Laundry experts have shared a simple technique that can significantly speed up the time it takes to dry clothes indoors, without the need for a costly tumble dryer. The method involves wrapping wet clothing in a dry towel to soak up excess moisture, reducing drying time and effort.
Why drying indoors can be a challenge
Drying freshly washed clothes is often a time-consuming task, especially for those who rely on indoor drying due to hay fever. During grass pollen season, hanging clothes outside can cause pollen to cling to fabrics, exacerbating allergy symptoms when brought back indoors. As a result, many households choose to dry laundry inside, but this can take hours or even days depending on humidity and airflow.
Not all homes have a tumble dryer, as they are expensive to run. Using a clothes airer is a cheaper alternative, but it can still be slow. The towel method offers a cost-free way to accelerate the process.
The towel roll method explained
According to Lifestyle Clotheslines, the technique involves wrapping damp clothes in one or more dry towels to absorb water, then adding paper towels on top for extra moisture extraction. The company states: “If you want to quickly dry your clothes without a dryer, try the towel roll method. This technique involves wrapping wet clothing in one or multiple dry towels to absorb water then adding paper towels on top for extra moisture extraction. Doing this technique can help speed up the drying process significantly while saving time and effort along the way.”
To use the method, start by taking each piece of clothing from its damp state and rolling it tightly inside a single dry towel. If drying multiple garments at once, separate clean linens if possible. Then twist both ends of the towel to ensure it is tightly twisted, squeezing out excess water. Insert paper towels into the creases created during folding to soak away additional drops. Finally, inspect the results; if the clothes are still too wet, remove some items and repeat the steps until the desired dryness is achieved.
Expert advice for bedding during pollen season
Martin Seeley, sleep expert and CEO of MattressNextDay, recommends this technique for drying bed sheets, especially for those avoiding outdoor lines during high pollen seasons. He said: “I always recommend drying your bedding indoors or using a tumble dryer to keep it pollen-free. If you’re worried about your bed sheets taking a while to dry, I’d recommend washing them first thing in the morning so you can take advantage of warmer temperatures and natural airflow throughout the day. Before hanging them up, give your sheets a really good shake helps separate the fibres and speeds up drying. Another trick I use is the towel technique: lay your damp sheet flat on a dry towel, roll them up tightly together, and press down to absorb excess moisture before hanging the sheet to finish drying.”
Seeley added: “These simple hacks can dramatically reduce drying times indoors, making it much easier to keep your bedding fresh and pollen-free during high pollen seasons.”
