Follows these tips for the best way to dry your clothes through winter

There’s nothing like the smell of washing dried on the line on a breezy sunny day, but as the days get shorter and the weather turns cooler, drying clothes outside becomes more of a challenge.

A tumble dryer is a useful appliance, but it is heavy on energy use and isn’t suitable for all fabrics. As a result, many of us string washing around the house on radiators, which looks unsightly and isn’t the most efficient solution.

‘Drying washing indoors is one of the biggest challenges when it’s wet outside, and it can leave your home feeling damp if you’re not careful,’ says homecare guru, Lynsey Crombie, AKA the Queen of Clean. So what can you do to optimise clothes drying in the colder months? Follow these tips for pain-free drying all winter.

What helps clothes dry faster?

Clothes dry more slowly in winter without the benefit of the sun, but they will still dry if the air is dry - Getty Images

Lynsey’s first tip is to perform a double spin in the washing machine. The less moisture in the clothes, the quicker they will dry, so doing this will get you off to a good start.

And just because it isn’t summer, doesn’t mean there won’t be outdoor drying opportunities. According to the Royal Meteorological Society, clothes will still dry outside on a cool day without much heat from the sun as long as the air is dry enough. If there’s a breeze, this will help. And did you know that dark clothes dry faster than light ones, because dark colours absorb more heat?

Invest in an airer that doesn't stand on the floor

An over-door airer like this one from Lakeland, is a great space saver

If you are drying washing indoors, you will need some kind of drying rack or airer and fortunately there are lots of clever models designed for efficiency and space saving. One useful tip is to go for vertical designs such as over-door airers and ceiling racks which don’t get in the way by taking up floor space.

Nancy Birtwhistle, best-selling author of Clean Magic, (£15.99 Pan Macmillan) swears by her old-fashioned wooden ceiling rack (also known as a clothesmaid) that is lowered on a pulley for loading up, then lifts up to the ceiling to dry clothes out of the way. ‘It dries the laundry on wet days, and stores my ironing, which is also left to air overnight,’ she says.

Having several drying racks will avoid overcrowding and making them less efficient. A peg garment dryer, that can be hung from the rack is useful for socks and underwear and Lynsey recommends putting shirts and dresses directly on to clothes hangers, then hooking them to the rack – if you have a shower rail, this would be another good place to hang them.

Appliances that speed up drying times

A useful appliance to invest in, which is much cheaper than a tumble dryer, is a dehumidifier. As they remove moisture from the air, they can dramatically speed up indoor drying times, while helping to prevent the house from feeling damp or the clothes from turning musty. They can even help to fluff up towels if placed near them while drying!

A heated airer is likewise a useful and cost-efficient investment that doesn’t take up too much space. These often come with zip-up covers to keep the heat in, which helps the clothes dry faster. These airers can be folded up and put away when not in use.

This Dry Soon heated drier from Lakeland keeps heat in with a zip-up cover

Does it really need washing?

Another thing to consider is how often certain items really need washing. Many garments, such as woolen jumpers can be refreshed just by airing, which is also less waring to the fabric. Denim jeans are another staple that do not need to be frequently washed. Refreshing clothes by using a steam cleaner is another clever way to extend time between washes, Lynsey advises.