Let’s face it, most Aussies don’t have a clothes dryer and with the amount of hot sunny days we have, investing in one is often a waste of money when you can simply hang your clothes on the outside line to dry rather quickly.
However, on the odd few days that it does rain, you may be wondering what’s the best way to efficiently dry your clothes without risking mould growth and a pile of clothes hanging all over your house.
Read on to find the best tips and tricks for drying your clothes without a tumble dryer on a rainy day so you don’t have to leave dirty clothes to pile up in your laundry basket.
The Problem With Drying Indoors
While you could simply lay your clothes over the back of some kitchen chairs or in the living room, this poses the serious problem of introducing too much moisture into the air which can lead to mould and bacteria growth, worsening the air quality of your home.
Leaving soaking wet clothes laying around to dry indoors can lead to bacterial growth within just 48 hours. This should be avoided as mould can cause serious respiratory issues when the air is inhaled which can be especially dangerous for children and the immunocompromised.
Put Clothes On An Extra Spin
First and foremost, just because you don’t have a tumble dryer doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the settings on your washing machine. Run your washing through the spin cycle a few extra times which will reduce the moisture level of your clothes which will reduce the amount of time they take to dry.
Where to Hang Your Clothes
You have a few options when it comes to hanging your clothes to dry. When it comes to location, you want to select a less humid area, such as the laundry room or the garage.
You should hang your clothes on a drying rack or with hangers so they are spread out enough to dry. You should also avoid packing wet clothes together in a small space; clothes have the best opportunity to dry when spread far apart and with enough airflow.
Removing Moisture
As previously stated, too much moisture in the air can lead to mould growth and make it harder for your clothes to dry fast. When hanging your clothes, you should place a dehumidifier in the room to remove excess water/moisture from the air. Another way to achieve this is by using salt
Air Flow & Heat
Airflow and heat are two important considerations when it comes to drying clothes. You don’t want your clothes to be packed together, as there won’t be enough space or air to dry them and heat will also help speed up the drying process.
The reason hanging clothes out on the line is so effective is because the wind and the sun work in tandem to draw out moisture and leave you with dry, clean clothes. You can improve airflow by turning on a ceiling fan in the room you are using to hang your clothes.
When You’re In a Pinch
To introduce heat into the equation, try also placing your clothes near a heater. For smaller or single clothing items you need to dry quickly, you can use a blowdryer on a high fan speed. Another trick for when you’re in a rush and need to get a specific garment dry as soon as possible is to use your ironing board and some tea towels.
Place one tea towel beneath and one over top of the garment and iron through towels. While the towels absorb the moisture, the heat helps speed up the drying and also effectively irons out any wrinkles. Make sure the dry towels are thoroughly covering the garment and your iron doesn’t come into direct contact with any water.
Time Of Day
If you can anticipate that it’s going to rain, plan to do your laundry during the day when it’s hottest. The heat will help assist with drying and your clothes will be dry by nighttime. You can expect cool nights to prolong drying times.
Alternatively, you can use our laundry service at My Butler Service, where we take all the work out of washing and drying laundry. We even pick up and drop off your clothing right at your doorstep. Simply book a collection through your phone and we’ll take care of the rest. Give us a call at 1300 288 537 to find out more or book a service.