Consumer experts at Which? have warned households to stop drying clothes on radiators, saying the habit blocks heat circulation, increases energy bills, and raises the risk of mould. In a recent social media video, Which? said: "You need to stop drying your clothes on radiators."
Why drying on radiators is a problem
Drying laundry on radiators is a widespread practice, but Which? experts have highlighted negative consequences. Not only might it fail to properly dry clothing, but it can also affect how well a home heats up and the level of moisture released into the air.
The expert explained: "Radiators circulate warm air around the room. So if the heating is on and set to 20 degrees Celsius, your radiators will pump out heat until the room reaches that temperature, at which point the boiler will stop."
"But cold and wet clothes act as a barrier to the heat being given off. That means you could be heating your room for a lot longer than you need to. And while you might end up with dry clothes, you'll also end up with a colder home and bigger energy bills and maybe even mould."
Better ways to dry laundry
Rather than draping clothes over radiators, consumer experts suggest using a clothes airer instead. Simply hang garments on the airer and position it close to the radiator. This method may take slightly longer to dry clothes, but placing them near rather than directly on the radiator allows warm air to flow freely around the room.
If looking to speed things along, a heated airer could be a worthwhile investment. That said, Which? noted that heated airers are better suited to smaller loads of washing.
It is also crucial to think carefully about which room to dry laundry in. Research suggests that drying clothes in spaces such as the bedroom could lead to problems including mould, dampness, and potential health issues. This is largely due to the fact that bedrooms tend to be smaller, making it far easier for excess moisture to build up in the air.
Laundry specialists at In The Wash explained: "Keeping moisture-filled laundry in your living spaces doesn't just encourage mould and dampness, it can also lead to respiratory issues, and wet laundry can be a bit smelly too. The bedroom is one of the rooms you spend the most time in."
"Given the fact that wet laundry encourages mould growth, dampness and potential health issues it would be better to keep it out of a room you spend a lot of time in."
Using a dehumidifier
To tackle any damp problems, Which? has previously advised that pairing a dehumidifier with an airer or heated airer can help minimise condensation and prevent mould from forming. A dehumidifier can also speed up the clothes drying process considerably.
Which? revealed that employing a dehumidifier to assist with drying washing slashed the drying time by nearly half. The consumer group discovered that using a dehumidifier can extract a substantial amount of moisture from the air released by clothes as they dry.
Which? said: "It also sucked up around two litres of water from the air, which would really help prevent mould." Drawing the water out of the air significantly reduces the chances of developing damp or mould indoors throughout the winter months.
