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Top tips on cost-effective drying as energy prices continue to soar

IN A SPIN: Tumble dryers can be expensive to run. (Getty)

Additional reporting by Sophie Harris

With the warm weather far behind us, finding ways to dry clothing indoors can be impractical and often expensive.

Many UK homes rely on the use of a tumble dryer for clean, soft, sweet-smelling laundry, but with ever increasing energy costs meaning a single load in a vented dryer could cost you as much as £1.82 or more, many are looking for alternative ways to dry their laundry.  From humidifiers to drying racks, doing the laundry needn't cost you the earth this winter.

Whether you wash a single load once a week or are keeping the whole family clean, there are some sure-fire ways to dry your clothes without turning on the tumble dryer. A recent article in The Express shared advice from Daniel Nezhad, director of UK Radiators on practical and cost-efficient ways to dry your laundry.

While it may seem that warm rooms with closed doors may help to get things dry, the expert explained that this isn't the case. He said: "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. The expert said 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."

If the thought of opening your windows in the winter gives you shivers down your spine, maybe try a dehumidifier instead.  These portable devices help to collect the moisture in the air that could otherwise turn into mould and damp.

Cheap to run and taking up very little space, a humidifier keeps the environment relatively dry, which helps to dry your clothes more efficiently.  Some models even come with a clothes drying mode that blows a warm, dry stream of air into the area.

Remember that less is sometimes more

Overfilling your washing machine not only runs the risk of stains remaining and clothes being creased, it also massively increases the time your wet clothes will take to dry. The final spin at the end of each cycle is designed to reduce excess water, making your clothes easier to handle and dry.

The expert said: "If you have a hugely overfilled washing machine, the clothes will have trouble drying out on their final spins. The washer is designed to wring some of the water out of your laundry, so when there isn’t space for it to move around the moisture is essentially trapped.

"Try being restrictive over the amount you put into your washing machine. The first step is taking control over your separation - whites, darks and colours. Although it can be easy to just chuck it all in, you could be asking for trouble in the winter."

Invest in a drying rack

While a drying rack may already be a staple in some people's homes, they can often be overlooked. Available in all different shapes and sizes, they are affordable, safe and the first step to getting your clothes dry in the winter.

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. "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."

Leaving wet washing in the machine once it has finished its cycle, is a sure fire way to make it smell damp.

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."

When you wash your clothes can be just as important as how you wash them. Putting a load on the morning will give them longer drying time in the warmth and light.

According to the expert, hanging laundry "correctly" is also an "important factor" in ensuring that they dry properly. Always leave gaps between items on the airer and for thicker items like jeans and towels, give them two bars on the rack so that both their two sides aren’t even touching each other. You may also want to flip items over or turn them inside out to ensure they dry evenly.

If your drying rack is tall enough, hang shirts and nicer clothing directly onto a hanger to help prevent creases and increase airflow.

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."

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