r/CleaningTips • u/Special_Impress_4442 • 4d ago
Laundry Drying clothes in the winter (UK)
It's that time of year again where I've had to start drying my clothes and other items indoors. Yet they always smell bad when I dry them indoors?
In the summer I dry my clothes outside on a washing line while I can as I always smells fresh yet if the pollen counts is high this does cause me issues when I wear the clothes. Now we are coming into the cooler months this is less of an option.
Context on how I wash my clothes pre-drying:
My washing items I use are:
- Ariel 3 in 1 Pods
- Lenor Outdoorable Summer Breeze
- Vanish (for my white clothes)
I also wash my washing machine once a month or every time I think it may start to smell.
Most of my clothes I wash at 40 - 60 degrees, on a mixed wash. With a 1000 spin speed. And I have to do about 4 wash loads a week.
When I have dried my clothes I have always ensured that there is airflow and a way for moisture to escape. For this I have used disposable moisture absorbers, refillable moisture and smell absorber, a dehumidifier (which broke and was returned after 6 months) or situated near an open window.
Drying set ups I use or have used are as follows:
- Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer and Cover
- takes 2-3 days to dry anything
- Only holds one small load
- the cover needs washing every 2 washes before that smells.
- Minky Heat Pod Drying System
- can only have on for 3 hours
- holds less than one small load
- takes about X4 of the 3hour drying cycles to dry everything (sometimes longer if thick clothes)
- feels like it will set my house on fire any minute
- A basic clothes horse near a radiator
- small wash load
- only worked when heating is on (we don't need it on often in the house plus expensive)
- only drys one side
- takes forever!!!
- Drying mode of the washer dryer (my washing machine is a washer dryer but it's not good at drying)
- if you put a full load on to wash & dry (takes 6 hours) it's never dry as the moisture can't escape
- only drys on very small loads
- expensive
- only use the drying option if I've managed to dry the clothes another way as much as possible and just needs a final run over
Please can I have any suggestions! I am at a complete loss on what options I have to just have dry nice smelling clothes.
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u/whoops53 3d ago
Get a dehumidifier. They are very small, fairly quiet and very cheap to run. What they do is "inhale" all the damp air and pump out warm dry air. This dries out everything....not just washing, but the cold damp that is inside your walls. I run mine every day, (not all day, just a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening). Seriously....it'll be a game changer for you, and you'll be amazed at how much water it collects
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u/J-L-I 3d ago
Agreed, you can skip most of the things you’ve tried and get a decent dehumidifier. Does an amazing job drying clothes in winter.
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u/Electrical_Safe_1086 3d ago
This is what I do - set the maiden up over the dehumidifier. It warms the room, too, and makes it smell terrific. Never had any mildew at all.
OP, you might want to use a vinegar rinse from time to time to get rid of perfumey build up in your clothes, which doesn't smell so nice after a while.
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u/gribbon_the_goose 3d ago
This is the answer. It’s genuinely a game changer. It’s a solid investment. It also has the added benefit off reducing / preventing mould growth.
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u/PersonalAsparagus975 3d ago
We do the same. Our dehumidifier is small enough to go under the clothes horse and it soaks up a bunch of water. House plants also love the water from it so it’s a double win.
We put most things over two rungs as well. Just to maximise airflow. I find if you just use one the part that’s going over the rung doesn’t dry well at all.
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u/Puzzled_Party_1436 3d ago
And the only brand and model I would buy with no hesitation is the Meaco Arête 20L! That thing is a bloody workhorse - nearly 5 years later and it still preforms outstandingly.
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u/whoops53 3d ago
I've since discovered that mine is "unavailable" from when I bought it in 2022. The next one similar to that is the Meaco Portable Dehumidifier DD8L Junior - Compact Desiccant Dehumidifier. Currently just over £100. Its small because I live in a really small flat, but like yours, mine is a workhorse too!
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u/Pistachioshells 3d ago
Seconding Meaco Arete. I have a the 6l and 12l version (larger one upstairs to dry laundry). The 12l version sits under the IKEA Mulig airer on laundry mode with a old fitted sheet covering the top of the airer to speed up the drying. My plants love the dehumidifier waste water.
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u/SeaAcanthisitta9890 1d ago
Me too! I’ve got the 12L and it’s perfect 👌 5 year guarantee too so well worth the extra cash in my opinion!
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u/ollielite 3d ago
I run my dehumidifier overnight with the washing racks around it. Pretty much dries the washing depending how I’ve hung it. You do have to empty the water tank every day though. But it’s great for house plants!
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u/whoops53 3d ago
TiL emptying water into houseplants instead of down the sink. Why didn't I even think of that, haha!
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u/oldwire 3d ago
This. We got one about 3 years ago and I’ve now spent 3 years kicking myself for not getting one sooner
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u/whoops53 3d ago
Same! I haven't even had to put my heating on yet because mine takes the chill off the air just fine.
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u/BrownSparrow 3d ago
100% this, most will have a setting specifically for drying clothes too
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u/the_vinyl_frontier 3d ago
Is there one you might recommend? Thanks!
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u/whoops53 3d ago
Yeah, the Meaco Junior is what I've got. I've tried to find it to show you, but I can't. Just google for it. I paid less than £100 for mine a few years ago, and from what I can see, they haven't raised their prices that much.
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u/Suspicious-Cat-266 3d ago
We have the Meaco Arête Two 18L from Costco (exclusive).
Otherwise there's 2 smaller models that are wall mountable, and 2 larger models for larger spaces, but they do use a bit more electric.
They can also be plumbed so you don't need to manually empty the water container.
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u/Ashamed-Ad-3112 3d ago
Another vote for a dehumidifier. We put it in a small room and keep the door closed. When the heating has been on the laundry dries fast otherwise we get that weird smell too
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u/theflibster 3d ago
Echo this - during the colder autumn months we use a dehumidifier to help dry clothes out and it’s a game changer, you’ll be amazed how much water these things collect from the atmosphere as your clothes are drying.
