Greatest methods to dry garments indoors: 3 tried-and-tested strategies
I am unable to depend what number of instances I’ve needed to rewash laundry as a result of it developed that horrible damp scent after air-drying indoors. On a mission to resolve this weekly frustration, I turned to my colleagues right here at Homebuilding & Renovating to see if they’d an answer.
Under, they’ve revealed their favorite strategies for drying laundry indoors – from utilizing the most effective dehumidifiers as an energy-efficient different to a tumble dryer, to a conventional pulley rack to save lots of helpful ground area (whereas additionally placing a country spin in your utility room).
To seek out out one of the best ways to dry laundry (with out the necessity for a tumble dryer or out of doors area), hold studying.
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1. Conventional pulley rack
🏆Greatest for saving ground area
“We had a little bit of problem discovering the joists when becoming it (which means we now have a group of holes we have to fill), however as soon as that was out of the way in which, it is change into a laundry important for us.
“I have a tendency to go away it hoisted and attain as much as put moist clothes on it to dry. I’ve truly been stunned how shortly issues dry on there too. I do not know whether it is as a result of warmth rises or as a result of it’s nicely spaced between the rails however I’ve by no means had a moist clothes downside – even with my hand washing.”

Amy spent over a decade in London enhancing and writing for The Day by day Telegraph, MailOnline, and Metro.co.uk earlier than shifting to East Anglia the place she started renovating a interval property in rural Suffolk. Throughout this time she additionally did some TV work at ITV Anglia and CBS in addition to freelancing for Yahoo, AOL, ESPN and The Mirror.
2. Dehumidifier
🏆Greatest for energy-efficiency
You’ve got in all probability heard of utilizing a dehumidifier to deal with condensation and damp, however what about drying laundry with a dehumidifer? These moisture-busting machines are a wonderful, energy-efficient different to tumble dryers and will prevent as much as £664.30 yearly, in keeping with Chris Michael, co-founder of Meaco.
Dehumidifiers are additionally quieter, take up much less area, and are gentler on garments as compared. The one actual caveat is that they’re considerably slower, taking round 5 hours longer to dry.
Homebuilding’s editor Beth Murton recommends Meaco’s DD8L dehumidifier for drying moist garments, which she makes use of on its devoted laundry setting. When positioned subsequent to her garments airer, she likes the way it retains her garments freed from damp smells and her residence freed from extra moisture, whereas additionally lowering the vitality prices of drying.
“It is made an enormous distinction to how shortly my washing dries indoors,” says Beth. “It additionally means I haven’t got to have the central heating on on a regular basis to get garments dry. Getting massive objects like quilt covers dry shortly and not using a tumble dryer could be notably problematic, however I’ve discovered my dehumidifier makes mild work of these too.”

For the previous 20+ years, Beth has labored for and contributed to quite a few main magazines and web sites within the UK, together with Houses & Gardens, Actual Houses, Best Dwelling, Interval Dwelling and Grand Designs.
3. Heated airer and dehumidifier combo
🏆Greatest for fast outcomes
One of many largest issues with drying garments indoors is the danger of damp and mildew progress in your house. To deal with this frequent dilemma, our assistant editor, Sarah Harley, runs her dehumidifier and heated airer on the similar time – a strong mixture that ensures extra moisture is faraway from the air whereas her garments dry properly on the rails.
She explains, “Though it means operating two units without delay, they each have a comparatively low vitality consumption. I additionally do all my drying on a small touchdown the place there is a radiator, and shut the bed room doorways whereas the airer and dehumidifier are on. It ensures each merchandise are working exhausting on drying the garments, moderately than heating or absorbing moisture from the rooms across the touchdown.
“Though nothing beats drying outdoors within the contemporary air, in flats or throughout winter, I might all the time advocate this double-pronged method because the quickest method to dry objects, and extra importantly, scale back extra moisture permeating into your private home.”
DeLonghi DEX212F 12L Tasciugo AriaDry Dehumidifer
This dehumidifier has Sarah’s stamp of approval, that includes a laundry mode that leaves her garments feeling softer and simpler to iron.
Dry:Quickly 3-Tier Heated Airer and Cowl
This foldable heated airer prices simply 9p an hour to run, and holds as much as 15 kg of laundry throughout three tiers.

Sarah is Homebuilding & Renovating’s Assistant Editor and joined the group in 2024. A longtime properties and interiors author, Sarah has renovated and prolonged quite a few properties, together with an inventory constructing and renovation mission that featured on Grand Designs.
Whereas a tumble dryer is the plain resolution for drying laundry shortly, these choices are glorious alternate options for saving cash and electrical energy whereas avoiding damp smells and cumbersome rails.
For extra skilled recommendation, learn our comparability of dehumidifiers vs tumble dryers or browse our favorite laundry room concepts.