Mrs Hinch fans swear by ‘genius’ hack to dry clothes indoors without a tumble dryer – ‘faster’ and ‘won’t stink’
THE unpleasant smell that lingers on clothes dried indoors can be avoided by using an easy trick.
Homeowners who don’t have a tumble dryer have raved about the “genius” hack.
From unpredictable autumnal weather to a lack of space for a large appliance, drying clothes on racks indoors is a necessity for many people at this time of the year.
Fragranced fabric softeners and powders aren’t always able to mask the musky smell that comes with using an airer.
However, members of Facebook’s Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks group have shared their clever solution.
Charlotte Holland sparked the discussion by confessing that she’d been struggling to prevent her clothes from having the undesirable odour.
“What’s the best way to dry clothes without a tumble dryer, please?” she asked.
“I always find the clothes stink awful when I put them on the radiators/small clothes airer.
“Washing pile is like a mountain at the min so all answers are greatly appreciated.”
Several responses to the post advised Charlotte to try using a dehumidifier alongside her airer.
“A dehumidifier placed in front of the clothes airer works the best. Game changer,” one person said.
“We use a dehumidifier next to our clothes airer and it’s genius,” another chimed in.
“If you have a small bedroom or utility you can put them in together and shut the door then I find two loads on a clothes horse dries faster and doesn’t stink.
“You can wash in the morning and put away in the evening all smelling fresh.”
A third said the hack is more effective than putting wet clothes from the washing machine directly on heaters.
“It’s not good to put clothes straight from washing machine to radiator,” they said.
“It would be worth investing in a dehumidifier, clothes dry quickly with one, put them on an airer beside it.”
According to Healthline, dehumidifiers are designed to reduce moisture around the home.
It may be worth investing in the gadget if freshly washed clothes smell “damp or mouldy” as well as if there is a persistent damp smell in the home.
They can also be beneficial to health by reducing the presence of allergens and irritants.
How can you get your washing dry when it's raining outside?
DEALING with the British weather isn't ideal when it comes to trying to get clothes dry outside. But fear not, if it's raining then there are a few hacks you can try to get your laundry dry inside the house.
Curtain poles
If you put your clothes on hangers to dry, you can then hang the clothes from a curtain pole. This is an effective hack, but it’s important to make sure you’ve got a window open too, to promote ventilation and avoid a build up of mould.
Airers
There are a whole host of airers on the market, but the popularity of heated airers have risen dramatically in recent months. Many people swear by using a heated airer to get clothes dry quickly and evenly, without racking up loads on the energy bill by using a tumble dryer.
Dehumidifiers
While the main point of a dehumidifier is, as the name suggests, to reduce humidity in the room, they also work a treat to get clothes dry. In fact, many of the little machines have a laundry setting on them. And once again, using a dehumidifier won’t break the bank either, as they’re very energy efficient.
Radiator cocoon
If you’ve got your heating on, then creating a cocoon with a fitted sheet and your radiator can be a game changer. Simply place one end of the fitted sheet over the radiator, and place the other end so it’s entirely engulfing the airer. This will dry your clothes quicker, by keeping the hot air inside the cocoon, rather than letting it all escape.
Spin it
The majority of washing machine cycles end with a spin, but you can always give your laundry an extra spin before taking it out, to remove as much moisture as possible before you hang it up. It’s a hack that loads of people swear by when it comes to drying clothes inside.
The dehumidifier hack comes after members of the Facebook group rushed to buy an item that speeds up the time it takes for clothes to dry without a tumble dryer.
Dunelm’s 800w pod which costs £55, has a “convenient 3-hour timer for customisable drying cycles”.
According to a Mrs Hinch fan, the heating tool makes it cost “around 25p an hour” to dry a large load of washing.
She described it as a “game changer” after being wowed by the quick and affordable method of drying clothes.