How to dry clothes fast without a tumble dryer - 14 ways to save time, energy, and money

Whether your tumble dryer has broken or you just don’t have the space (or budget) for one, you’ll probably already know that drying clothes without a tumble dryer can be a nightmare - especially during the winter months.

Yes, while we all know how to wash clothes, drying them is a completely different story. Most of the time, you feel like you have no option but to pile your wet laundry onto a clothes airer and wait three days for them to dry in your cold home in an effort to save energy at home. But you’ll be happy to know that you do have other options to dry clothes quickly, and they won’t break the bank.

So, if you’re looking to dry clothes fast without a tumble dryer, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve consulted with some of the best experts in the business to provide you with 14 ways to save time, energy and money while drying your clothes.

1. Make the most of a sunny winter day

While you may be inclined to stop drying your clothes outside as soon as summer comes to an end, you could be wasting prime opportunities to dry your clothes quickly if you want to dry your clothes in winter.

'Don't stop using the washing line altogether just because it's not summer – on a dry and windy day it's still a good option,' says money-saving writer Gemma Bird (@moneymumofficial). You could also cover the laundry on the line with a dry ground sheet if it looks like it might rain later.

Lynsey Crombie is the UK's number one home and lifestyle expert and original clean-fluencer. She believes that drying clothes outside is the best option for the longevity of your clothes.

'By drying our clothes outside, we keep them fresh and well aired,' Lynsey says. 'This avoids moisture being trapped in the fibres, encouraging musty smells that are always unpleasant. Putting clothes away clean and aired will enhance the life of any garment over time, which means your favourites remain your favourites for longer!'

2. Try out the drying rack hack

If you don't have any outdoor space, don't worry. You can still dry your clothes without a tumble dryer by placing your drying rack next to a radiator and tucking the top end of a bedsheet down the back of the radiator.

Then, place the sheet up over the top of the drying rack. This will insulate it, stopping warm air from escaping. Using a fan can also keep air flowing, which will help the water to evaporate.

3. Keep windows open a tiny bit

'A key consideration for drying any clothes indoors is being mindful of mould forming,' says Georgia Metcalfe, founder and creative director of French Bedroom. 'It is essential to open windows a sliver, even in cold weather, as the evaporation will need somewhere to escape, and prevents this problem further down the line.'

If you've spotted mould forming around windows or on the ceiling, don't panic. There are plenty of ways to get rid of damp, condensation and mould easily. If you find that the mould is getting worse, though, you may want to find another way to dry your clothes quickly.

4. Hang clothes on the curtain rail

Of all of the window treatment ideas out there, curtains are generally the most popular. But did you know that you can use your curtain rail to dry your clothes quickly? In fact, you can turn it into your very own drying rail.

'One of my favourite drying tricks is to hang clothes on a hanger and then hang them on the curtain rail with the window ajar,' says Lynsey Queen of Clean. 'You will be surprised at how quickly clothes can dry like this. Plus it also makes the clothes less creased, so much easier to iron.'

Good hangers, available at Amazon are essential for keeping your garments in shape.

5. Bite the bullet with a heated clothes airer

Buying one of the best heated clothes airers available right now will make life so much easier over the colder months, and will give you the simple pleasure of toasty clothes when getting dressed in the morning.

'If you're worried about the cost of turning on the tumble dryer this winter – or don't have one and are dreading the return of trying to dry wet clothes and bedding over the radiator – then a heated clothes airer could be an affordable and energy-efficient alternative,' says Amy Lockwood, Ideal Home's Decor Editor.

'Compared to a normal clothes airer, the heated elements will cut down drying time considerably, allowing you to dry clothes overnight, or in just a couple of hours depending on the volume of wet washing you're tackling.'

Just make sure you know how much it costs to run a heated clothes airer and avoid making any heated clothes airer mistakes to get the most out of it.

6. Invest in a dehumidifier

The dehumidifier vs tumble dryer debate is a big one, but you don’t have to worry if you don’t have a tumble dryer as a dehumidifier will still dry your clothes quickly.

In fact, a dehumidifier with a laundry setting is also a total saviour if you have a lot of washing to get dry, and will remove the 'damp chill' factor in the air. Having lived in old buildings that suffer from mould in the autumn and winter months, we can personally vouch for the Meaco Zambezi Dehumidifier. The cost to run a dehumidifier depends on the kind you have, but you can expect it to be between 5p and 14p an hour.

It does feel like a big investment, but a dehumidifier cuts drying time drastically by sucking in air from the room and removing moisture and blowing warm dry air back out. Watering houseplants with the water they collect also feels very satisfying. Equipped with one of the best dehumidifiers on the market, you'll also be less tempted to put the heating on purely to get those thick winter jumpers dry.

Just make sure you know which size dehumidifier you need to dry clothes.

7. Create a dedicated drying space

This one may not apply, but if you are lucky enough to have the space, Lynsey Crombie recommends choosing a spare bedroom or unused room for drying your clothes quickly.

'Keep the room well-ventilated,' she says. 'Open the windows and shut the door so the fresh air can circulate.'

