Experts warn indoor laundry drying can increase damp and mould risk

Pairing an ordinary clothes airer with a dehumidifier is one way to dry laundry indoors while reducing moisture in the home, experts say. The advice comes as households look for alternatives to tumble dryers during the colder months, when drying washing outside may be difficult.

Water from wet clothes evaporates into the air rather than disappearing. If it builds up indoors, it can contribute to condensation and damp, and in more serious cases mould. Poorly ventilated rooms may be particularly vulnerable, according to Stephen Hankinson, an energy expert at Electric Radiators Direct.

Max Wilson, co-founder of self-storage company Pocket Storage, said an airer used with a dehumidifier could be useful for households that regularly dry clothes indoors, including people without a garden or balcony. The dehumidifier takes moisture out of the surrounding air, while the airer holds the washing.

Wilson advised people who already own a dehumidifier to try using it alongside an airer before buying another drying appliance. He said users should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, leave the machine’s air intake and outlet unobstructed, and keep dripping clothes away from it. He also stressed that a dehumidifier does not supply fresh air, so ventilation remains necessary.

Scott Godfrey, a construction trade consultant at Black Hammer, said a dehumidifier could be preferable to a heated airer where condensation is already a problem, because a heated airer warms clothes but does not remove moisture from the room. He recommended spacing clothes out on an airer in a relatively small room and placing the dehumidifier nearby, with enough room for air to circulate.

Godfrey suggested keeping the room’s door and windows closed while the dehumidifier is running, to avoid continually bringing in more air. That advice sits alongside Wilson’s reminder that ventilation is still needed; people should follow their appliance instructions and consider how to keep the room ventilated safely.

A heated airer is another option. Scott Byrom, home energy expert at The Energy Shop, said it warms clothes directly and can dry them faster than an unheated rack. He said a typical model uses around 200 to 300 watts, with a four-hour drying session costing roughly 20p to 30p, compared with an estimated 70p to £1 for a tumble-dryer cycle. Costs will depend on the household’s electricity tariff and appliance use.

Byrom said households doing several loads a week could save more than £50 over autumn and winter by switching from a tumble dryer to a heated airer. That figure is an estimate, rather than a guaranteed saving for every home.

Drying pods were also described as a lower-power alternative. Ian Palmer-Smith, an appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, said heated airers and pods can cost less to run than tumble dryers, although they may need to operate for longer. He said pods can be gentler on delicate fabrics and sportswear, reducing the risk of shrinkage and damage.

Palmer-Smith cautioned that heated airers and drying pods must be used according to manufacturers’ guidance and checked regularly. He warned against using them in small, enclosed rooms with little ventilation, where heat and humidity can build up.

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