When it's cold, wet and dark by teatime, the washing line isn't much use. This guide covers how to dry clothes indoors in a UK winter: where to dry, how to keep condensation down, when a dehumidifier or tumble dryer makes sense, and the habits that cut drying time, using advice from the Energy Saving Trust, Which?, Smart Energy GB and the NHS.
Start in the washing machine: get more water out
The less water your clothes hold, the less there is to dry. Smart Energy GB suggests an extra spin cycle before you hang clothes up: it can help reduce drying time, though the washing machine uses a little more energy. A Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust leaflet on damp also suggests using the spin cycle twice before drying indoors. Check care labels first and use a gentler spin for delicates.
Pick the right room and ventilate it
Wet washing gives off moisture as it dries. In winter, with the windows shut, that water ends up as condensation on windows and in the corners of the room.
- Open a window. The Energy Saving Trust lists drying clothes on a rack indoors as a time to open windows. In winter it suggests opening them at least two or three times a day for at least five minutes.
- Leave trickle vents open, all the time, even in winter, says the Energy Saving Trust.
- Close the door. The NHS leaflet advises putting your rack near an open window and closing the inside doors, so damp air doesn't spread.
- Choose a warm room. Smart Energy GB says indoor drying should be done in a warm, well-ventilated room.
If condensation forms, wipe it away. But as Which? points out, drying that wet cloth on a radiator just puts the water back into the air.
Airers: spacing is everything
- Don't overload it. Smart Energy GB suggests giving laundry plenty of space to spread out, which also helps it dry without wrinkles.
- Shake items out before hanging, and turn thick items such as jeans part-way through.
- Use hangers for shirts and dresses so air reaches all sides.
- Keep it off the radiator, but in a warm room.
Why not just use the radiator?
Which? explains that wet laundry acts as a barrier between the radiator and the room, so the heating works much harder to reach the temperature you've set. You can end up with dry clothes, a colder home and bigger bills.
Heated airers
The Energy Saving Trust says heated airers are cheaper to run than a tumble dryer and dry clothes more quickly than a standard airer, as long as you ventilate the room. Which?'s tests found they cost an average of 7p an hour and typically take four to five hours to dry a small cotton load (October 2026 prices). Its heated airer tests also found:
- Fill it up. The airers tested heat every bar whether it's full or not.
- Covers didn't help. Airers with plastic covers didn't dry faster, as the trapped moisture kept the air very humid.
- Big loads may cost more. For large loads, a tumble dryer can work out cheaper.
Dehumidifier or open window?
According to Which?, a dehumidifier helps clothes dry more quickly, doesn't use heat (so it shouldn't shrink fabrics) and lowers the risk of damp and mould. The downsides: you empty the water tank, it's noisier than an airer, and running costs vary by model. While it runs, Which? says to close the windows so damp outside air isn't drawn in. The Energy Saving Trust adds that a dehumidifier doesn't bring in fresh air, so keep up your other ventilation habits.
Using a tumble dryer efficiently
The Energy Saving Trust says line drying in warmer weather, or drying on racks inside, instead of tumble drying can save £50 a year in Great Britain. When you do need the dryer, Which?'s tips include:
- Spin first, so the dryer runs for less time.
- Sort by fabric. Separate light synthetics from heavier cottons, and take out anything that could shrink, including wool.
- Don't overfill, but don't run an almost empty drum either.
- Clean the lint filter after every use, and the heat exchanger on condenser and heat pump dryers as the manual says.
- Keep it somewhere heated: condenser and heat pump dryers need 5°C to work properly. Only run it when you're home and awake.
Smart Energy GB adds that a lower heat setting can save energy compared with high heat; finish anything still damp on an airer.
Where wool dryer balls fit in
Towels and bedding often ball up in the drum, leaving damp patches in the middle. Our XL wool dryer balls go in with your wet washing and move between items as the drum turns, helping to separate bulky things like towels and sheets. They're 100% felted New Zealand wool, about 7 cm across, reusable, and come in packs of 4, 6 or 8 with a cotton storage bag. Leave room in the drum so they can move. For how many to use, see our guide to using wool dryer balls.
They also come in our laundry bundles: the Batch-Cook & Laundry Set (6 dryer balls and 30 foil trays), the Home Routine Gift Set (6 dryer balls and a weekly pill organiser) and the Everyday Essentials Box (8 dryer balls, a pill organiser and 30 foil trays). Browse our Laundry & Drying collection, or see any current deals in our sale.
Don't write off the washing line
Smart Energy GB says that as long as it isn't raining, washing should get mostly dry outside all year, though it takes longer in the cold. The Energy Saving Trust suggests looking for days that are breezy and when the ground is dry.
UK delivery only: England, Wales and mainland Scotland. Sorry, we can't deliver to the Scottish Highlands & Islands, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or BFPO addresses. For more how-tos, browse our Tips & Guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to dry clothes indoors in winter?
Air drying on a rack costs nothing to run, though it is the slowest option. The Energy Saving Trust says line drying in warmer weather, or drying on racks inside, instead of tumble drying can save £50 a year in Great Britain.
Is it bad to dry clothes on a radiator?
Which? advises against it. Wet laundry blocks the heat from the radiator, so the heating works harder and your home can end up colder with higher bills.
Should I open a window when drying clothes indoors?
Yes, if you are drying on an airer or heated airer. The Energy Saving Trust suggests opening windows to boost ventilation when drying clothes on a rack indoors, and keeping trickle vents open all year. If you run a dehumidifier instead, Which? says to keep the windows closed.
Does a dehumidifier help clothes dry faster?
Which? says a dehumidifier helps clothes dry more quickly and also deals with the moisture that comes off them, lowering the risk of damp and mould.
Do wool dryer balls work on an airer?
No. Dryer balls are made for the tumble dryer, where they move between items in the drum and help stop bulky things like towels and bedding drying in one tangled clump.
Sources: Energy Saving Trust: quick tips to save energy · Energy Saving Trust: how to improve your home's ventilation · Energy Saving Trust: Energy Savers Week · Which?: the best and cheapest way to dry clothes indoors · Which?: are heated airers worth it? · Which?: 10 ways to cut the cost of tumble drying · Smart Energy GB: drying clothes and saving money · Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust: damp and mould in the home. Checked 29 October 2026.