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An Ideal Home report recommends six habits for drying laundry indoors: spin clothes again, space them out, use a heated airer, pair it with a dehumidifier, position it for airflow and ventilate the room. These are practical suggestions, not a guarantee against damp or mould; results depend on the home, weather and drying setup.
Ideal Home has outlined six habits for drying laundry indoors that may help clothes dry more efficiently and limit moisture in the home: remove more water in the wash, leave space between garments, use a heated airer, run a dehumidifier, place the rack where air can circulate and ventilate the room. The advice matters during cold or wet weather, when outdoor drying is less practical and wet clothes can add moisture to indoor air.
The article’s first recommendation is to run an extra spin cycle before hanging clothes, provided the garment and washing machine can handle the selected spin speed. The report says this can be especially useful for towels, jeans and bedding, which retain more water. Less water left in the fabric means less moisture needs to evaporate indoors, although the article gives no measured drying-time or humidity results for this step.
It also advises leaving space between garments on a rack so air can move around them. Sleeves should be spread out, shirts opened and trouser legs kept from overlapping. Brabantia laundry expert Lauren Roelofs says avoiding an overcrowded rack helps clothes dry more evenly. She also recommends turning heavier items partway through drying to reduce the chance of damp patches.
The remaining suggestions are to consider a heated clothes airer, use a dehumidifier alongside it, keep the rack slightly away from walls and ventilate the room. Lakeland buying lead Catrin Parry says a dehumidifier can remove excess moisture from the air, while a cover for a heated airer may retain warmth and shorten drying time depending on the load and conditions. The source does not provide independent test results supporting a particular product or a guaranteed reduction in damp.
Reducing Moisture From Indoor Laundry
Drying clothes inside moves water from wet fabric into the air unless that moisture is removed through ventilation or dehumidification. If indoor moisture builds up, it can contribute to condensation; persistent damp conditions can create a risk of mould. The recommendations focus on reducing the water in clothes, improving airflow around them and managing moisture in the room.
For readers, the advice offers options that do not all require buying equipment: spacing garments, turning heavier items, choosing a better spot for the rack and ventilating are changes to routine. Heated airers and dehumidifiers may help, but they involve purchase and running costs. The article does not compare those costs or establish which combination works best in different homes.
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Why Indoor Drying Adds Moisture
The report frames its advice around colder, wetter weather, when outdoor lines may be less useful and households may rely more on indoor racks. It notes that a tumble dryer is not available or affordable for everyone, making air drying a common alternative. Its central point is that water from washing has to go somewhere: as clothes dry, moisture enters the surrounding air unless airflow or a moisture-removal device carries it away.
The six suggestions are drawn from an Ideal Home article that quotes representatives from Brabantia and Lakeland. The supplied source describes practical recommendations and product examples, but does not cite a controlled study, health authority guidance or measurements of indoor humidity. Its advice should be read as household guidance rather than a claim that following all six steps will prevent damp or mould.
“One of the simplest ways to speed things up is to avoid overcrowding your drying rack. Leaving space between garments allows air to circulate, helping clothes dry more evenly.”
— Lauren Roelofs, laundry expert at Brabantia
How Much These Steps Help
The source does not state how much each step changes drying time, room humidity or mould risk, and it gives no publication date. Its drying-time estimate for an airer cover is conditional, not a universal result. The effect of ventilation will also depend on factors such as outdoor weather, the room and available airflow; the report does not quantify those differences.
It is also unclear whether the six habits alone are sufficient in homes with existing damp, poor ventilation or persistent condensation. The article offers general household recommendations, not an assessment of a particular property or a guarantee that mould will be prevented.
Putting the Six Habits Into Practice
Households following the advice can start with the no-cost measures: use a suitable extra spin, avoid crowding the rack, spread garments out and position the airer for airflow. The report also recommends ventilating the room and turning heavier items during drying. Anyone considering a heated airer or dehumidifier will need to weigh the likely usefulness against purchase and electricity costs; the source does not provide a cost comparison.
Readers should monitor whether condensation or damp persists rather than assuming one device or routine will solve it. The supplied report does not announce a follow-up study or further official guidance, so there is no next research milestone identified.
Key Questions
What are the six recommended habits for drying laundry indoors?
Run an extra spin when suitable, leave room between clothes, consider a heated airer, pair the rack with a dehumidifier, keep the airer away from walls and ventilate the room.
Does a heated clothes airer remove moisture from the room?
Not by itself, according to the report. It helps dry clothes, while a dehumidifier is intended to remove moisture from the air. The article recommends using both, but does not quantify their combined effect.
Why should clothes be spaced out on a drying rack?
Spacing garments allows air to circulate around them, which Brabantia expert Lauren Roelofs says can help clothes dry more evenly. The report also suggests turning heavier items partway through drying.
Will these steps prevent mould?
The source presents them as ways to reduce moisture and support drying, not as a guarantee. It does not provide evidence that the tips alone will prevent mould, particularly where damp or ventilation problems already exist.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