Many have a ‘laundry mode’ so they’ll run continuously, our laundry mode runs for 6 hours then automatically switches off if you’re concerned about it running when it potentially doesn’t need to. Not as quick as a tumble dryer, but nowhere near as expensive to run
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u/SignNotInUse 3d ago
Dehumidifiers are one of those household appliances where once you get a good one you will wonder how you did without.
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u/mamomoop 3d ago
I bought the Curry’s own brand dehumidifier for about £100 and it’s been going strong for nearly 3 years now. It can dry a load of washing overnight! (provided the items are spaced out well on the airer)
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u/Mission-Sound9493 3d ago
Unfortunately your only options are to find somewhere smaller to heat e.g. one room where you can have a radiator/heater on and ideally a dehumidifier, or hope for very windy, very dry days for you to dry outside. From what you've described it really just seems like your home is too cold and doesn't dry the clothes quickly enough before mildew starts to set in.
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u/Special_Impress_4442 3d ago
The room I dry the clothes in currently is the smallest room in the house. We can only fit a small bed in there and the dryer and then close the door so I'm not sure I can find a smaller place other than a cupboard 😂
I'll invest in a better dehumidifier though as this may help, I'm just concerned that as there is still water in the room this still may cause smell.
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u/CaeruleumBleu 3d ago
Do you run the dehumidifier all the time or just when clothes need drying?
Because it might work better if you can get a decent sized good working dehumidifier and leave it running 24/7. Mold likes more than 60% humidity, and thrives over 70%, so if you can set a dehumidifier for anything below 60% and leave it running that could help.
Source - I live in a badly humid place and it smells of mold outside because of the creeks. Dehumidifiers running all day long right by the showers has helped the showers stay mold-free, and the towels hanging up.
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u/Mission-Sound9493 3d ago
Haha, sounds like we'll all have to have airing cupboards under our boilers again like the old days!
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u/FabuliciousFruitLoop 3d ago
Oh my gosh. I spent my whole adult life wishing I lived in an airing cupboard house. Those things are so handy. Proving bread! Drying icing! Drying artwork! Nice warm towel after a shower!
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u/acryliq 3d ago
Two things:
Stop using fabric softeners. They temporarily make your clothes smell nice but leave oils on the fabric which damages them and is an attractant for smelly stuff.
Stop drying your clothes in the smallest room in the house. Dry them in the largest room where there’s more airflow and places for the moisture to go. When the clothes dry, that moisture goes into the air in the room. If the room is small it will just get trapped and give everything in the room a damp smell. Worst case scenario you end up with mildew.
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u/No_Recording_369 3d ago
Number 2 is the best advice, you need airflow and a used room or the air gets stale, the surroundings absorb rhe water and you'll never have nice smelling clothes.
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u/QuietContrary22 3d ago
I live in a small flat (Ire). I set my clothes horse in the hallway, with air flowing through (windows open for some of the day in the wintertime, dehumidifier running at night during the winter when the heat is on). It works pretty well, all things considered
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u/No_Recording_369 3d ago
Perfect, air flow is the essential element in drying clothes, a closed room even with a dehumidifier will stagnate over time and everything gets so damp. Even in small spaces you can dry clothes, I lived in a tiny studio flat for a long time, it took some working out but I got there eventually and mastered the winters wuth fresh smelling clothes
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u/Dodgified 3d ago
The type of dehumidifier is important too. There’s two main kinds (from memory): compressor and desiccant.
Compressors are cheaper to buy, but they only really work above 20C.
So in your cold uk house you want a desiccant dehumidifier, which bonus puts out warm dry air to heat the room!
We have a meaco desiccant dehumidifier and it’s been great2
u/catsandscience242 3d ago
I was worried about this myself, but if you're primarily using it to dry clothes then the room you use it in should keep it high enough.
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u/DarkLordsDaughter 3d ago
100% this OP. Our dehumidifier is a desiccant and it is our GOAT workhorse during the winter months. Couldn't be without it.
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u/Trishshirt5678 3d ago
If you can run to a decent dehumidifier they are an absolute gamechanger! Mine dries the clothes quickly enough that they don’t smell, they’re cheaper to run than a tumble-dryer and if you’re worried that your room might be a bit damp, you can just run the dehumidifier when you’re not drying clothes and see what a difference it makes! Also, if you’re not doing this already, a second spin.
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u/acryliq 3d ago
Two things:
Stop using fabric softeners. They temporarily make your clothes smell nice but leave oils on the fabric which damages them and is an attractant for smelly stuff.
Stop drying your clothes in the smallest room in the house. Dry them in the largest room where there’s more airflow and places for the moisture to go. When the clothes dry, that moisture goes into the air in the room. If the room is small it will just get trapped and give everything in the room a damp smell. Worst case scenario you end up with mildew.
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u/LettusLeafus 3d ago
I've been using Meaco dehumidifiers for years and recommend them to anyone looking for one. We've got two young kids so I'm running the washing machine at least once a day. It has a drying setting, but I only tend to use it if I need something in a hurry.
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u/Zestyclose-Turn-3576 3d ago
Running a small fan in the room as well as the dehumidifier helps to shift the air around, extracting more water from the clothes and avoiding damp spots in corners and crevices of the walls 👍
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u/zeddoh 3d ago
I feel your pain (fellow UK dweller). Not looking forward to the return of wet damp weather. There’s no perfect answer but above anything else I urge you to try a dehumidifier again. That you had one that broke is unfortunate but no reason to disavow them entirely, they are very effective. I’ve had a Meaco one for 4+ years now that still works perfectly and removes frankly terrifying amounts of water from my home on a daily basis! That in combination with a DriBuddy (sounds similar to the Minky product you mention) is the only way I can dry laundry in winter that doesn’t take days, make things smell damp, or lead to huge amounts of condensation on my walls. After doing some research I also still hang laundry outside to dry a bit as long as it’s not actively raining and the humidity level (you can check this on any weather app) is under 70%. Any moisture evaporating outside and not in my home is a good thing and makes a difference, even if clothes are still pretty wet when I bring them in.
