I’m a mum who does laundry daily but don’t put the heating on – people say an Amazon buy is best for drying clothes fast
THE colder days have arrived, and many may be noticing that their homes are a bit chillier than usual.
While some Brits might be holding off on turning on the heating due to rising energy bills, this doesn’t help much when it comes to drying your laundry.
And one homeowner is suffering from exactly that.
The mum-of-three took to online forum Mumsnet to seek advice after revealing that they don’t have much radiator space at home.
They wrote a post asking for others ‘winter clothes drying routine.’
It read: “It’s been fine over the summer drying clothes on the line outside but in the winter we don’t have enough radiator space, and things don’t dry quickly.
“We only have the heating on if it’s really really bitter, and even then just an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening.
“We don’t have a dryer but we are now a family of five, with kids aged five, three, and three months.
“We pretty much do a quick 15 mins wash most days.”
The post attracted a lot of attention with other people in similar situations recommending their tips.
One suggested: “I use a clothes horse and put it in front of a radiator.
“You can also get heated ones but I’ve never tried these.”
Another added: “A double or even triple spin.”
But someone else cleverly added to place the washing high up and this is because heat rises.
They wrote: “Up high where all the warm air is!
“We have two of these wooden ceiling maiden thingies.”
To explain what they were talking about they attached an Amazon link which takes to you Victorian Laundry Rack Dryer Maiden, £44.99, which can be hung up high.
Someone else said: “When drying washing indoors it’s not just about getting the washing dry – you have to think about where the water from the wet clothes goes.
“E.g. If you just stick wet clothes on radiators or a heated airer and don’t have windows open, the water gets turned to water vapour and then is in your house, causing dampness.
“So I would recommend getting a dehumidifier.
“It puts out warm air, so you can put it next to the wet washing and it will both remove water vapour from the air and draw out the wet from the clothes, but the warm air on the clothes helps with drying as well.”
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.