What is a dehumidifier, exactly? In a nutshell, it’s an appliance that removes excess moisture from the air inside your home.
It’s a great piece of kit if you think your indoors might be too humid, as this can lead to things like mould on ceilings, condensation on windows and water stains on walls - any one of those is bad news for your home.
Dehumidifiers are great for getting rid of damp, but that’s not all. Because a humidifier is just what you need if you want to dry clothes indoors – in the winter, or all those other times it’s not-so-sunny outside…
How does a dehumidifier dry clothes?
Clothes can take a long time to dry properly indoors, especially if it’s a humid environment. But when you use a dehumidifier, the air surrounding your wet clothes becomes less humid. This allows the moisture within the clothes to evaporate more quickly, resulting in shorter drying times. Result.
A humidifier can reduce odours too. Drying clothes indoors without proper ventilation can sometimes make clothes smell musty. By reducing the humidity, you’re also reducing the risk of odours developing on clothing that’s been damp for too long.
How do I use a humidifier to dry clothes?
If you want to use a humidifier to dry your clothes indoors, here’s what to do:
1. Keep your distance. Make sure the dehumidifier is reasonably close to the clothes you want to dry (between 4-6 feet away). This is the perfect distance for effective air circulation and evaporation.
2. Spread things out. Use a drying rack or hangers to keep your clothes spread out, and don’t put any on top of each other. Keeping everything spaced out helps the airflow get to every inch of your garments.
3. Use in a well-ventilated area. Choose a room where you know the ventilation is good or open windows to allow moist air to escape while the dehumidifier removes excess moisture.
4. Choose the correct setting. If you’re not sure of the best setting to use, consult the manufacturer’s instructions. A lot of humidifiers have a ‘laundry’ mode, so look out for that. Otherwise, you’ll need to find the right balance the drying speed and a comfortable humidity level.
5. Keep an eye out. Be sure to regularly check how your dryings getting on. If the clothes are drying to slow, you might need to adjust the settings on your humidifier.
Humidifier drying FAQs
What other appliances are good for drying clothes?
While a dehumidifier can help make drying clothes indoors quicker, it’s not going to be as fast or effective as a dedicated tumble dryer. If you think that would be a better option for your laundry, take a look at our article that answers the question which tumble dryer is right for me?
Need any help?
You can read more about why you should buy a dehumidifier here. Need some help picking the right humidifier or air treatment appliance? Pop in-store and chat to one of our expert colleagues. They’re always happy to help.