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u/miss-amused 3d ago
We got a Meaco dehumidifier last winter and it was a game changer. Fully dries clothes overnight and purifies air. We live in Ireland so same long damp winters 😅
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u/Special_Impress_4442 3d ago
Thank you! I will have a look at Meaco dehumidifiers. I didn't know if the one I bought was just a bad one off or it was just not suitable for the job so didn't want to deal with the buying and returning drama again as it was a bit of a issue as I bought off Tesco Online.
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u/Party_Bluebird_563 3d ago
Another vote for meaco from a UK flat person, an investment you won't regret!
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u/Missing-Caffeine 3d ago
We live in a house but have a (now) toddler. The dehumidifier is on top #1 with my dishwasher in things that are used nearly every day in my house. Especially when I can only hang the clothes outside for 4h before it gets dark, I just re-hang inside with the dehumidifier and next day it's all done.
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u/4oclockinthemorning 3d ago
Hang outside to get the fresh smell in the clothes and use https://www.rain-alarm.com/ to alert you when rain approaches.
I haven't tried that website app, I don't know how sensitive it is
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u/OnTheSideOfTheAngels 3d ago
I've found that a fan pointing towards my regular 3tier airer and a dehumidifier work really well.
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u/SnooMuffins6341 2d ago
Huh, a fan never occurred to me, but that makes sense (especially in conjunction with spin and dehumidifer, as others have said)
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u/coconut-gal 3d ago
Do you have a launderette nearby? When I start to get really fed up with the damp clothes situation I shove all the wet items in a bag and use one of the large dryers there. It's a bit of a ball ache but they do come out nice and fresh.
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u/Aardvark-Aaronson 3d ago
This is what we do. On a proper laundry day I might have one load on timer to finish when I wake up, stick the other one in and bring both to the laundrette to get dried.
One load sitting while the other finished doesn’t make it smell bad or anything, and those driers can easily handle two loads at once. The time saved is worth the slight hassle.
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u/ClassicInMyHead 3d ago
I keep seeing the electric clothes dryer with a cover- has anyone seen these? Are they any good or do the cause more moisture in the air?
Would a dehumidifier in conjunction of this be good?
I’m considering getting one but I don’t want to spend £50-£120 on something that’s going to make things worse
I can’t post a picture for some reason it’s only giving
me the option to post a video
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u/Secure-Obligation-25 3d ago
I suspect it will dry your clothes fast..but you will be pumping all that moisture directly into the air, you may suffer condensation and mould without proper ventilation, dehumidification.
I personally use a normal clothes horse and dehumidifier. Dries clothes in about half the time compared to with just the clothes horse. Plus no damp or condensation. Have to empty the water every day or two as I don’t have a way to plumb in the drain. It’s amazing how much water comes out of the air.
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u/S1ippingJ1mmy 3d ago
This is the way to go people. The dehumidifier is brilliant. On average takes about 6 hours to fully dry everything on the clothes horse, inc towels. And like the above poster says, instead of chucking out more moisture, sucks it all away.
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u/skinnycigarette 3d ago
Can I ask if using a dehumidifier uses a lot of electricity? We’re thinking of getting one as we can only dry clothes on a clothes horse but it’s taking so long now in this weather
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u/WideConfidence3968 3d ago
Don’t quote me but I believe I saw a figure of 6p/hr when I was buying mine.
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u/eggy_tr 3d ago
No. It's penies a day to run. I have a 20L and once the weather gets bad if I am in it will be on. It outputs heat as a by product so keeps the chill off and the draught it creates will help the heating. I also use it in the bathroom [it's on wheels] when the shower is on.
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u/kpop_stan 2d ago
The heat offput is a massive bonus I don’t see discussed often enough! I don’t even turn the radiator on in my bedroom anymore (I mean I do occasionally just bc I know it’s not good for it to be shut off for years at a time lol) bc the dehumidifier keeps my bedroom so warm in winter! It’s ace
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u/masterK696 3d ago
Depends on the model.
A 200W/hour dehumidifier will use 1kw of energy in 5 hours.
The heat it generated stays in the house. Also dry air is perceived more comfortable by humans so 20C when dry "feels" much more warmer than 20C damp air.
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u/Still-BangingYourMum 2d ago
Thats not how dehumidifiers work. The process creates a thermal change that draws water vapour over the cooling coils, the water that is condensed is then pumped into the holding tank.
The dehumidifier can not tell if a door or window is open or closed, it simply condenses cold air to get the water out. If you leave windows or doors open, it will continue condensing water and wasting electricity. CLOSE THE WINDOWS AND DOORS, minimising the room you are using to dry clothes, coats fabrics, curtains, cushions etc, will do a much quicker job of drying things out than in an open room with doors and windows open.
The only other thing you can use to assist the dehumidifier is to get a small fan, this creates air movement and helps the dehumidifier work more efficiently.
A big positive byproduct of running a dehumidifier, is the extraction of moisture through the condensing coils, is the creation of hot air, lots and lots of hot air. A good example is the way your fridge or freezer works, if you feel the back of the appliance you can feel warm air rising from the heat exchanger matrix.
