TL;DR
An Ideal Home report recommends six habits for drying laundry indoors: run an extra spin, leave space between items, consider a heated airer, use a dehumidifier, position the rack for airflow and ventilate the room. The advice addresses moisture released by wet clothes, but the report does not provide independent testing or evidence that these steps prevent mould in every home.
Ideal Home has published six recommendations for drying laundry indoors in colder weather, focusing on removing more water before hanging clothes and helping moisture leave the room. The guidance matters because wet laundry releases moisture into indoor air, which can contribute to condensation when ventilation or moisture removal is inadequate.
The report advises running an extra washing-machine spin cycle before hanging laundry, provided the selected spin speed is suitable for the garments. Removing more water at the outset can reduce drying time and the amount of moisture released indoors, particularly from heavier items such as towels, jeans and bedding.
It also recommends leaving space between garments on the rack so air can circulate. Spread sleeves and open shirts rather than folding or bunching them together; turn thick items partway through drying to reduce the chance of damp patches. Lauren Roelofs, a laundry expert at Brabantia, says avoiding an overcrowded rack helps clothes dry more evenly.
The remaining suggestions are to consider a heated clothes airer, pair the airer with a dehumidifier, place the rack where air can move around it and ventilate the room. A heated airer can warm clothes, but the report notes that it does not itself remove moisture from the room. A dehumidifier can collect some of that moisture, while ventilation provides another way for humid air to escape.
Keeping Laundry Moisture in Check
Indoor drying is often necessary when outdoor conditions are cold or wet, but the water in freshly washed clothes does not simply disappear. As laundry dries, moisture enters the surrounding air. In a room with limited airflow, that can contribute to higher humidity and condensation, especially on colder surfaces.
The recommendations combine steps that reduce the water left in clothes with steps intended to manage moisture in the room. That distinction is useful: a heated rack may help clothes dry, while a dehumidifier is intended to remove water from the air. The report presents these as practical household measures, not a guarantee against damp or mould, which can have other causes and may require separate investigation.
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Why Indoor Drying Adds Moisture
The advice is framed around the arrival of colder, wetter days, when outdoor drying may be less practical and households may rely more on indoor racks. The Ideal Home report describes the moisture from wet washing as a source of indoor humidity and says that poor ventilation or a lack of moisture removal can contribute to condensation.
Its recommendations draw on comments from laundry specialists and product representatives, alongside the writer’s experience. Catrin Parry, buying lead at Lakeland, recommends pairing an airer with a dehumidifier and says this can be particularly useful in older homes where condensation may be a concern. These are attributed recommendations; the supplied report does not give comparative test results or measurements of humidity reduction.
“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
Limits of the Published Advice
The source material does not specify when the report was published, provide independent research behind the recommendations or quantify how much any one measure reduces indoor humidity, drying time or mould risk. It also does not give a detailed instruction for the final ventilation recommendation; the supplied text ends as it begins discussing opening a window.
Results will depend on factors including the amount and type of laundry, room size, outdoor conditions, ventilation and existing moisture problems. The report does not establish that indoor laundry is the cause of damp in any particular home, or that these measures alone will resolve an existing mould problem.
Practical Steps for the Next Load
For the next indoor load, the report’s sequence is straightforward: use a suitable extra spin, spread garments across the rack, position it away from walls and allow air to circulate. Households may also use a heated airer or dehumidifier if available, while following the equipment makers’ instructions and keeping electrical appliances away from water.
Ventilation is the final part of the advice, but the source does not prescribe a particular window-opening period or method. Readers dealing with persistent condensation or mould may need to identify the underlying cause rather than rely on laundry-drying changes alone. No further study or official guidance is announced in the supplied material.
Key Questions
What are the six recommended habits for drying laundry indoors?
Run an extra spin cycle if suitable for the clothes, leave space between garments, consider a heated airer, use a dehumidifier, position the rack for airflow and ventilate the room.
Does a heated clothes airer remove moisture from the room?
Not by itself, according to the report. It helps warm and dry laundry, while a dehumidifier is intended to remove excess moisture from indoor air.
Why should clothes be spaced out on a rack?
Spacing allows air to circulate around garments, which the Brabantia laundry expert quoted in the report says can help clothes dry more evenly. The report also suggests spreading sleeves and turning heavier items partway through drying.
Do these steps guarantee that mould will not develop?
No. The report offers practical ways to manage moisture from indoor laundry, but it does not claim they prevent mould in every home or address every possible cause of damp.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
