Consumer group Which? has warned UK homeowners to stop drying clothes on radiators, saying the habit can increase the risk of mould and drive up energy bills. In an Instagram video, Which? said people "need to stop drying clothes on radiators".
How radiators and wet clothes interact
Consumer expert Harry Kind explained: "Radiators circulate warm air around the room, so if the heating is on and set to 20°C, your radiators will pump out heat until the room reaches that temperature, at which point the boiler will stop."
He added: "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." While clothes may end up dry, Which? notes that homeowners will notice their property feels colder, even if they have higher energy bills at the end of the month.
Mould risk from added moisture
Another major issue with drying clothes on radiators is the increased risk of mould developing. The habit significantly increases the risk of damp and mould growth by adding litres of water into the air. When this moisture hits cold surfaces like windows and external walls, it condenses into water droplets, creating the ideal breeding ground for mould to thrive.
Which? experts suggest placing clothes on an airer nearer the radiator. While it might take longer, they say that it "helps the air to circulate around the room". A heated clothes airer could speed up the process, with some models using a small amount of electricity and costing just pennies to run for an hour, but still needing proper ventilation to avoid mould problems.
Ventilation and dehumidifier tips
Fully opening a window for just five to 10 minutes a few times can quickly replace humid indoor air with dry outdoor air. Alternatively, leaving window trickle vents open constantly provides continuous, low-level airflow that allows moisture to escape safely.
Keeping the door closed in the room being used to dry clothes prevents humid air from escaping and condensing in colder parts of the house. If it is too cold or noisy to open windows, running a dehumidifier alongside a heated airer will remove moisture from the air before it can reach walls.