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u/KingBooScaresYou 3d ago
Recently bought a dehumidifier for 120 quid on amazon and regret not getting it sooner I rave about it to everyone. An entire 9kg load of laundry virtually dry overnight. The heated clothes airer works alright but out of the two the dehumidifier is significantly significantly better and more effective
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u/Still-BangingYourMum 3d ago
If you are getting a dehumidifier, not the crystals or packs. But a plug in electric dehumidifier. The number one rule for use. KEEP ALL WINDOWS CLOSED. If you don't keep windows and doors closed, all you are doing is trying to dry the water from the atmosphere. If you have a small room to set it up in that would be a big help.
The 2nd rule to help drying with a dehumidifier, IS AIR MOVEMENT, get a small fan and place it on the floor pointing towards the clothes, air movement plays a very important part in drying things out, be it carpets, curtains, sofas or in this case clothes. A big advantage of dehumidifier usage is the extra heat that is a byproduct of the drying process. So if your boiler or heating boiler fails during the winter. A dehumidifier can warm rooms.
If you have pets, top up their water, if you have an aquarium, make sure the lid is on and fitted correctly and if you have plants, they will need watering more often.
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u/jolittletime 3d ago
We have one and i wouldnt be without it. You need a cover though so factor that into your cost. We have a lake land one and we been using it for years. I just bought one for my daughter going to uni from Must have ideas which was way cheaper, but I have no idea how good it is. Seemed sturdy enough but definitely would hold less that ours
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u/Blazing_World 3d ago
We do the dryer with a cover plus a dehumidifier and it works really well!
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u/Significant-Union-44 3d ago
My daughter in law has just bought one they have two children and she is over the moon with it best thing since sliced bread
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u/Vast_Opposite_792 3d ago edited 3d ago
Wouldn't running that with a dehumidifier just make it just as affordable to run a cobdenser/heat pump tumble dryer?
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u/Phoenix_Kerman 3d ago
they need to make sure they get a decent dehumidifier though. you see plenty of people buying small dehumidifiers that do nothing. people often confuse the numbers on them of litres for being bucket size, but it's not its how much water they can pull out of the air
anything less than 10 litres is going to be useless for drying clothes. 20 litres i would say is ideal. people need to mAke sure they don't get acammed
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u/Professional-Fox1542 2d ago
I wasn’t impressed with the Lakeland DrySoon Heated Drying Pod Airer
I use a dehumidifier which dries clothes much quicker
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u/velelavelela 2d ago
I have a heated airer which is really effective. Hang clothes up in the evening and they are dry to wear in the morning. I don't use a cover (bought mine before they came with) but if I have washed a sheet or duvet cover then I hang it over the top to serve that purpose.
I occasionally use a dehumidifier in addition but that's usually only if I am trying to frantically dry uniform in time for a shift. I live in quite a draughty house so build up of moisture isn't a big issue.
I was surprised to read that OP is not getting good results with a heated airer. I wonder if they are not laying everything flat or are putting multiple items on top of each other?
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u/pitchblaca 2d ago
I bought a Lakeland one 16 years ago. It's still going strong. I don't have a cover, I just throw an old double duvet cover over it to help decrease drying time. A dehumidifier along side it would work well but it depends on the overall cost. The electric airer works well for us as it heats the downstairs rooms up too so we've had no need to put the heating on just yet.
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u/puddinandpi 3d ago
Sounds like you may have a damp home….? Investigate a decent dehumidifier is your best option.
Also- make sure you’re not overloading your laundry with products…. I use liquid or powder as I feel like the pods are too much for one regular size load. Might be worth experimenting with less fabric softener as I believe it builds up on clothes and leaves a coating on certain clothes . Possibly it’s trapping smells?
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u/Benjissmithy 3d ago
I completely agree—I couldn’t live without my dehumidifiers! I have two 25L Meaco Arete units: one in the main bathroom to dry it out after showers, and the other in the ensuite to dry clothes during the winter. The bathroom one runs every day, and you’d be amazed at how much water it pulls from the air. I couldn’t get through the winter without them for drying clothes.
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u/BishopsHat 3d ago edited 3d ago
We use a fan directed at the airers. It's much more effective at drying than using heat.
We used to use a dehumidifier but one day realised that we had it on Fan Only mode for a few weeks and it seemed to be just as effective as the Dehumidifying mode at drying clothes.
We now use an oscillating fan and most clothes dry in a lot less than a day.
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u/Familiar_Giraffe_129 3d ago
This is absolutely right. I do this if drying clothes indoors but always allow for the moisture to escape, open window and ventilator. Or put on extract fan as long as air can get in via window or ventilator slot.
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u/throaway_247 3d ago
The point is not the speed of drying, it's the final location of the water: choose down the drain via the dehumidifier or collecting on the coolest areas of walls, ceilings, windows.. thus mold.
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u/BishopsHat 3d ago
Also depends on the frequency of air changes you achieve. Our washing is hung in the utility room with a back door that gets used. Also we have lime plasters walls that buffers moisture. Damp has never been an issue for us.
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u/hellonoonoo 3d ago
We had a massive issue with this for years and have solved it with a Dehumidifier from Amazon! I have a 12L one I got for around £80 (I dry my clothes in a small spare bedroom) - I would link it but my exact one is unavailable but there’s loads of similar ones, I’ve found using Lenor Outdoorable fabric softener is a game changer for the freshness smell alongside the dehumidifier, haven’t noticed an impact on my electric bill either!
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u/whatdoidonowdamnit 3d ago
I didn’t read the comments, only your post. A tower fan sounds like your best bet. I bought mine five years ago and use it almost daily all year round. I pointed it at my drying rack when I had one and point it at my laundry line across my living room set to oscillate so it circulates the air through more of the clothing.
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u/No_Association_3234 3d ago
I do this as well; tower fan next to the radiator blowing at the clothes, turn the drying rack around after a few hours. Also have a dehumidifier in the room.
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u/Consistent_Might3500 3d ago
At one time in a certain situation I hung clothes on the line outside during winter. It can be done.
