I’m an interior expert – why you should NEVER dry clothes on radiators & my simple hacks to avoid damp smelling washing
ACCORDING to an interior expert, we’ve been drying our clothes all wrong and it turns out that you should never put your clothes on a radiator to dry.
For those avoiding using their tumble dryer as a result of the rise in energy costs, drying clothing during winter months can be a real pain.
But one expert has warned people against drying laundry on radiators and has suggested "quicker" ways to avoid washing from smelling damp.
Owen Whitlock, interior expert at has shared why drying your clothes on the radiator might not be the best idea.
He said: “While hanging wet clothes over your radiators will dry them, this could cause excess condensation in your home.
“This will lead to mould which can create all kinds of damage including staining paintwork, not to mention the allergens that mould can produce.
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“As well as this it could increase the cost of your heating bill.
“Hanging clothes over the top of your radiator will prevent it from heating your house, which means the boiler will need to work harder than it needs to, therefore increasing its running costs."
To help with this dilemma, Owen shared six tips to help dry clothes quickly indoors without having to spend a fortune on tumble dryer costs.
According to Owen, make sure that you wash clothes early to take advantage of any sunlight.
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He explained that households should do their washing as early as possible to take advantage of any sunlight during the day to dry their clothes and he also stressed the importance of not putting clothes outside on the washing line when it is cold.
As well as this, Owen explained that it is important to wash fewer clothes per load.
He advised that if a clothes airer is overcrowded, the clothes will take longer to dry which can result in them “smelling damp and musty.”
Therefore, he said to add fewer clothes per load to allow for more space in your washing machine and your airer.
As well as this, Owen advised people to always turn over your clothes when they are hanging on an airer.
According to Owen, you should turn your clothing over every couple of hours to help them dry evenly.
Not only this, but Owen said that if you add a common essential oil to your washing, it will help combat any unwanted smells from drying clothes indoors.
Owen also noted that when washing clothes, if you add in a cup of white vinegar to the load, not only will it act as an effective agent that removes stains and bacteria, but it can easily eliminate tough odours too.
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And finally, Owen explained that you should also dry clothes directly on hangers, which will reduce the need to use an iron.
He explained that this is a great hack for school jumpers and trousers, as it will save you both time and money on ironing.