tipking About
HomeHouseholdLaundry › How to dry washing indoors without causing damp

How to dry washing indoors without causing damp

Tip 1020, filed under laundry tips.

The short answer

One room, door shut, window open a crack, and ideally a dehumidifier. A full load of wet washing puts around two litres of water into the air of your house.

  1. Put it all in one room and shut the door, so the moisture is contained.
  2. Open that room's window a little, or run the extractor if it is the bathroom.
  3. Run a dehumidifier in there if you have one. It is usually cheaper than heating the room and far cheaper than a tumble dryer.
  4. Spin it twice before hanging. The machine removes water far more cheaply than the air will.
What will ruin it

Drying washing on radiators with the windows shut is one of the commonest causes of condensation, black mould on the coldest wall and a musty house. The water does not vanish, it moves into the air and then onto the cold surfaces.

Why it works

Air holds a limited amount of water vapour, and less of it as it gets colder. Add two litres to a closed house and the excess condenses on the coldest thing available, which is usually an external wall behind the furniture.

Household chemicals can be dangerous in combination. Never mix them, keep the room ventilated, and test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.