As temperatures drop, drying clothes outside becomes increasingly futile, but there is a straightforward technique for hanging laundry indoors that keeps the dreaded musty odour at bay. While using a tumble dryer might seem the obvious solution in autumn, these machines are notorious energy guzzlers, and frequent use could see electricity bills soar at a time when many households are already fretting about heating costs.
Sustainability expert and creator of Moral Fibres Wendy Graham has revealed a nifty indoor laundry method that will keep clothes smelling fresh. She said: "Clothes start to smell damp when they take too long to dry. Adequately ventilating the room you are drying your clothes in, by opening a window, can help."
"Running a dehumidifier can also help, by removing moisture from your clothes, without the high running costs associated with tumble dryers."
How to wash clothes so they dry quickly
Poor airflow within the home is often the culprit behind whiffy clothes, as excess moisture lingers in the room and slows down the drying process. However, ensuring clothes are washed correctly and using the right spin cycle will also go a long way in speeding up drying times.
Wendy said: "My other top tip is to spin your clothes at the maximum spin cycle your washing machine allows." She added: "Some washing cycles don't spin on the maximum spin cycle, so a final spin cycle on the maximum setting removes any excess moisture. This makes it quicker to dry your clothes, meaning they are less likely to smell musty."
It is also crucial to fill the washing machine only three-quarters full in the drum, as cramming it too tightly will hinder the indoor drying process. Wendy said: "It can be incredibly tempting to ram as many clothes into our machine as it can possibly hold. However, I know that this is counterintuitive to having clean laundry and also the drying process."
"This is because if you do that, then there is not enough space for your laundry to agitate in the machine. There will also be less water available for the detergent to dissolve in, as the clothes will soak up too much water. This means your clothes don't come out as clean as you would like, meaning you may have to wash them again."
How to hang clothes up properly
Garments frequently develop unpleasant odours when there's insufficient air circulation indoors, as heightened moisture levels linger longer in the atmosphere, prolonging drying times. Always ensure a window remains ajar or position a dehumidifier in whichever room you're using for laundry drying.
The drying duration can be reduced by maintaining proper spacing between garments and ensuring everything is arranged as neatly as possible. Drape garments over a clothes horse rather than draping damp washing on radiators, as doing so squanders energy and inflates costs.
Wendy said: "Standard clothes horses aren't your only option. If you lack floor space but have the ceiling height, then one option to try would be a ceiling-mounted clothes airer. Growing up, I knew these as a pulley, but you might know them as a kitchen maid."
She added: "Meanwhile, some people swear by using an electric clothes horse to dry their clothes indoors. From what I have read, they are very energy efficient, and much cheaper to run than a tumble dryer."
Bear these tips in mind next time you tackle the washing pile, and you'll trim your energy expenditure while maintaining fresh-smelling garments throughout autumn.
