Drying clothes indoors during autumn can take hours, but one appliance can cut the time to around two hours, according to a writer who tested the method. Sophie Harris, Senior Audience Writer at the Daily Express, found that a dehumidifier made the biggest difference in her laundry routine.
How the dehumidifier method works
Rather than trying to make clothes themselves dry faster, the dehumidifier tackles the moisture released into the surrounding air. As clothes dry, water evaporates from the fabric and enters the room. The dehumidifier draws in humid air, removes some of the moisture, and releases drier air back into the room, creating better conditions for the remaining water in the clothes to evaporate.
Harris said she found it particularly useful when she had a full airer of wet washing which would otherwise take ages to dry. She simply places the wet laundry onto an airer, leaving enough space between items for air to circulate around, then positions the dehumidifier nearby, rather than directly underneath or pressed against the airer.
Tips for best results
The important thing is to give the appliance enough space to operate properly while keeping the room's doors and windows closed. This helps the dehumidifier target the moisture in that particular space rather than constantly trying to remove damp air from elsewhere.
Harris said her dehumidifier from Meaco runs 24/7 during the autumn and winter months, and her washing takes around two hours to dry, provided she has given it an extra spin in the washing machine beforehand. Keeping it running all the time can also help to prevent window condensation and mould, and she said she does not have any.
Comparison with heated airers
Heated airers have also become popular in recent years, and when combined with a dehumidifier, Harris thinks they could work very well. However, she did not find it that effective on its own, as it only dried certain parts of the clothing.
