With soaring energy bills, it's now a little less tempting to throw freshly-washed sheets in the tumble dryer. But with the return of the wet weather, the washing line is also not a very sensible option.
An interiors expert has offered some tips on drying washing inside without resorting to a dryer. She explained how sheets can be dried effectively inside - without causing mould - and still smell nice.
Use banisters
Georgia Metcalfe, founder of online bedroom retailer French Bedroom, said the best way to dry sheets indoors is to hang them on banisters “Bedding needs a large surface area to dry quickly so drape wet sheets around the banister to maximise indoor space and allow the fabric to breathe," she said.
"Many will use an airer, but these can be too small to work efficiently for large sheets. You could also create a beautiful scent by using lavender fabric softener in the washing machine as this will act as a diffuser whilst the sheets dry.”
Use doors but not over the top
If the banister isn’t practical, then Georgia recommends hanging washing up on doors. She said: "Place hooks on the backs of doors and even walls to create an internal washing line as this will provide an open space above the floor, then hang up washing to dry.
"This is best to do in spare or unused rooms as there is usually more space or it is easy to move furniture around to fit the line. I strongly advise against anyone hanging their linen on doors directly, as often decorators can’t reach the top of doors, which leaves the bare wood exposed and may mean that the wood ‘bleeds’ onto your washing as it dries. There’s also a risk that splinters from raw wood could snag the linen.”
Avoid radiators
One of the most popular ways to dry clothes and sheets is on radiators, but Georgia warns that this can harm the fabric. “Be careful of the rust particles which can transfer onto bed linen from radiators, creating blemishes on the sheets that are hard to remove, and appears worse on plain designs.," she said. "A layer of clothes over a radiator will also reduce its efficiency in heating up the room and raise bills.”
Prevent mould
No matter where sheets are dried, Georgia recommends being wary of mould forming. She said: "Your house will need to be well ventilated, which may be tricky during autumn and winter but can lead to issues such as black mould forming if it isn’t.
"To dry sheets safely, it is essential to open windows a slither even in cold weather as the evaporation needs somewhere to escape and prevents problems further down the line. This is another reason to use a spare room as this can be closed off, so the air doesn’t make you feel chilly.”