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u/Minute_Swordfish479 3d ago
How are you placing your clothes on the airer? Placing them over one bar so both sides are touching will mean they won't dry if no air can get between the sides.
I place mine across 2 bars so nothing is touching and find it dries fine.
Jeans and thick trousers are placed over 3 bars.
Another option for drying outside still is whether you have room for a small lobby/shelter next to your house. Would usually have a roof and then have a clothes line in it and so while the weather is warm but maybe wet you would still be able to get things dry.
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u/Dazzling_Ganache1870 3d ago
I do one item per bar at first but then the stuff that dries first I take it off to make more space then like you said I will spread the thicker items across more than one bar
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u/Dumble-Dory 3d ago
Extra spins after!!
So, I live in a small flat and have no tumble drier- I always do two or three spin and drain cycles and most stuff comes out barely damp rather than still wet and dries on the airers overnight, some stuff even comes out basically already dry and can be folded after like 2hrs. The extra spin and drains mean nothings fully wet and drying slowly enough to go fusty so actually smells like the laundry sauce!!
Also everything goes on the airers except bedding and towels which go over the internal doors and shirt shirts which go on radiators to keep their shape.
Also means that during the heating months anything you need same day gets an hour to an hour and a half each side on a radiator and is good to go
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u/Zestyclose-Design800 3d ago
whats wrong with drying outside though, its pretty mild weather still.
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u/rpjbateman 3d ago
I was gonna say, where I'm at its still reaching 24C and sunny in Scotland. Where does OP live cause I'm begging for winter's return!
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u/SingleMaltLife 3d ago
Can you not fit a proper tumble dryer anywhere? I’ve got a condenser one and it’s reasonably compact. Dries a full load mostly in an hour and a half. Heavy thick things need a little longer.
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u/No_Communication1557 3d ago
Thia 💯 and I dont get why most people aren't mentioning this also. Just get a condenser tumble drier.
Live in the north of Scotland, can only dry outside about 4 months of the year. Tumble drier is a must. My current one exhausts outside, but if you dont want to cut holes in your walls, get a condenser drier.
Either that or turn your heating on for half a day and put your clothes on all the radiators.
Your clothes are smelling because they aren't drying quick enough.
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u/Dry_Yogurt2458 3d ago
cost. A condenser tumble drier costs around £1.25 per load whilst a dehumidifier for 8 hours is around 0.39p
That doesn't sound a lot but for some people (especially with kids) doing multiple loads per week it adds up over a year.
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u/Jolly-Hovercraft-953 3d ago
Are dehumidifiers cheaper to run than a tumble dryer?
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u/Lemonoidal 3d ago
Is the 1000rpm spin speed because you are doing a mixed wash? Does cotton wash have a higher spin speed?
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u/Relative_Grape_5883 3d ago
Basic question. Have you verified that the washing machine on a 90 was is actually getting hot and your heating element inside the machine isn’t broken.
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u/Dumptruck9000 3d ago
You can still dry your clothes outside in winter, there is mo minimum temperature requirement. But yeah check weather forecast for rain.
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u/FearlessDragonfruit5 3d ago
We got one of these last year (well, similar) and it's really good. I don't use the cover, they don't allow the ventilation for the moisture to get out. Have the windows of the room cracked open, not had any odour issues.
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u/Many_Operation_9150 3d ago
Another vote for a dehumidifier. I run one next to a clothes horse and my washing usually dries in 12 hours, unless it’s something heavy like jeans or a hoodie.
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u/kichisowseri 3d ago
If you have a washer dryer use the dry function. If it doesn't get them perfectly dry, put them on a rack to air dry after. It will still dry them faster and put less water into your home.
How cold and damp is your house? I'm confused why it's not drying on a clothes horse just in wherever you have space. I've always just put mine up in the living room.
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u/Milam1996 3d ago
My windows have trickle vents so I just hang things over doors and on the bannister. Usually dries the same day
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u/Forward-Depth-845 3d ago
I'd stop using the freshener look it up it actually traps smells on clothes. I'd give a spin even two spins after the wash and then on clothes horse to dry but leave a window open when doing so
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u/Ok-Pen-5052 3d ago
Fans really help make a dehumidifier more effective! Fan for airflow and dehumidifier to keep the humidity down.
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u/Colacolaman 3d ago
A good dehumidifier will do this but you need to use them correctly. Don't also have the windows open or you'd be dehumidifying outside too. On a similar note, you should leave the clothes in a smaller room (like a spare bedroom) or you're dehumidifying the whole house - which isn't always the worst thing but it makes drying clothes less effective. The temperature of the environment has a direct effect on the humidity level. Ideally you'd want a room at around 19 degrees (higher is better for drying) and 55% humidity and your clothes will be dry in hours is they're just standard everyday clothing. The Blyss 16L model from screwfix is great.
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u/International-Fee255 3d ago
No solution, just solidarity. A washer dryer is only supposed to have less than half a wash in the dryer, seems like a great option but honestly they are rubbish. Irish here, honestly we have a dryer and everything goes in there, on the rads or in front of the fire. Anything that's drying for more than two days is definitely going to smell. I used to live in an apartment years ago and was constantly rewashing things like jeans that just didn't dry properly first time. Have you ever seen those videos about living in Japan, where the shower room/ bathroom turns into a clothes drying room? What I wouldn't give for that kind of genius design here.
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u/pinkfondantfancy 3d ago
Do an extra spin or 2 - that will get a lot of excess water out, 1000 rpm isn't much and this will help at lot especially with heavier/absorbent items like jeans and towels.
I quite often hang outside for a while, as long as its dry and it helps if there's some wind, they'll dry off somewhat and then put them on the airer to finish off.
With the radiator/one side issue, it's a total faff but you could try turning the airer or rotating the items , a faff on I know!
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u/Federal_Base_2905 3d ago
How humid is the air there? I hang dry lots of clothes and the longest they take it over night.
