Topic
Drying indoors
A load of washing holds a couple of litres of water. Drying it indoors in winter means getting that water out of the room, not onto the walls.
Spin the load as fast as the fabric allows, hang garments with gaps between them and dry them in one small room with the door closed. A dehumidifier about a metre away, pointed at the clothes, takes the moisture out of the air as fast as it leaves the fabric.
Without a dehumidifier, open a window slightly or run an extractor fan, and avoid drying on radiators in a bedroom.
Common mistakes
- Drying washing in the bedroom you sleep in with the window shut.
- Packing garments so tightly on the airer that air cannot move between them.
Guides on this topic
- How to dry clothes indoors quicklyHow to dry clothes indoors quickly in winter: spin speed, spacing, airflow, a closed door and dehumidifier placement, in the order that saves most time.How-to
- Heated airer vs dehumidifier for drying washingHeated airer vs dehumidifier for drying washing: where the water goes, drying time, kWh per load and why many UK homes use both together.Comparison
- How much water does drying a wash load put into your home?How much water a wash load releases as it dries, what spin speed changes, what that does to room humidity and how to dry indoors without damp walls.Guide
- Dehumidifier laundry mode explainedWhat a dehumidifier laundry mode changes, from fan speed and setpoint to louvres and timers, and how to set up the airer and room to dry clothes faster.Guide
- Why clothes smell damp after drying indoorsMusty washing usually comes from slow drying. How spacing, airflow, a dehumidifier and a clean machine cut drying time so clothes and towels come out fresh.Fix