Can Clothes Dry In A Cold Room? (What You Need To Know)

Picture this: You’ve just finished doing a load of laundry, but the weather outside is gloomy and cold. You don’t have a tumble dryer, and the thought of hanging your clothes outside is just not possible. 

Can you dry your clothes in a cold room? The answer is an absolute yes, but there are a few things you need to know.

Is It Possible To Dry Clothes In A Cold Room?

To get straight to the point, yes, it is absolutely possible for your garments to get dry in a cold room. 

Drying clothes primarily involves the process of evaporation, where the moisture in your garments is converted into vapour and released into the air. No matter where you hang your garments, the moisture will evaporate. However, a cold room will make the process much slower compared to popping your clothing in the dryer or having the sun’s rays to help speed it up.

Tips For Drying Clothes In A Cold Room

Although drying clothes indoors can take more time, here are some tips to make it more efficient:

Do Small Loads Of Laundry

Since the drying time will take a while, planning the load size of your laundry will be best, or else you’ll be stuck with a lot of wet garments.

Do An Extra Cycle

Running an extra spin cycle on the washing machine helps remove more moisture from your clothing. As a result, the drying time will be less compared to immediately taking your clothes out once the cycle is complete.

Wring Out Excess Moisture

It would help to wring out each garment of clothing before hanging them. Something as simple as squeezing a few drops of water from your fabrics will certainly cut down your waiting time, and your clothes will dry more quickly.

Choose The Warmest Spot In The Room

If your cold room has a spot that’s near a heater, it’ll help to place your drying rack in there to speed up the drying time of your clothes.

Get A Heated Airer

If you live in a place that is often damp, investing in a heated airer is certainly worth it. By doing so, you’ll significantly cut down the drying time of your clothes, and you’ll be able to wear your garments again in no time.

SEE ALSO: Are Heated Airers Any Good? (and are they worth getting?)

Bring Out The Dehumidifier

Having a dehumidifier in the room with your damp clothes can help dry them out quickly. This is because the machine absorbs the moisture from the air, which is what you’ll need to dry your garments out. 

It will also help combat mould growth in your space, which is not what you would want in your home.

Ventilate The Room

If it is possible, opening the window a bit or using a fan will help speed up the drying process of your clothes. After all, circulating the air encourages the evaporation of water from your garments effectively.

Have Patience And Manage Your Expectations

It is important to remember that comparing indoor drying to outdoor drying will never be the same, especially when it comes to the drying time. 

Hence, you’ll need a bit of patience when doing your laundry without a tumble dryer or the heat of the sun.

Is It Really Okay To Dry Clothes In A Cold Room?

Clothes can get dry in a cold room, but if possible, you should avoid doing so. Primarily because it can take a few days for your garments to dry, which is not an efficient way compared to using a tumble dryer or hanging your clothes on the line.

Aside from this, there are many disadvantages to doing so, such as:

It Can Lead To Damp Issues In Your Home

Drying wet clothes in a room increases the moisture in the air. Unfortunately, doing so frequently will encourage mould to grow in the room, which can not only be bad for your laundry but also for your home.

Mould growth can cause damage to your furniture and carpets and even be detrimental to your health. After all, mould can cause asthma and various respiratory issues.

We get it, it’s difficult to balance time between work, family, and chores. Including the ever-changing UK weather, it may not be possible to dry clothes outdoors at all. However, if you have the option to use the dryer or clothesline, they would always be the better option.

It Will Make Your Clothes Smell Bad

The main reason why damp clothes that have not been dried thoroughly smell foul is because of the fungi and bacteria that may be starting to grow on your fabrics.

The reason behind the musty odour on garments is actually a side effect of fungal growth. Since germs and fungi love damp environments, they also tend to grow in your slightly wet clothing.

It Can Trigger Skin Conditions

Once germs and fungi start growing on damp clothing, there’s always a chance that it can trigger various skin conditions, especially for people with sensitive skin.

If you have eczema or skin asthma, it’s always a good idea to dry your clothes thoroughly, which is best achieved by drying clothes under the sun or in the tumble dryer.

Get Your Clothes Dry Indoors

Drying clothes in a cold room is possible, but it comes with its own set of challenges. 

It may not be the quickest or most efficient method, but with the right tips and tricks, you can make it work. 

However, if you have alternatives like a tumble dryer or outdoor drying, they are generally a better choice. Be mindful of the potential issues like dampness, odours, and health concerns that can arise from drying clothes in a cold room. It’s all about finding the balance between convenience and effectiveness in your laundry routine.

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask them below!

Frequently Asked Questions