Towels are made to be absorbent, but when they’re just out of the washing machine, this means they can be holding nearly 1.5 litres of water when completely wet. Add your other laundry and bedding into the mix and you’ve got a lot of moisture evaporating into your rooms, if you’re drying clothes inside.
Let’s face it, we have to deal with less-than-ideal conditions for drying clothes more often than not, so the alternative is drying clothing and bedding indoors. But having that much moisture in the air within your home isn’t good for your health or for the property itself. But when the weather’s bad and your clean laundry is going to get even wetter hanging outside, what can you do about it?
Keep the air moving
When you’re drying laundry inside, make sure your home is well-ventilated. The best way to do this is to open a window at one end of the property and another at the other end. This can help to create a bit of air movement to whisk away the moisture in the air. You don’t have to have the windows wide open, even just cracked ajar can be beneficial.
Consider smaller loads
You may save up all of your dirties and do one big load at a time. But this could be causing more difficulties not just in your home, but to the effectiveness of the appliances: Overloaded washing machines aren’t as efficient when spinning, so they’re more likely to leave a lot more water in the clothes when the cycle’s finished. If you do a few smaller loads, you’re able to spread the clean items around a little more, which can help them to dry faster, and the moisture disappears faster too. Although hard, try and space your washing cycles out so the environment has plenty of time to process the moisture in the air.
Invest in a dehumidifier
If these options still aren’t helping, invest in a dehumidifier. These machines suck the moisture out of the air and store it in a little container. You can then empty that into your pot plants, thus saving on your water bills too.
Invest in a heated airer
Heated airers use a gentle heat that will dry your clothing faster than typical line drying and will therefore reduce the amount of moisture that is released into the air. Some models come with a cover, or are otherwise called ‘heating pods’, that help to contain the heat, and therefore moisture within the cover. Without a cover, and continual use of a heated airer, this could cause some moisture in the air and in turn lead to condensation and mould growth – though a reduced amount compared to line drying. It is worth considering the cost impact of investing in a heated airer, which will have an initial investment for the appliance, and the electricity costs to run.
Be wary of mould
With any drying indoors, there is an inherent risk of mould growth which is detrimental to health, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, like asthma. If you have black mould start to build up, be sure to clean it away as quickly as you can. Don’t use bleach as this is likely to stain the surface you’re cleaning. Instead, you can buy special products, without breaking the bank. Also, be sure to use disposable cloths or tissues and remove them from your home immediately when you’re done. This stops the spores from releasing back into your home as the cloths dry.
Featured image: Ron Lach
