Four savvy ways to dry clothes and save on your energy bill as we head into winter

GETTING through piles of dirty laundry is a never-ending chore that can be trickier when temperatures drop.

Tumble dryers makes it easier to dry clothes but are a pricey appliance that will push up your energy bill.

Here are some tips on how to dry clothes and keep costs down as we head into winter.

IN A SPIN: Opting for an extra spin cycle in your washing machine can wring out more moisture from laundry making it quicker and easier to dry.

COVER UP: Many people have bought heated airers with low running costs to help with drying clothing.

Covers trap the heat and help clothes to dry faster on these racks.

You can buy them from around £8 from The Range or Amazon.

HANG ABOUT: You can at least partially dry clothes outside even when temperatures are lower – especially if it’s breezy.

Once the wind reaches 15mph, clothes will start to dry naturally outside, as long as it’s not foggy or raining, says Netweather broadcaster Jo Farrow.

She adds: “During the winter months, it’s very easy to get out of the habit of hanging your washing out on the line.”

It means as long as you can feel a gentle breeze and temperatures are five degrees or higher, it’s worth hanging out laundry even if it’s cloudy.

Just make sure the clothes are spread out so there is plenty of room for air to circulate.

If you know rain is on the way, try to adapt loads to fabrics that will dry faster so you can make the most of a couple of dry hours.

IRON IT OUT: If you have clothes that need ironing it can be worth doing it straight from the machine.

It is often easier to iron the likes of cotton shirts and other items when they are damp, plus, the heat naturally starts to dry out the clothes.

When done, pop on a hanger and put on a clothes rack to allow items to finish drying naturally.

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