'Best place' to put your dehumidifier to dry clothes and stop nasty damp smells

06 January 2024 , 13:17

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Dehumidifiers are considered a godsend when drying clothes in the winter (Image: Getty Images)

Dehumidifiers have become a staple appliance in many British homes and they are considered a godsend when drying clothes indoors - but there is a right way to use them.

A dehumidifier is an electronic appliance that absorbs the moisture in the air from your wet clothes and projects warm, dryer air that over time dries out your clothes. However, they do cost money to run meaning you need to make sure you are using them properly.

One important thing you need to know when using a dehumidifier is where to place it so it can work at its best. If you put it in the wrong place, your clothes may take longer to dry and the purpose of the dehumidifier - to remove moisture from the air - may not even work.

According to the dehumidifier experts at Morris Direct, the “best place to put a dehumidifier for drying clothes” is closer to the laundry for “fast drying”. Although you shouldn't put it too close. The experts say you need to leave enough clearance for the dehumidifier, on all sides, to facilitate airflow. This distance should be around 30cm on all sides.

The experts at Morris recommend using the appliance in a small room, especially for those who have a small portable dehumidifier. They explain: “The dehumidifier will remove moisture in this environment faster compared to if it is placed in a large room. This is why most homeowners would dry clothes using a dehumidifier in the bathroom.”

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However with this common hack, people will need to make sure their bathroom is dry before putting in their laundry to dry. This can be tricky as moisture can come from sinks, showers, wet towels and bathroom rugs.

Drying clothes using a dehumidifier not only dries your clothes quicker, but it also can help “eliminate mould and musty smells” in your home. This is because the longer clothes take to dry, the mustier they can become. By reducing the humidity and speeding up drying time, your clothes are more likely to smell fresh and not develop an odour.

Clothes can be dried by using a dehumidifier and usually, you can get your clothes ready to wear within six hours. Although will take a little longer with heavier clothing items such as woollen jumpers. this is significantly quicker when compared to the humble drying rack or clothes horse alone. This method is a lengthy one with clothes usually taking around 24 to 48 hours to dry, particularly if you are washing some heavy woollies or denim. Due to the longer drying time, you do risk your clothes becoming a little musty with this method.

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Ruby Flanagan