During winter time when it is too cold to be outside, drying our clothes on the radiator seems like the easiest and most efficient way of completing our laundry.
But surprisingly, the easiest option could end up being the most expensive, costing you far more than you realise.
According to Which? putting cold and wet clothes on your radiators will make clothes act as a barrier between the heat radiators give off and the temperature of your home.
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This is because radiators work to establish an ambient temperature so if you set the heating to 20 degrees, radiators will work to pump out heat until the designated temperature.
Therefore, putting clothes on a radiator will make them work much harder than they need to, resulting in rocketing heating bills.
You may also end up with warmer clothes, but also a colder home - also resulting in moisture being released as humid air, a quick route to damp and mould.
So what is the best way to dry your clothes? Which? has compared the pros and cons of popular items from towel rails to tumble dryers.
Tumble dryers
The pros for tumble dryers include being the fastest way to dry clothes with the least effort.
It is also great for those who have a lot of laundry to get through, having a large capacity.
However, the main cons include the price it costs to buy and a risk of clothes damage as some clothes are not well suited to being tumble dried.
Just like with radiators, there is also a risk of damp for those who have a vented dryer - which will be best placed near to a wall vent or window.
Washer-dryer
Washer-dryers are certainly handy when saving space and is also minimal effort, but they tend to have less capacity to be able to combine wash and dry cycles.
Another con is high energy use and can rock up the costs.
Clothes airers
These make for ideal indoor drying options during the cold and winter months.
The pros to this are that it is simple to use and cheap to buy. However, clothes take a while to dry which is not ideal for those who need an outfit ASAP.
Again, there is also a risk of damp which is why ventilation is important.
Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers have multi-purpose as they can also be used to speed up the drying process and are more gentle on clothes, not using heat which could damage items.
They also fight damp by keeping condensation at bay in your home.
However, like some tumble dryers, these need to be emptied once full so it keeps collecting.
Heated towel rails
These are essentially, radiators designed for drying fabrics.
These are quick to use but have a small capacity and can be expensive to run. The risk of damp does rack up in low ventilated areas.
For more information on the best ways to dry your clothes, visit Which?
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