Quick Tips: Indoor Laundry Drying In Winter

Cons

The most important con in my opinion is that indoor drying releases a lot of moisture into the air, which will increase indoor humidity. This leaves an unpleasant damp smell, both to the room and the clothes, and risks condensation damage and mould the area.

Pros

Air drying is the more gentle, protective, and cost-effective option for handling laundry. 

General indoor drying tips:

• Open a window slightly, even in winter, to promote air flow. Ventilation also means indoor air will be less moist, easier to heat, and easier to dry in. It is also important to occasionally open windows for general, non-laundry related reasons, even in winter, as indoor air becomes polluted easily and needs to be ventilated. 

• It’s important to also use hygienic laundry practices, as bad laundry technique can exacerbate drying issues. These include, not overloading the machine, cleaning the machine, not leaving wet laundry for too long, and checking layered fabric such as jean waistbands to ensure clothes are fully dry. Wet areas allow damp and bacteria, so if laundry is left wet for too long at any point that’s especially where issues can happen. 

• Due to longer drying times, it is extra important to take care of the fabric to protect it and make things easier on yourself later:

  
  

  • Shaking and snapping the fabric before hanging it to dry to reduce and prevent creases. 

  • Dry heavy items such as knits horizontally if possible to prevent stretching. 

  
  

• Dry in well ventilated areas, such as those fitted with an extractor fan or air vent. Meanwhile, avoid highly used spaces where breathing will be affected, such as your bedroom. 

• Use a higher spin setting, or spin the load after it has finished, so that as much liquid is released from the fabric as possible. 

• Spread clothes out when drying so that air can circulate properly and support the process. Overlapping willl trap moisture.  

• While not all items can be tumble dried, you can consider doing this where possible, such as socks and underwear, to help manage indoor drying issues. 

• Leave large and heavy items until the summer! Washing an XXL blanket in winter is a recipe for issues, as it may take weeks to dry, and will be affected by bacterial growth due to dampness, which counteracts the point of washing. 

More costly tips

• Use a dehumidifier, which will remove moisture from the air directly and reduce related issues, such as smell and condensation damage. This is especially important if you have consistent mould problems, as moisture and cold is usually a culprit. 

• A heated clothes airer is an effective option for indoor drying as it’s designed for this exact issue.