TL;DR
Get cleaning gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Ideal Home reports six practices for drying laundry indoors while limiting moisture build-up: use an extra spin, space garments out, and improve airflow. Heated airers, dehumidifiers, careful placement and room ventilation may also help, though results depend on the home, load and conditions.
Ideal Home has outlined six habits for drying laundry indoors that may help limit moisture build-up, including adding a spin cycle, leaving space between garments and ventilating the room. The advice matters because wet clothes release moisture into indoor air, which can contribute to condensation; the report does not present these steps as a guarantee against damp or mould.
The first two recommendations focus on reducing the amount of water in laundry and helping air move around it. Ideal Home advises using an extra spin cycle before hanging clothes, provided the selected spin speed is suitable for the garments. The report says this may be particularly useful for heavier items such as towels, jeans and bedding, which can retain more water.
It also recommends leaving space between clothes on the rack rather than packing it tightly. Lauren Roelofs, a laundry expert at Brabantia, says air circulation can help garments dry more evenly. The report advises spreading out sleeves, opening shirts and avoiding folded-over trouser legs. Roelofs also recommends turning heavier garments partway through drying to reduce the chance of damp patches.
The remaining steps address equipment and the room itself. Ideal Home suggests considering a heated clothes airer, with a cover to retain warm air, and pairing the rack with a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air. Catrin Parry, buying lead at Lakeland, says a dehumidifier can be useful alongside an airer, particularly in older homes where condensation may be a concern. The report also recommends keeping the airer slightly away from walls and ventilating the room.
How Indoor Laundry Adds Moisture
Indoor drying shifts water from wet fabric into the home unless it is captured by a dehumidifier or carried away through ventilation. Extra indoor moisture can contribute to condensation, particularly where airflow is limited. Ideal Home’s recommendations address that by reducing water left in clothes, allowing air to circulate and removing or venting some of the released moisture.
The advice is relevant to households that cannot dry washing outside or do not use a tumble dryer. It does not establish that any one product or habit will prevent mould: the outcome will depend on factors such as room ventilation, the amount of laundry, the building and indoor conditions. The practical takeaway is to treat drying as both a laundry task and a moisture-management issue.
Products Worth Considering
Dyson W1 PencilWash Cordless Wet and Dry Floor Cleaner with Dock
Bose SoundLink Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Black
Dyson Car+Boat Cordless Handheld Vacuum
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Six Steps in the Report
The article is framed around colder, wetter weather, when outdoor drying may be less practical. Its six recommendations are: run an extra spin; leave space between garments; consider a heated airer; use a dehumidifier with the airer; position the rack away from walls; and ventilate the room.
These measures serve different purposes. Spinning removes some water before clothes are hung, while spacing and placement support airflow. A heated airer adds warmth, but the report notes that it does not itself remove moisture released into the room. A dehumidifier is intended to collect moisture from indoor air, while ventilation can help exchange damp air with outside air. The supplied source material ends partway through its ventilation section, so it does not include the full explanation of that final recommendation.
“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
Results Depend on Home Conditions
The report does not provide comparative measurements showing how much each step reduces drying time, room humidity or mould risk. It also does not specify a single ventilation method suitable for every home or give detailed instructions for the final ventilation recommendation, because the supplied source text cuts off during that section.
Claims about particular products, including how much a cover may shorten drying time, are presented in the source as product and expert guidance and may vary with the load and conditions. The article does not establish that a heated airer, dehumidifier or open window is appropriate in every situation. Readers’ results will depend on their home and how they use the equipment.
Practical Steps for the Next Load
For the next indoor load, the source’s advice is to use a suitable extra spin, hang items with gaps between them and place the airer where air can circulate. Households considering heated drying can compare equipment with their space and needs; those using an airer may also consider whether a dehumidifier is appropriate for managing moisture in the room.
Ventilation remains part of the report’s six-step list, but the supplied text does not set out its full guidance. No further update, testing or official assessment is included in the source material. The article therefore offers household recommendations rather than a reported new regulation or a confirmed finding that these measures prevent damp and mould.
Key Questions
What are the six indoor laundry recommendations?
Use an extra spin, space garments out, consider a heated airer, pair it with a dehumidifier, position the rack away from walls and ventilate the room. These are recommendations in Ideal Home’s report, not a guarantee against damp or mould.
Does a heated clothes airer remove moisture from a room?
Not by itself, according to the report. A heated airer helps dry clothes, while a dehumidifier is intended to remove excess moisture from indoor air.
Why leave space between clothes on a drying rack?
Spacing garments allows air to circulate, which Roelofs of Brabantia says can help clothes dry more evenly. The report also advises opening shirts and spreading sleeves out.
Will these steps prevent mould?
The source does not establish that they will prevent mould. It says wet laundry can add moisture indoors and recommends habits that may help manage it; results depend on the home and conditions.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
