Five tips for doing laundry in winter for faster drying and easier washing

Doing laundry in winter is incredibly frustrating when you don’t own a dryer with cold temperatures making clothes, sheets and towels take forever to dry even when they’re hung outside. For those who hang their wet clothes inside there are also risks to your health, safety and the structure of your home.

But there are plenty of things you can do to make clothes dry faster, have less washing to do and keep everyone safe.

Here are five tips for doing laundry in winter:

Spin once, even twice

The spin cycle is your best friend in winter. It helps extract water from your washing so that it’s not dripping wet when you take it out.

As soon as the days get shorter and chillier give every load – except delicates – an extra spin, or increase the spin cycle setting if you’ve been using a lower speed or shorter spin cycle. This means more moisture will be removed before you take it out to dry.

You can even try doing a second spin cycle for your everyday clothes and towels. This is particularly useful when drying clothes inside where there is less airflow and sunlight.

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Wear your clothes more before washing them

Most clothes don’t need to be washed after one day’s wear. Unless they’re sweaty, soiled or you’ve been sick or in contact with someone who is ill, you can get more wear out of them before putting them in the wash.

Pants, dresses, pyjamas and bras can go a few wears before needing a wash, while jumpers can go even longer because they’re not worn directly next to the body.

Wearing thermal shirts and leggings under clothes also extends the wear of tops and pants because it puts a layer between your skin, and therefore body oil and sweat. You can look for undershirts and leggings that are made from quick dry material to make it even easier to wash them after each wear.

The main items that need washing after one wear are underwear, socks and activewear, so prioritise those and consider giving other pieces an extra wear.

Use a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is an absolute must if you are drying washing inside because your wet laundry adds moisture to the room, increasing the risk of mould, which is both a hazard to your home and your health.

By using a dehumidifier you are removing that excess moisture from the air, preventing it from settling in the room. 

As a bonus, many dehumidifiers have a laundry setting to help dry your clothes faster inside.

Another option is the dry mode on your air conditioner but at the very least, try to create air circulation using fans.

Be careful with the heater

It might seem logical to pop your clothes airer next to the heater to help them dry faster, but this can be dangerous.

Choice advises keeping wet washing at least a metre away from the heater.

“Damp clothes hung directly in front of a heater, or over it, can not only be a fire hazard but could also increase your heating bills, as they act as a barrier and potentially prevent your heater from releasing warmth into the room,” Chris Barnes, Choice expert, said. 

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“This means your heater will have to work harder to create a warmer temperature, which adds up to higher energy bills.”

Try a laundromat

Rather than juggling a house full of wet washing hung everywhere or bulky bedding that takes days to dry outside, consider taking them to a laundromat.

Laundromats mean you can wash and dry everything quickly and easily without needing to own your own dryer.

It might not be quite as convenient as doing it in your own home, but when you consider all the hacks and clothes airers you need to use it’s a great option, especially during a rainy period.