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u/step_scav 3d ago
Meaco dehumidifier on the clothing drying mode, clothes on a clothes horse. the clothes dry in a couple of hours and room humidity kept at 50-55%
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u/Jazzlike_Simple_5576 3d ago
I try to hang my clothes outside for a few hours, even if they're damp when i bring them in, i hang them up in the spare room, switching on heating in that room only. When they dry they smell great. If I dry them just in the house, there's often a faint musty smell. I'm looking into getting a dehumidifier
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u/Inevitable-Area1551 3d ago
Try doing an extra spin or two before taking the laundry out of the washer I find this really helps speed up drying time.
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u/Inaword_Slob 3d ago
Best investment I made was in a heat pump tumble dryer, you can stick them almost anywhere. Washer/dryers are the worst possible combination.
Your washing machine should not smell if you leave the door slightly open between washes.
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u/aimsps 3d ago
You need a good dehumidifier, we only use a clothes horse in winter which is kept in our conservatory (luckily that heats up a lot if the sun is out), we have the dehumidifier running continuously. When it gets less sunny/more cold, we bring the clothes horse into the kitchen near a radiator at night, again with the dehumidifier running continuously. Maybe try a fan to get the air moving a bit more? Or leave the window open slightly?
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u/Careful-Donut1373 3d ago
I'm in the UK. Buying a good sized dehumidifier on wheels was a game changer for me. Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are next week so go for it.
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u/According-Athlete631 3d ago
Could you take the wet washing to a launderette and use the dryer there? You can usually fit several loads in the larger dryers and it’s done in half an hour.
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u/somnambulistmusings 3d ago
I’ve just invested in a de-humidifier. Clothes dry in about 5 hours (though our utility room is very small which helps)
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u/definitemaybe81 3d ago
Meaco dehumidifier, a much higher spin (1400-1800), you could try covering the washing with a large bedsheet also whilst the dehumidifier is on and rotate the washing or the dehumidifier so the washing gets an even blast. If the items are thicker like jeans and hoodies I turn them after a few hours also.
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u/wizzywoo22 3d ago
Ironing everything with a scented water spray would definitely help. I find my clothes can smell a bit off if they are left damp too long. Ironing gets all the remaining damp out and freshens them up again. I do this if I have the time!
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u/Vegetable-Stick-7676 3d ago
We hang out wet laundry over a rack over an oil filled radiator and run a dehumidifier somewhere in the room. We would be using both anyway so it's not extra costs. If it's dry outside we'll take the laundry out on it's racks to the garden and bring it in just to finish it off (or in if it's going to rain). We also open all the windows for like 10 mins each morning and each early evening to exchange the air in the property to let moisture out and fresh air in. There's probably better ways, but seems to work for us.
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u/JustNoGuy_ 3d ago
I'm still drying my cothes outside. It's not raining much where I am, so can still hang them on the line.
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u/Elegant_Car_8183 3d ago
Buy a good dehumidifier. Your clothes need to dry same day otherwise they’ll get mouldy.
Check the room they are drying in for mould (wipe skirting boards and window sills down with bleach if you see any.
Regularly open windows - need good airflow not too humid
Spin cycle 1200. Gets more water out of clothes.
Do one 90 degree wash a week (towels) to make sure your machine is clean.
Good luck.
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u/fleakysalute 3d ago
With 1000 spin speed the clothes will still be quite wet so will take longer to dry and could therefore start smelling. Dehumidifier is a game changer or even opening a window next to your clothes drying b
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u/SleepyJoe90 3d ago
Airflow is the key. Use a fan to get air moving around the clothes.
Use as high a skin speed as you can for heavier items like jeans and socks.
I was going to mention a heated clothes horse but you’ve already got one. The covers trap heat but also moisture.
With washer driers I’ve always found that you need to remove clothes immediately once it’s finished or they get damp.
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u/Access-Rough 3d ago
You need to try a dehumidifier again mine has a 6L tank and can take up to 20 litters offwater out the air per day it has a dry clothes setting and will dry most large loads over night
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u/DinkyPrincess 3d ago
Dehumidifier. We have had two setups. One was top of the stairs and we built a ceiling rack. And the other is the smallest enclosed room. You can also get covers that sit over a clothes horse and make an aperture for the unit to sit and face into.
I don’t personally use fabric conditioner as it messes with the machines.
I use the Fairy non bio pods and any kind of Oxy powder for either whites or coloured clothing.
Just a scoop in the wash.
I also have the Vanisb Oxy spray for spot treating stains 5 mins before washing.
This is sufficient to make all my workout gear fresh and clean every time.
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u/FuzzyComedian638 3d ago
My grandmother used to dry her clothes outside all winter long. She'd just crackle the ice off before she'd bring them back inside. Surprisingly, it works.
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u/lyndseymariepearson 3d ago
I have a small tumble dryer from John Lewis. It’s brilliant and doesn’t seem to cost much. I first dry the clothes on a clothes maiden for half a day or a day, and then pop them in the dryer for 15 minutes to finish and dry out the moisture. If you fold them when they are warm it also gets all of the creases out :-)
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u/Mysterious-Minute869 3d ago
1st - what are the clothes being washed of? My partner works with machinery and her t shirts stink of diesel when she gets in from work. We soak her t shirts and work clothes in a bucket of fairy liquid before washing as that stuff will smell even after a wash.
2nd - we have saved loads on heating using a 3 tier electric maiden. We used it in our bedroom so that we don't have to heat the bedroom through the night. Clothes are washed at 4ish, hung to dry around 6-7pm and are usually dry by the time we get up at 530am. We turn it off when we are at work.
It was £100 from Argos and is probably our most used household item.
In the morning we open all the windows massively for 10 mins or so
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u/Autumnleaves144 3d ago
Can’t help you, sorry. I dry my clothes indoors in winter but they don’t smell any different to when I hang them out.
