Laundry dries in ‘half the time’ indoors without heating on with 1 simple trick

You can help your laundry dry faster by using one simple trick that doesn’t involve switching on your heating. After the UK’s hot summer and a rather warm start to October, Brits may have got used to clothes drying rather quickly. But we are set for a cold winter, and this simple task might become more time-consuming. If you don’t have a tumble dryer, then your clothes might take quite a while to dry in your living room, hallway or kitchen. 

But an expert has provided a tip that can make things easier. This comes as a welcome piece of advice for many households that want their clothes dried fast to avoid that damp smell that can eventually fill a room when wet clothes are sitting there too long. And what’s even better is that the hack doesn’t involve switching your heating on. Brits might be using their heating more sparingly this summer after Ofgem raised the energy price cap at the start of October.

Air treatment expert from AO, Katie Lilywhite, revealed that a dehumidifier could be the answer. She said: “If you don’t have space or budget for a tumble dryer, a dehumidifier is a great alternative,” she explains, speaking exclusively to Fabulous. “It helps remove moisture from the air, no matter the room temperature.

“By using your dehumidifier to dry your clothes, you can save time. If you do have a tumble dryer, it’s a great way to double up the amount of laundry drying. It’s a smart way to stay on top of laundry without needing to heat the whole house.”

She added: “Dehumidifiers typically consume electricity to remove moisture from the air whereas tumble dryers use power to generate heat and circulate air to dry your clothes.

“If you’re comparing the cost to run these appliances, then a dehumidifier might be cheaper to run an hour compared to a tumble dryer, especially if the tumble dryer is older or less energy efficient.”

However, she says that tumble dryers are best for heavier loads of washing. For the best results, she advises British households to use a combination of both dehumidifiers and a tumble dryer, if they have one of these appliances. 

She said that dehumidifiers could help your clothes dry in “half the time”. She revealed: “A full load that might take overnight to dry naturally could be done in around 4–6 hours, depending on the room size, humidity, and how thick your fabrics are.”