Drying laundry inside during a British winter often feels like a losing battle against damp air and stubborn, musty smells. With high energy costs and limited outdoor space, finding an effective method is crucial. Deputy Editor Sophie Law took it upon herself to put five common indoor drying techniques through a rigorous real-world test during the chilly winter of January 2026.
The Indoor Drying Challenge: Methods Put to the Test
Sophie Law evaluated a tumble dryer, a dehumidifier, a heated airer, a standard clothes horse, and the bathroom extractor fan method. Each was assessed on drying speed, the freshness of the results, running costs, and how much moisture was released into the room. The test involved typical winter wash loads, including heavy items like jeans and hoodies.
The verdict was stark: only one method completely banished the dreaded mildew odour from the clothes. Here is how all five options performed, ranked from worst to best.
5. Bathroom Extractor Fan (Score: 2/10)
The idea of hanging wet laundry in the bathroom and running the fan to extract moisture seems logical. In practice, it proved highly ineffective. Most bathroom fans are designed for short-term use during showers, not for running for hours on end.
If you need to shower, the process is ruined as you introduce more steam. Bathrooms are also typically colder rooms, slowing evaporation. Sophie found her fan was not powerful enough, and there was barely any space to hang clothes effectively.
4. Standard Clothes Horse (Score: 3/10)
While the cheapest option—costing around £10 and using no electricity—the basic clothes horse was the worst offender for causing musty smells. Without added heat or air circulation, clothes dried very slowly.
Thick areas like waistbands and towels stayed damp for days, allowing odours to develop. It also released significant moisture into the room, causing condensation on windows. It takes up floor space for an extended period, making it impractical for many homes.
3. Heated Airer (Score: 4/10)
Sophie tested the Minky Wing 12m Heated Clothes Airer with Cover, priced at £60 from Argos. Promoted as a budget tumble dryer alternative, it disappointed. Clothes only dried where they touched the heated rails, leading to patchy results.
Thick fabrics remained damp, and the included cover made little difference. The prolonged drying time again led to a mouldy smell, and the unit did nothing to reduce room condensation. The conclusion was that a non-heated rack near a radiator offers similar results for less money.
2. Dehumidifier (Score: 7/10)
The dehumidifier was a strong runner-up. It dried clothes faster than air drying, especially in a small, enclosed room, and is cheaper to run than a tumble dryer. A key benefit is its ability to combat condensation, mould, and mildew in the home simultaneously.
Sophie uses a model from the recommended brand Meaco; a similar one retails for £159.99 at John Lewis. However, clothes still took one to two days to dry fully in winter, and during this time, musty odours could still develop on thicker materials.
The Clear Winter Winner: Tumble Dryer (Score: 9/10)
The tumble dryer emerged as the undisputed champion for winter laundry. It was the only method that completely eradicated musty smells, delivering perfectly dry, warm clothes ready to wear on the same day.
Sophie's Hotpoint Condenser model handled bulky items like bedsheets and towels with ease—items that languish for days on airers. For families with constant laundry or those short on space, the ability to wash and dry a full load in one day is a major advantage.
The significant downside is cost. Running a condenser tumble dryer is more expensive than other methods, particularly compared to a newer heat pump model. It also requires dedicated space and regular filter maintenance for safety. However, for speed, reliability, and fresh-smelling results in winter, it remains unmatched.