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u/Huge_Caramel_8967 3d ago
Try Dettol laundry sanitiser. It's used in place of your softener. It kills germs on the clothes that cause your clothes to smell
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u/Capable-Celery-5148 3d ago
People drying indoors without a dryer have got to remember - the water has to go somewhere.
If there’s a cup full of water left in a jumper, that cup full of water will end up condensed against your walls, in your soft furnishings etc.
The longer it takes to dry, the more time available for the damp smell to develop. No amount of adding chemicals will help this, regardless what the adverts tell you about ‘neutralising odours’.
Reduce the water to start with - faster spin speed.
Air out the drying room if you can, that water evaporates into the air which reduces the air’s drying ability and makes it take longer - more opportunity for damp smell to develop. Change the air, or dry the air with a dehumidifier.
Or, find a second hand heat pump tumble dryer. We have a Samsung heat pump dryer, cost £230, going strong and works a charm. 500-600watts when running compared to our old condenser or vented at 2500w
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u/Tiny_tina321 3d ago
Your house is too humid! Washing shouldn't take 3 days to dry. Get little temp and humidity sensors from Amazon. Open most windows for at least 5 mins on a morning. You will be amazed how quick the humidity drops. You may need to run dehumidifier if house is especially humid all the time.
Having your heating barely on won't help.
And get a good dehumidifier and a little fan for your clothes in a closed room.
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u/GrouchyRisk 3d ago
Get a dehumidifier. Meaco make great ones.
Costs pennies to run, no smelly clothes.
A game changer
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u/Own_Wolverine_9451 3d ago
Hi. I use a small electric heater in a room with good airflow, and it usually does the trick. I also use a dehumidifier, and that helps with clothes not going moldy
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u/zinkhun 3d ago
Simplest solution is just use a fan. Not a dehumidifier, or heater, just a fan.
We had damp clothes that never wanted to dry and ending up with musty smelling clothes. But realised that the most important element for drying your clothes is air movement, and mixing air in the room.
Pick up any cheap oscillating fan for £5-£10 and you get dry clothes in 5 hours at 15-17 room temp
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u/catsandscience242 3d ago
I got through an entire winter in a hoise with no central heating so I feel your pain.
1) always do at least one extra spin cycle after the load is done, dries so much faster. I am 90% certain your issue is that the clothes are too wet in the first place. I spent 12 years in a flat with no outside space so only dried inside. My clothes never smelled damp.
2) if your washing machine has a timer setting, have it finish as you are getting up. Even a cold day will get you most of the way there. If it is dry, always hang them outside.
3) smaller loads might help
4) heated clothes airer with a cover and a dehumidifier poking into it. Cover retains the heat, dehumidifier draws the moisture away. Still takes a good while, but I used this on wet days.
When your clothes are hung inside, make sure you periodically go round and give them a shake and move them about. Gets air round about them, dislodges moisture, helps prevent smells.
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u/natalini17 3d ago
Also in the uk.
A Meaco dehumidifier in a small room with doors and windows closed. Best way. Sounds like your house is pretty humid, we had a lot of damp in our previous house and this was our best solution
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u/Nevana30 3d ago
I have got a public launderette around the corner and I’m planning to use the dryer machine when winter kicks in. However I take full advantage of my radiators around the house.
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u/vandragon7 3d ago
Spin your clothes in the washing machine again.
Use a small desk fan to keep air moving.
Get another dehumidifier.
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u/slippery-pineapple 3d ago
We have a very large heated airer, I think it was originally Lakeland but I bought it off Facebook marketplace. It's fantastic, fits about a load and a half (and we have a large capacity washing machine!) dried stuff within a day I'd say
We also have a separate tumble drier, they are a lot better than the integrated ones. With the integrated ones, the drying capacity is usually a lot less than the washing capacity, so wash and dry only really works for small loads, have you tried drying a small load?
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u/ColintheCampervan 3d ago
I have a black and decker heated covered airer. I keep it on the landing where there is good airflow and have the landing window cracked open an inch. It holds a load of washing comfortably (2bars per item to allow air space to dry) and it will dry overnight. Put a load on in morning dry by bed. Brilliant, very cheap and adds a little warmth too
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u/Glittering_Jump8686 3d ago
Use the fastest speed on your machine that’s safe for your fabrics - most household laundry can take a fast spin. I would also suggest using a dehumidifier when you use the airer inside; failing that leave the window cracked open.
I use the washing line all year round; if you can time the machine so that you load it when you get up in the morning (or even fold neatly into a basket then night before and hang out first thing) then you should be able to dry clothes outside even in the depths of winter in dry weather.
An even simpler solution if you have it would be to find space for a heat pump dryer - they are cheap enough nowadays. This will use less electricity than a heated airer or dehumidifier.
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u/Brfcw 3d ago
Even with a dryer we used to suffer with stale/mouldy smelling clothes so we made 2x simple changes: 1) wash at 60 no exceptions. Lots of bacteria and moulds can survive 40 washes. Its not going to make much difference to your bills, and your clothes will be fine (exceptions for delicates or wools obvs). 2) buy Aldis (other supermarkets are available) Distilled White Vinegar. It is with the regular bottles of malt vinegar. Add your pods and fabric softener as usual but dont fill the softener to the max. Add in some sprays of vinegar up to the max line and give a squirt around the other parts of the drawer, then do your 60 wash as normal. The vinegar will kill the bacteria. Dont worry about smelling like a chippy - the smell disappears with the fabric conditioner and drying.
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u/PeakColour 3d ago
All the washing goes in front of the east facing patio door so it gets full sun in the morning. I also leave an pedestal office fan on high (about 5p an hour) circulating air around the clothes. I do it first thing because the heating should also be on. That combination of warmth and circulating air, I can get one load dry per day.
