Winter woes: Tackling indoor laundry drying challenges

Doing laundry is unavoidable, no matter the season or our motivation. In spring and summer, laundry becomes a delight as clothes dry quickly in the fresh air, leaving a lovely fragrance. In winter, the situation becomes trickier, and drying laundry becomes a task that demands planning. Is drying clothes indoors during the winter honestly a wise idea?

Almost everyone is familiar with this scenario: laundry is finished, but the weather outside isn't suitable for hanging it up. The natural solution seems to be to set up the laundry indoors, a common practice in winter despite its disadvantages. We arrange the drying rack and place it near the heater to speed up the drying process, although this often leads to multiple issues.

Drying laundry indoors is risky as it raises the humidity levels in the home. The absence of a dryer in winter doesn't mean we lack excess moisture indoors - it's often evident from fogged-up windows and a distinctive odour. Additionally, drying laundry indoors can lead to mould growth, easily noticeable on grout, walls, or the ceiling. Mould is detrimental to health, potentially causing allergies that manifest as a runny nose, rash or asthma attacks.

How can you dry laundry in winter without risking your health? There are a few methods to consider, the most important being to check the weather forecast. Use a smartphone app to identify warmer days that allow you to hang laundry on the balcony or terrace.

And what about cold or cloudy days? After finishing the laundry, throw a dry, large towel into the drum and rerun the spin cycle. The towel will absorb moisture, allowing you to hang laundry safely on an indoor drying rack without worrying about excessive humidity levels. A practical solution is to separate the laundry into smaller loads, which will speed up the drying process.