8. Don't overload the washing machine

When you have a big load of clothes to wash, it can be enticing to overload your washing machine. But this is never advised, as it can damage your clothes, damage your machine, and result in your clothes taking much longer to dry. So, don’t overload your washing machine.

This simple tip won't just mean your clothes are cleaned more easily. But they will also retain less water, and dry quicker. 'If you've got too much washing in, the water is really going to be retained and your clothes are going to come out so much wetter,' explains Lynsey.

9. Use radiator airers

Using a radiator is the safest and most effective way to dry clothes fast on a radiator, as you should avoid overloading your radiators at all costs. If you don’t, you’ll make your boiler work harder and ultimately increase your energy bills.

Instead, hang clothes on radiator airers, at Amazon. Clothes will dry with fewer creases and air will be able to circulate around the items.

10. Take clothes for an extra spin

Get rid of any excess water by doing an extra spin cycle at the end of a wash. Ali Orr, founder of Nearly New Cashmere Co says, 'the fastest way to dry clothes without a dryer is to put your washing machine on a fast spin at 1200 rpm, once the clothes have been washed.'

Alternatively, use a rinse cycle. Chris Michael from Meaco says that before you take them out of the washing machine using a rinse cycle will keep the amount of water left in the clothes to a minimum.

This is also one of Lynsey's favourite tips. 'A 10-minute spin at the end gets more water out, especially if it's jeans, bedding, or heavy towels. Then it comes out a little bit drier for when it goes in the tumble dryer, or on the line.'

'You can even do two spins,' she adds. 'And running the washing machine is cheaper than running a tumble dryer so it's better to get water out in that one. I've been doing that for years and it makes a massive, massive difference.'

11. Time it right

Timing is everything when you’re trying to dry your clothes without a tumble dryer. Ideally, try to do your washing in the morning. That way, you can hang it out to dry during the day when the heating is most likely to be on. Hopefully, your sheets should be dry by bedtime.

Commenting on this tip, Lysney says, 'People are scared of drying clothes outside this time of year, but if it's not raining we still dry clothes outside. We get it out for 7am and bring it in around 4pm.'

12. Try out the towel method

The best bath towels can make a practical and aesthetic addition to your bathroom, but did you know that you can also use them to dry your clothes without a dryer? In fact, this is a step many people use to dry their clothes quickly.

To do this, you should roll your clothes in a dry towel immediately after washing. The dry towel will soak up excess water and work similarly to the washing machine's extra spin. If you need to, you can also use a couple of towels and even squeeze them to ensure you get out as much moisture as possible.

Then, you can hang them on an airer as you normally would.

13. Use a fan to speed up the process

If you stood in front of one of the best fans after a shower, it wouldn’t take you long to dry off. So, it makes sense to use the same concept when looking to dry your clothes quickly.

Deyan Dimitrov, CEO and Co-Founder at Laundryheap, explains, ‘For drying small items of clothes fans can be used. Set up your fan so that it blows air across your clean laundry.’

Doing so can certainly speed up the process, but you also need to exercise caution when using this clothes drying hack. Deyan warns, ‘Ensure that your items are securely pegged down to avoid them blowing away! Additionally, try to avoid putting any clothes too close to your fan’s blades, as you don’t want them to block the airflow or get tangled up.’

14. Use tin foil balls

If you are lucky enough to own a tumble dryer, popping a couple of tin foil balls in the drum can help speed things up, and reduce static. 'Now this is a really old tip, my nan told me about this one, years ago,' explains Lynsey.

'So, make some really hard tin foil balls, do three or four and pop them inside your tumble dryer, particularly if you're doing delicates... and this will reduce that static in there.'

Playing on this idea, the new Boss it Rapid Dryer Ball equips the same concept of helping you cut the cost of running a tumble dryer and help you dry clothes quicker. Lynsey even dubbed it a 'game-changer' when talking about it on ITV's This Morning.

Alternatively, you can also use tumble dryer balls or new tennis balls. These will help separate the items in the dryer to speed up the drying time.

FAQs

How long do clothes take to air dry?

Ultimately, this all depends on the drying location and the moisture content in the clothes. If you want to air dry sodden clothes in a damp room, it could take as much as a few days or even a week for them to dry properly.

However, if you take steps to remove as much moisture as possible - for example, by running an extra spin cycle on the washing machine - and use a dehumidifier to remove excess water from the room, it may only take a few hours for your clothes to air dry.

Can you iron wet clothes to dry them?

Technically, yes, you can iron wet clothes to dry them. Some people find this to be extremely effective, but it’s important to note that this isn’t always the best option.

For example, it may take up to an hour to dry a single garment if it’s overloaded with water - which means that you’ll be ironing for a while if you want to dry a whole load this way. Alongside this, you also need to be careful when ironing wet clothes made of certain fabrics. Delicate fabrics may not be able to survive the stress that this causes.

So, it’s best to focus on more effective ways to dry your clothes without a tumble dryer instead.

Well, there you have it. It’s not only possible to dry clothes quickly without a tumble dryer, but it’s also pretty easy.