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AUTUMN is here and the cold, wet days make drying our laundry an arduous affair.
Dehumidifiers and heated airers can help, but they don’t come cheap.
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Kirsten Jones finds eight surprisingly fast and frugal ways to speed up drying time.
LET WET STUFF SIT: According to homes expert Martha Stewart, leaving wet clothes in the washing machine will help them dry faster.
Her blog suggests letting your load sit overnight to help drain excess water. It will drastically reduce air drying time in the morning.
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FOIL BALLS: If you own a tumble dryer, chucking a few balls of tin foil in the drum can help speed up drying time and reduce the energy bill.
Three or four tightly scrunched balls will to banish static and help separate your clothes so that they dry evenly.
WARM AIR TENT: Throwing a dry bed sheet over your airer creates a ‘tent’, trapping and circulating warm air so your clothes dry faster.
Place your drying rack next to a warm radiator before loading it up with wet laundry.
Cover the rack with your sheet, tuck one end into the back of the radiator and enjoy warm, dry clothes within hours.
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IRON DAMP CLOTHING: Ironing clothes when they are slightly damp will smooth out wrinkles and complete the drying process at the same time, especially for materials such as cotton and linen.
Be careful, though. To avoid scorch marks, never use it on fully wet items.
BURRITO TOWEL TECHNIQUE: Avoid puddles under the airer with this roll-up revelation.
Lay a dry towel on a flat surface and pop your drenched item of clothing – one per towel – neatly on top.
Starting at one end, roll the towel and garment in unison, applying gentle pressure to squeeze the water out.
Then hang your item on the airer, where it will dry in hours rather than overnight.
SUCK UP MOISTURE WITH MICROFIBRE TOWELS: Once you have put all your wet laundry on the airer, leave space to hang a couple of dry microfibre towels.
The densely packed material allows air to flow more freely and speeds up the evaporation process, helping suck up any excess moisture from your clothes.
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NOODLE FOR NO CREASES: Squidgy pool noodles are not just for swimming class – they drastically cut the chance of creased clothing, too.
Find a spare one and cut it to the length of your drying rack rods, then cut one side lengthways to make a gap to its centre.
Slip the newly cut noodle around the rod of your drying rack.
The smooth curve will stop harsh lines forming on your clothes as they dry and cut down on ironing time.
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DRY TOWEL IN THE DRYER: Add a clean, dry towel to your tumble dryer before starting a hot spin to help wick away moisture in a fraction of the time.
You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the towel if you fancy freshly scented clothes.
