The cheapest way to dry clothes this winter
As the energy bills hike squeezes the nation’s pockets, people are looking for ways to cut back. Tumble dryers are one of the most expensive appliances to run in the home, costing up to £1.70 per load, so what’s the cheapest and most efficient way to dry our clothes in winter? Queen of Clean Lynsey Crombie has her top tips.
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Conopu Dehumidifier, 1000ml£59.99, Amazon
Dry: Soon Drying Pod£99.99, Lakeland
Dry: Soon 3-Tier Heated Dryer£159.99, Lakeland
Vileda Express Indoor Radiator Airer£11.99, Amazon
Minky Balcony 14m Indoor Clothes Airer£20.00, Argos
Minky Over Bath Indoor Airer with 9.5 m Drying Space£34.99, Amazon
MAGZO Door Draught Excluder Cushion 93 cm£26.99, Amazon
Top tips:
Hanging washing outside in winter:
- Even though it is winter, if it’s dry you can still hang laundry outside. Even if it half dries it is better than nothing and these winter windy days are fabulous for drying.
- You can now get washing lines with a cover or put your washing line under a gazebo.
Chimney Sheep Large Laundry Mac with Clothes Prop£59.99, Amazon
Using the washing machine:
- Do an extra spin on your washing machine. Washing machines are cheaper to run than tumble dryers and will speed up the drying time massively.
Tumble Dryer:
- If using your tumble dryer, add in 3 dryer balls for a small load and 6 for a large load to separate washing and speed up drying.
- Cuts drying time by 25%
Eco-Friendly Wool Dryer Balls£15, Chimney Sheep
Hanging washing:
- Hang washing on shower rails and curtain rails near an open window.
- Close off the room and add a draft excluder
- When hanging on racks don’t put the clothes too close as this will slow down the drying process.
- Add a fan close to the hanging laundry and this will add a fresh breeze and speed up drying and prevent any damp smells.
How to keep towels fluffy with no dryer:
- Buy good quality towels.
- Ditch the fabric conditioner as this wears down the fibres and reduces the absorbency.
- Don’t overuse detergent - too much product can make them stiff and leave soapy residue.
- Wash towels together - only 5 large per wash.
- Rotate them so you are not washing the same ones all the time.
- Add in a cupful of white vinegar.
- Use water softeners regularly in your machine as this really helps keep towels soft and fluffy.