How to dry clothes at home quickly without a dryer

A tumble dryer may be the fastest way to dry clothes around the house, but it is expensive to buy and run and can take up a lot of space.

Cold winter weather is not the best time to dry your clothes outside. If it's cloudy, it's too cold to dry quickly, if at all.

In these cold months, we often need to make other plans, and if your clothes won't dry outside, there's only one other option, right?

Drying clothes at home is not everyone's cup of tea, but there are times when there is no other option, so we have to make it work as soon as possible!

Let's look at some of the best ways to dry clothes quickly at home.

Preparing to dry clothes indoors

Before you even think about drying your clothes inside, make sure you do the proper prep work.

First, lighten the load on your washing machine. The temptation is to soak as much in your washing machine as possible, especially if you have a large load to wash. But consider this:

Stacking too many clothes in the washing machine will make them darker, and the laundry will take longer to dry. You dry them inside, remember?

Second, turn your washing machine on a high spin cycle. That way, less moisture will be retained, and drying will take less time.

Trust me; when you take your load out of the washer, you'll be thankful you heeded this advice.

Where and how to dry clothes inside

There are many options for drying wet laundry indoors, but there are also a few “do's and don'ts” to ensure it is done quickly without any lasting negative effects on your clothes or yourself.

Let's consider some of these options for your new frugal lifestyle.

Hot storage

A very good choice

1. Compact 1000W household electric clothes dryer

This electric clothes dryer uses less energy and has a compact design, so it does not take up much space.

Because of the way the clothes hang, it also takes out a lot of creases, so you don't need to iron as much (if at all).

Clothes dry in just two hours, and can help warm the room you're in, so you don't need to turn on the radiators.

2. 18 Bars Electric Heating Pads with Wings

This dryer is collapsible and can be expanded for larger loads. You can fit 10kg of laundry in the dryer. It has low power consumption.

Heated racks speed up the process of drying your clothes much faster. They are much more energy efficient than dry saws.

To improve dry time and reduce it to hours, add a heated drying cover. This works perfectly with a dryer with wings on top.

Dehumidifier

Best to choose:

1. Dehumidifier Condensation Remover Moisture

You get 5 specially made tubs designed to remove moisture and humidity from the air in your home. They are cheap, and each one lasts between 4 to 6 weeks.

2. UniBond AERO 360º Moisture Absorber

We have one of these in our bathroom, as we have no windows. It has worked wonders in removing excess moisture and removing bad odors from the home.

Designed for rooms up to 20m². You need to buy another refill every few months.

3. Pro Breeze Dehumidifier 500ml Compact and Portable Mini Air Dehumidifier

This budget electricity model costs around 1p per hour (at October 2022 electricity prices). It can release up to 250ml of moisture per day. It's light, compact and very quiet.

The risk of dampness when drying clothes indoors is concerning, and smelly clothes are not pleasant.

Investing in a dehumidifier means you can dry your clothes indoors without really worrying about where you're going to dry them—as long as it's in the same room as the dehumidifier, of course!

A dehumidifier can be especially useful in older homes where rising damp or moldy areas are a problem, as it will keep the air dry by removing as much moisture as possible.

Dehumidifiers are expensive, so shop around to get the best deal you can get.

A place to put it

Your trusty old rack was always going to be an essential household item, and every winter, you're reminded why.

It may seem like an easy and affordable solution, and, make no mistake, it is, but where you place the dryer in your home is very important.

Wet clothes have a bad habit of causing mold if they stay wet for a long time, so drying clothes properly inside means you have to identify the best rooms in your house to set up a dryer or an air conditioner for heated clothes if you have one.

In humid weather, find a low-humidity room in your house for the drying process, as wet clothes release moisture into the air.

Make sure you have enough floor space to set up a dryer. Any room you choose to place the dryer should have enough floor space, and the more open space available, the better.

It could be a dedicated laundry room, kitchen, garage, spare room or your dining room, but it should have sunlight and promote air flow, so open doors and windows to dry your clothes indoors.

The important thing is to ensure that your drying rack is not surrounded by too many other items, as this will slow down the drying process.

Coat hangers

Use coat hangers to hang your delicate and delicate items like shirts or blouses when space is limited.

Even if there is space in your drying area, it is an idea to use hangers as they will prevent any creasing and promote faster drying times and less ironing.

Often you will be able to move clothes to hangers directly from the door or window ledge where they hang directly in the wardrobe!

The open door is perfect for hanging clothes hangers when drying clothes inside because the position promotes air flow.

Spread out the clothes

Maybe you don't have enough space to hang clothes. There are other ways to dry clothes inside, and sometimes, this means airing them in your laundry room or spare room.

Spreading wet laundry flat on any hard, dry surface, like a dining room table, for example, can be a solution if your closet is full, but don't put wet laundry on visible surfaces like sofas for obvious reasons.

Keeping them flat will dry your clothes faster, and ironing will be easier. As the clothes dry, change them to speed up the process even more.

Some points to consider when drying your clothes indoors

Some tips to consider when drying clothes indoors, some of them are very important.

Do not air dry clothes for a long time

If you have been drying your clothes inside all day and they are still wet, you will need to wash them again as they will start to smell and make you uncomfortable to be around.

If they are not dry in 24 hours at most, consider washing them in the washer again and visiting the laundromat to dry your clothes.

Keep wet clothes out of your bedroom and living room

Wet laundry in the living room or the room where you spend a lot of time can harm your health. Drying clothes provides moisture, which creates more moisture, which, for many people, can lead to chest problems.

It is better to put clothes in unused, well-ventilated rooms where they can dry quickly and without having a negative impact on the environment and the people who live there.

Avoid the bathroom when you dry your clothes indoors

In most homes, the bathroom is the most humid room in the house. Think about it, frequent showers and baths release hot air from the room, which condenses on the tiles, walls and ceiling.

Spending time in the bathroom is necessary, but from a health perspective, you want to spend as little time as possible there.

Compounding the health risks by leaving dry clothes in this space makes no sense.

What about the washing machine?

If you have a washing machine, your problem is solved. There is no easier way to dry clothes than one of those that use less energy, is there?

However, although they are not the most economical and are some of the most energy-intensive appliances, tumble dryers are the most obvious choice for drying clothes indoors quickly, and they make life so much easier when the winter clouds arrive.

If you're going to use a tumble dryer, don't pack it full, though. Excessive humidity will cause your clothes to dry forever, and you will cry when you get your utility bill.

But, with all these tips, there are many other ways to dry your clothes that won't take days, and you can save on your energy bills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will you dry clothes quickly inside?

Keep clothes separate for better air circulation and faster drying. Leave clothes near a fan or heater to dry quickly.

How long does it take for clothes to dry indoors?

If you are using an airer, and it is very cold, it may sound like a good day to dry clothes. However, if you use a hot airer, you can get the clothes dry for about two hours.

What is the iron and towel trick?

Place your wet garment on the ironing board and place a clean, dry towel over the garment. Heat your iron to high heat and iron a towel, which transfers the heat of the iron to the towel, which will then absorb the moisture from your garment.

Can I dry my clothes in the microwave?

Drying your clothes, especially large items like bed sheets, jeans and shirts, in a microwave oven can cause electrical fires and is definitely not recommended!

The conclusion

If you dry clothes outside, there is no noise, except for hanging them in the morning and taking them off in the afternoon. It's simple and useful. There will always be times when it is necessary to dry clothes inside your home, the trick is to keep the process simple and convenient as well. Hopefully, some of the tips we have provided will help to do this.