet clothes come into contact with the warm heat, it lets off more moisture into the air which could eventually cause dampness and mould.
- Burrito method
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.
- Use a dehumidifier
Consider using a dehumidifier throughout winter to remove any dampness from the rooms you dry your laundry in.
- Remember you can still use the outdoors
It can be easy to assume your clothes won’t dry outside in the winter but experts say that if the ground is dry, your laundry should dry too. Check the weather beforehand, if the forecast is dry and it’s not too cold then you should be fine to hang your clothes outdoors.
