How do I dry clothes indoors without causing damp?

Drying clothes indoors is one of the largest single moisture sources in a home, and it's the most common cause of a sudden new mould problem. The water has to go somewhere. Everything below is about getting it out of the house rather than into the walls.

What you'll need

• Clothes airer
• Dehumidifier (optional)
• Fan (optional)

Step by step

1. Spin the load at the highest speed the fabrics allow.This is the cheapest thing you can do — the more water removed mechanically, the less has to evaporate into your house.
2. Dry in one room, with the door closed.Containing the moisture in one place is much better than letting it spread through the house.
3. Open a window in that room, or run an extractor fan.The moisture needs an exit. A closed room with wet washing is exactly how mould starts.
4. Space garments out with air gaps between them.Crowded washing dries far more slowly, which extends the period of high humidity.
5. Use a dehumidifier in the same room if you dry indoors regularly.It's the most effective solution short of a vented dryer, and modern ones are reasonably efficient.
6. Don't dry clothes on radiators.It puts moisture straight into the room, reduces the radiator's output, and can push heating costs up.
7. Move air across the washing with a fan if you want it faster.Airflow speeds evaporation considerably. Combined with a dehumidifier it's very effective.
8. Keep an eye on cold external walls and window reveals in that room.They're where the moisture will condense first, and where mould will appear if you're overloading the room.

Tips

• A heated airer with a cover is far cheaper to run than a tumble dryer and contains the moisture, but it still needs ventilation.
• A hygrometer in the drying room tells you whether you're creating a problem. Sustained readings above 60% relative humidity are a warning.
• Dry towels and heavy items outdoors or in a dryer where possible — they hold the most water by a wide margin.
• If you must dry in a bedroom, don't sleep in it that night with the door and window shut. That's the highest-risk combination.

Common mistakes

• Drying clothes on radiators — Releases moisture directly into the living space and reduces the radiator's heat output.
• Drying in a closed room with no ventilation — The moisture has nowhere to go and condenses on the coldest surfaces, which is how mould starts.
• Not spinning properly first — Every extra litre left in the clothes is a litre evaporating into your house.
• Crowding the airer — Slower drying means longer exposure to high humidity.

Questions people ask