• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Whitegoodshelp

  • WASHING MACHINES
  • TUMBLE DRYERS
  • MORE APPLIANCE TYPES
    • COOKERS & OVENS
    • DISHWASHERS
    • FRIDGE & FREEZERS
  • BUYING
  • CONSUMER
  • REPAIRING
  • RENTING
  • SAFETY
  • SPARES
  • USING
You are here: Home / Washing Machines / Is it OK to dry laundry indoors?

Updated January 13, 2021 : First Published April 2, 2014

Is it OK to dry laundry indoors?

Tweet
Share14
Share
Pin
Share
More
14 Shares

 It’s not ideal. Drying laundry indoors can create damp, condensation, encourage dust mites, and cause health risks to people prone to asthma, hay fever and other allergies. If you dry laundry inside the house read this advice..

.. Researchers have found that up to a third of all moisture in homes can come from drying laundry inside. There’s also a strong association between drying laundry and mould spores. Most people end up with it hanging around the house in bad weather. Some may even dry them in the house most – if not all of the time – depending on their circumstances and attitude.


Too much moisture in the house is bad

 Apparently, drying just one load of washing in the house can emit 2 litres of water into a room. That’s equivalent to someone walking round a room spraying and emptying 4 of those water spray bottles. If someone did that we’d be upset, but the slow release of moisture into the room from drying clothes can’t be seen.

Peter Tyson Appliances
Peter Tyson Appliances are an Authorised Miele Dealer and give high quality service coupled with special offers and competitive prices.

Alternatives to Drying on a Clothes Airer

We often can’t really avoid drying some of our washing inside with the UK climate. We can use tumble dryers instead though. They can cause some moisture release (though not as bad), but many people are sensitive to the costs, or environmental concerns, so prefer to let them dry naturally.


Forbes Rentals Forbes rent appliances and specialise in renting Bosch appliances so they know them inside out. They also rent other brands and many other products – more details at Forbes

If you Must Dry Clothes Inside

Try to dry near (not on) a hot radiator or in a south facing room, preferably with sunlight steaming in when available. Ideally with a window slightly open so some of the moisture can escape outside. It may be tricky when the weather is very damp and cold, but being aware of this issue may help you limit the adverse effects. If it’s too cold to have a window open then at least leave the room door open so that moisture at least spreads around the house instead of being inside one room.

Using a dehumidifier to aid drying laundry

If you regularly dry laundry inside the house I would recommend buying a good dehumidifier. Ebac make one with a laundry setting that is specifically designed for aiding drying of laundry. When you put it on the laundry setting it puts it on maximum speed for 2 hours. This can genuinely help laundry to dry quicker and definitely helps to deal with all the water that evaporates into a room when drying laundry.

Tweet
Share14
Share
Pin
Share
More
14 Shares

Filed Under: Washing Machines Tagged With: Children & Pets, Using washing machine -

Buy Spares

Ransom Spares is a family company with over 1 million white goods appliance spare parts for sale. Next day delivery available, friendly company with over 5000 reviews on Trust Pilot

Price match promise: "If you find the exact same part or accessory elsewhere for cheaper, we’ll not only match it, we’ll beat it!" -

Buy your appliance spare part


Latest Reviews

Which? Trial Offers

  • Full Online Access, Magazine & App – Introductory offer of £5 for first month, £9.99 Monthly Price
  • (Or get special £99 Annual Price)
  • Digital - Website + App – £7.99 Monthly Price
  • Print - Magazine Only - £7.99 Monthly Price
  • Choose your Which? Package

Get Your Appliance Fixed

Appliance Repairs

Book Your Appliance Repair



Skip comments?

Skip Comments Note: Comments often contain very useful and extra information.

Footer

  • Go to top of page

Author

This site is run entirely by myself, an engineer with 40 years experience in the white goods trade Andy Trigg

  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright Whitegoodshelp 2000 - © 2021