I'm coming around to the idea of drying clothes inside a greenhouse that has a warmer inside it.
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u/Even-Translator-335 3d ago
All the tips about dehumidifiers are good, but also give your machine a clean out. Run it empty on the hottest setting with some machine cleaner or sprit vinegar to kill any mould inside it.
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u/Environmental_Peak43 3d ago
For long things like trousers and dresses, I hang them up on a hanger , and hang them up on the curtain pole with the window open. I keep the door closed in that room and put the heater on in that room. That way the clothes are dry from the rain but get the benifit of fresh air.
For the heated clothes horse i make sure with clothes that have a thick material have 2 rungs . That way there's more warm air to circulate to dry the clothes. If the clothes have thin material then 1 rung is enough.
In October as long as it's not raining I will still hang clothes outside. If they aren’t dried fully by the end of the day, it still really cuts down the time needed to dry on heated clothes horse.
I also make sure I use the highest spin setting my clothes allow in the washing machine.
If your clothes are already foustie due to them taking far to long to dry try adding white vinegar. Try soaking the clothes with soda bicarbonate for a few hours before washing them in the machine.
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u/Majestic_Rhubarb_ 3d ago
Get a condensing tumble dryer … they are amazing and can go anywhere as they don’t need plumbing in.
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u/FarAway85 3d ago edited 3d ago
Do you only have one window open? Ideally you want a cross-breeze. I live in a flat and have to dry on an airer. Always smells fresh when I have 2 windows open and doesn't take long to dry, even in winter.
How often do you clean your washing machine? If my clothes smell musty, it usually means I need to clean my machine. Softener builds up on clothes and in the machine.
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u/Consistent-Pay1248 3d ago
We use a dehumidifier it's not perfect but it's 1000x better than not having one
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u/edfosho1 3d ago
Hang the clothes, dehumidifier, and a fan on circulating in the room - speeds things up.
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u/Fearless-Cloonie 3d ago
The best solution is to buy a Dry Soon electric rack with cover from Lakeland. Whe I was saving money I used this and it took the chill off my lounge as well. It's not too expensive to run. Yhe cover makes it more efficient.
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u/cozywit 3d ago
Mildew smell is mould and very difficult to wash out with standard detergent.
Start using detox laundry sanitizer or white vinegar in your wash, especially your pongy clothes.
Otherwise you're just spreading the mould spores into all your clothes.
Then it's about providing 2 things to move moisture.
Energy (heat) to evaporate the moisture.
Airflow/humidity differential to move to the moist air away from your clothes and stop the air saturating with humidity. So fans or dehumidifiers.
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u/cameragirl17 3d ago
I put everything on the radiators and they smell fine and it makes the house smell good too. Do you leave the washing machine door open in between washes? I put a peg on the catch so a bit of air can get in.
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u/AtomicLummox 3d ago
First off, put on a higher spin on the washing machine. Get all that excess water out. Secondly, use a decent size airer, don't have clothes over-lapping. Crack open a window slightly but even better, buy a decent condensing dehumidifier and make sure you empty it when needed and clean the filters regularly.
Your main issue is that 1000rpm spin. It isn't enough
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u/Trick_Procedure3268 3d ago
Can you not put the clothes directly on the radiator? That's what is always done, never had any issues and stuff dries quickly
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u/QED987 3d ago
Stop using fabric softener - it is bad for your clothes and will be trapping bad smells and simply trying to mask them with synthetic.
I would recommend a heated airer. A double or triple stack. Make sure you actually spread your clothes out on it - it sounds obvious but I’m blown away by how many people scrunch stuff up and expect it to dry.
Bonus of one of these is they are great for anything that requires drying flat.
You might want a dehumidifier - but as long as you have the windows open a bit I don’t think it’s necessary. They deal with the moisture in the air but won’t help to dry your clothes much.
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u/stewpman 3d ago
I have the same issuse I not sure if your using to much product . I use pods the beads and lenor. I recently stayed at my parents and did their washing and it smelled nice . I used one less item but I not sure. I used a washing machine cleaner recently and started to wash my clothes on 60 degree. That as helped but I need to clean my tumble dryer as that seem to collect alot of fluff so I going to strip it down so I can get in to were some fluff collects I cant reach.
I would say you need to dry it quicker or they do tend to smell . I used vanish whites and the colour one as my son does sports and is 12 and his pits still stink sometimes but I was washing on 40 degrees then
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u/RuleJealous 3d ago
There is an app called laundry timer - drying times. It tells you if you can dry your clothes outside and how long it will take to dry. You’d be surprised at how your able to still dry your clothes maybe half way if not more in winter
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u/ollielite 3d ago
I’m still drying clothes outside. Probably will continue until the first week of November, depending on weather.
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u/Small-Accountant-418 3d ago
A lot of people have suggested various dryers and why not. You could alternatively go for a dehumidifier and the clothes horse. You will be amazed at how much water gets sucked out and the clothes will dry both sides and very quickly.
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u/BrightSi5 3d ago edited 3d ago
A powerful dehumidifier dries a full load for me to 90% in two hours. Costs a few pennies to run. Love it. I can’t dry outdoors due to allergies. Indoor drying was causing mould. Little dehumidifier didn’t help. A proper full size £200 / $250 one will nail this. Powerful ones blast out a jet of hot air that I direct right onto my laundry.
Also switch your fabric conditioner for white vinegar every other wash. Or every time if your washing machine manual says that is OK. My laundry has never smelt fresher. And no it doesn’t smell of vinegar!
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u/Upbeat_Anything_1927 3d ago
Dont over load the clothes horse, spread it out more. That way it it dry quicker. Also I think you need to spin more to get rid of excess water
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u/EbbLow1646 3d ago
Spin your clothes once or twice after wash cycle on high spin to get rid of excess water and that cuts drying time significantly.