Using a portable clothes airer instead of a fixed washing line can speed up outdoor drying in autumn, because it can be moved around the garden to follow the sunshine or catch the breeze, experts advise.
Why a clothes airer works better than a washing line
While most people hang clothes out to dry on a washing line, experts say using a portable clothes airer in autumn is a better option. Unlike a washing line, it is not fixed in position, so it allows you to move laundry around the garden to follow the sunshine throughout the day, or place clothes in a breezy spot which will help remove moisture more quickly.
Washing lines are handy because clothes can be more spread out, but they are usually confined to one spot in the garden. Once the sun has moved past this area, laundry is no longer exposed to that warmth and will take longer to dry.
Tips for faster drying in cooler months
In its online advice on speeding up drying times outdoors, the Royal Meteorological Society said: "Move it around. Use a portable drying rack/clothes airer that you can move around your garden to follow the sunshine or make the most of the wind."
Rotating clothes on the airer can also help items dry more evenly. Spreading items out evenly on the rack maximises sun and wind exposure, and avoiding overlapping items leads to more efficient drying.
It is also recommended to put washing out to dry early in the morning during colder months, from around 10am, to make the most of the sunshine before temperatures turn cold and the dew sets in.
Drying outside even in winter
Eco-friendly household company Planet Friendly Living said in its online advice: "Even in the UK it is still possible to dry your washing outside in winter. You don't need a warm or sunny day to dry your washing (although that does speed up the process) you just need it to be dry."
The company added: "A breezy day is always best, but so long as the ground outside is dry, you should be able to get a load of washing dry. Aim to hang out your washing as early as possible to give it the maximum amount of time to dry before the sun goes down. Bring it in promptly at the end of the afternoon to avoid the dew."
