The UK is renowned for its wet winters, bringing with it the challenge of drying laundry when the rain is lashing outside. Recent research showed that a huge proportion (87%) of Brits rely on hanging wet clothes inside their homes – and they’re unknowingly causing serious issues.
Indoor drying pushes moisture into homes
Extra damp in the air causes condensation, which in turn leads to mould – a growing issue in British homes. Data from MyBuilder.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, showed that more than a third of households (38%) report struggling with mould.
A study by the University of Manchester found that drying a wet load of washing indoors can release two litres of water into your home. With the average family doing six to eight washes a week, this could amount to as much as 16 litres in just seven days. Drying laundry accounts for more than 30% of the moisture in homes, leading to mould that can spread through building materials and infect the whole house, potentially costing thousands of pounds in damage.
More importantly, beyond the financial consequences, damp and mould can lead to health problems, especially for individuals with weakened immune systems or respiratory conditions such as asthma. The NHS spends 1.4 billion on treating illnesses directly linked to living in damp housing according to the House of Commons Library.
Expert advice from MyBuilder.com
While it may seem that our options for drying clothes in winter are limited, a home expert from MyBuilder.com has put together a list of ideas to help. From improved ventilation, to inventive clothes hanging solutions, there’s a helpful hack for everyone.
Andy Simms, a property maintenance expert from MyBuilder.com, said that ventilation is key to preventing mould caused by moisture inside the home.
“Black mould is often – but not always – caused by condensation within our homes. The good news is that there are many steps you can take to prevent and reduce this, even if you can’t change the necessity of drying your laundry indoors.
“Something as simple as practicing the German habit of Stoßlüften, to using a dehumidifier, there are plenty of actions you can take to keep your home – and health – safe.”
But there are also other tips to reduce damp when drying clothes indoors.
Ventilate indoor rooms
Good ventilation is key to preventing condensation in our homes. It should be practised year-round, especially in winter, and definitely if you’re drying clothes indoors. Ventilation can also be improved by simply opening your doors and windows, even for just 5 minutes a day, which will help get rid of condensation and replace cold, dry air. Stoßlüften is the German method for ventilation: open your windows daily, whatever the weather, to promote good air circulation throughout your home.
Choose a drying room
Drying indoors during colder and wetter months becomes more challenging. If it cannot be avoided, it is sensible to limit drying to just one room. Choose the one with the best ventilation or one that allows you to keep windows open to let moisture escape.
Avoid placing clothes on radiators
While it might seem logical to dry wet clothes on a radiator, the heat causes moisture from laundry to evaporate quickly. This releases more water into the air, increasing indoor humidity. Additionally, placing wet clothes directly on a radiator is a fire hazard. Instead, place your clothes on a drying rack in a well-ventilated room, or even better, invest in a heated drying rack.
Upgrade windows where possible
If your windows are nearing the point of needing replacement, consider installing ones with trickle vents. More ventilation is the key to reducing condensation (and consequently mould), and trickle vents enable air to circulate without losing heat from your property.
Use dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers are effective at reducing the moisture in the air inside your home. To ensure it does its job as well as possible, set the appliance’s humidity level to between 30% and 50%. This will help reduce the moisture to a level that might prevent mould, without making your home so dry that it causes other issues. If you have a larger budget, electric dehumidifiers are available; these more expensive appliances can automatically switch off once the desired humidity level is reached, saving money and energy, and are very economical to run.
Check the weather
Sunny days might be scarce (unfortunately!), but a dry, breezy day is all you need to air dry your washing. Use a weather app to plan ahead and find the best times for drying clothes outdoors when possible. In winter, it can take up to 12 hours a day to dry clothes outside, so don’t expect miracles. However, a few hours outside will help remove some moisture before drying indoors.
Research conducted by Opinium for MyBuilder through a survey of 2,000 people in March 2024. The data relates to individuals affected by mould in their homes. Opinium is an award-winning strategic insight agency with one of the largest and most reputable survey panels in the UK.
Energy costs for tumble dryers vs dehumidifiers
Tumble dryers:
- Standard vented or condenser dryer: 2-3kWh per cycle, according to Energy Saving Trust data.
- At the current UK electricity price (around 28p per kWh), this amounts to 56p-84p per load.
- Heat pump dryers consume approximately 1kWh (about 28p).
Dehumidifiers:
- A typical domestic dehumidifier can vary between 300-700 watts, based on manufacturer averages according to Best Dehumidifier
- They run for 4-6 hours = 20p-50p total, depending on settings and electricity price
What are ventilation tiles?
Ventilation tiles – also known as roof vent tiles or slate vents – are specially designed roof tiles with discreet built-in openings that allow fresh air to circulate through the roof space. This airflow helps to remove warm, moist air that naturally rises from the living areas below, preventing condensation from forming on roof timbers, insulation and felt.
When moisture is allowed to build up in a loft, it can lead to mould growth, wood rot, and damage to structural elements over time. Ventilation tiles provide a simple way to maintain healthy airflow without altering the appearance of the property. They can be installed individually during minor repairs or integrated into a full re-roof, and they work alongside other ventilation measures such as soffit vents and ridge vents.
For homeowners who regularly dry clothes indoors – or properties with poor overall ventilation – ventilation tiles can be an effective long-term solution to reduce humidity levels throughout the whole house.
About MyBuilder.com
MyBuilder.com is the trusted way for homeowners to hire the tradespeople they need and for tradespeople to get the work they want.
The online platform matches homeowners with verified local tradespeople for home repairs and improvements across the UK. Homeowners can post their jobs for free and receive responses from available tradespeople; they can then view their profiles and read genuine reviews from previous customers before deciding who to connect with.
All tradespeople on MyBuilder are checked at registration, including ID documents, company details, certifications for regulated work and skill assessments.
With over 100,000 active tradespeople and 100,000 jobs posted each month, MyBuilder is part of The Instapro Group and Angi Family, the leading marketplaces for building and home trades in the United States, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands.
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This article is based on a press release from MyBuilder, and edited by Kent and Surrey Bylines.
