Although the winter sun can dry clothing occasionally, the UK isn’t promised sunshine all the time, meaning clothing, bedding and towels can seem impossible to dry in the colder months. Luckily, Daniel Nezhad, Director of UK Radiators, has shared five ways Britons can dry their clothes without a tumble dryer.
1. Ventilate the area
The expert explained: “Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t opt to trap the heat in your home by keeping the windows and doors shut tight.
“When there are wet clothes filling the area, this will dampen the air in the room and make it near impossible for laundry to dry in good time. If the clothes are wet, and the air is wet, you’re giving the laundry no chance to lose its moisture.
“Plus, you could be causing some real structural damage to your home by encouraging damp spots and even mould to form.
“Instead, crank open the windows (just a little, there’s no need to be freezing) and let the outside air in. This will allow the moisture to escape and prevent the room from getting too clammy. Your washing will dry out quickly when it’s in the right environment.
READ MORE: Clean vertical blinds for 30p to avoid mould
3. It’s all in the strategy
The expert recommended investing in a drying rack, which come in all different shapes and sizes. However, they can be really affordable and are often a staple in many people’s homes.
Daniel said opting to dry clothes on doors, chairs and radiators is “not a good solution to the issue”, particularly as radiators can be a fire hazard.
He added: “A simple drying rack is affordable, safe and the first step to drying clothes sufficiently.
“After hanging your laundry on it, position the rack in a safe, but close proximity to your radiator, and in the warmest and driest room of the house – generally somewhere small and cosy, like a little spare bedroom that gets lots of sunlight.
“Turn on the heating and let the room fill with warmth, taking care to rotate your drying rack every so often.
“This will equally distribute the heat around all the clothes, helping the whole load to dry at the same pace.”
4. Don’t delay
Although it is easy to forget when the washing machine has finished its cycle, delaying emptying it can cause a damp smell.
The expert explained: “When all your wet clothes are in a pile, they will never be able to dry out as they’re constantly rubbed up against other damp objects. Hanging up your washing allows the laundry to air.
“Put the load on your drying rack straight away to allow it the best chance to dry in good time and keep the delightful odour of your washing powder.”
5. Take care
Again, hanging clothes up on an airer isn’t a fun job, and it can be incredibly time-consuming if done properly.
However, according to the expert, hanging laundry “correctly” is an “important factor” in ensuring they dry.
This involves making sure longer, bulkier items are at the top of the rack.
Daniel noted: “If anything is scraping the floor, it won’t be able to air out and will actually exacerbate the problem, likely making the flooring wet too.
“Socks and underwear can sneakily find their way into other items during the spin, so check for any that have got stuck to avoid long lasting dampness.”