Drying clothes indoors in winter
Short answer: In winter most people dry their clothes indoors, and it takes a little planning. The moisture from the washing has to leave your home, the clothes have to dry quickly enough not to smell, and delicate fabrics need gentle handling. With a few simple habits it works well all season.
Why drying indoors needs some thought
A full machine load of wet washing contains several litres of water, and that water ends up in the air inside your home. Without airing, it can cause condensation on the windows and, at worst, mould in cold corners. At the same time clothes dry more slowly in cold, damp air, and anything that stays damp for too long can develop a sour smell. The answer is to give the moisture somewhere to go, so it does not settle in walls and furniture.
Where to put the drying rack
Place the rack in a room with good air circulation, ideally near a radiator but not right up against it. A bathroom with an extractor fan is often a good choice if the door is kept closed. Avoid the bedroom, where the moisture will bother you at night. Air the home a couple of times a day for five minutes with a through draught. That removes the damp air without cooling the walls too much.
Spin speed and spacing
The more water the machine spins out, the faster the clothes will dry. Use the highest spin speed the label allows. Delicate fabrics need a lower spin, but they should then hang with plenty of space around them. Hang clothes so the air can move around them, and avoid draping several layers over the same rail. Thick items such as trousers dry faster if you turn them inside out halfway through.
Fabrics dry at different speeds
Cotton holds a lot of water and dries slowly. Synthetic fabrics dry quickly. Viscose from bamboo sits somewhere in between and should be hung or laid flat so it does not stretch while it is wet. Joggers and trousers in thicker fabric take the longest. A bamboo jogging suit for women dries best when the top and trousers hang separately rather than together on one hanger.
Smells and how to avoid them
A sour smell develops when clothes stay damp for too long. Hang them up as soon as the wash is finished. Do not use too much detergent, as residue holds on to moisture in the fibres. Clean the washing machine once a month with an empty hot wash. If clothes still smell, wash them again and dry them faster, for example closer to the heat or with a fan running nearby.
Clothes you need tomorrow
If you need a particular item the next day, wash it early in the evening and hang it in the best spot in the house. Trousers can be hung by the waistband with the legs down, so they dry evenly. If you own several pairs of bamboo trousers for women, it is easier to rotate them so nothing is ever urgent. If you want to see everything in one place, look at the full bamboo range for women.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to dry clothes indoors in winter
Usually half a day to a full day, depending on fabric, spin speed and air circulation.
Is it harmful to dry clothes in the living room
It adds moisture to the air. Air the room several times a day so the damp does not settle.
Why do my clothes smell sour after drying
They have been damp for too long. Hang them up straight away and give them more space and air.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
