Why clothes airers are making a comeback (and 5 ways to dry your clothes inside this winter)

We’re all looking for ways to cut our energy bills this winter, and one quick win is switching off the tumble dryer. Especially as there’s a completely FREE way to dry your family laundry instead … 

With endless loads of clothes to dry, and energy prices soaring, it’s no surprise more of us are turning to clothes airers.

Searches for ‘tumble dryer cost per hour’ have gone up by 300% in the UK according to data from Google Trends. And speaking on his Martin Lewis Podcast, the money saving expert revealed tumble dryers cost around ‘a quid per load’.

In comparison, air drying your clothes is totally free. Which is a total win right now.

How to keep clothes from smelling musty after drying

If you’re worried the cold weather will leave your air-dried laundry smelling damp, think again. Fairy has just launched its genius SolarDry™ technology that banishes the musty smells you can often get when drying clothes inside. It works by mimicking the effect of sunlight on wet fabrics when drying outside. Which sounds impressive, but is even more so when you realise it actually works! 

Use a cap of Fairy Outdoorable Fabric Conditioner in your wash to give indoor-dried clothes the freshness of drying outside. Fairy In-Wash Scent Booster will add even more long lasting freshness.

*for up to 12 weeks in storage

Here’s all you need to know about using a clothes airer to dry your family laundry, plus top tips for air drying your clothes in the winter.

And for even more money saving laundry tips, along with tried-and-tested stain removal hacks, head to our Fairy Cares Laundry Room hub.

What is a clothes airer?

Also called a clothes horse or drying rack, a clothes airer is designed for you to hang laundry on after it’s been washed. 

They come in a variety of styles – from more upright, tiered airers which are ideal for smaller spaces, to airers that hang from your radiator.

Why should I use a clothes airer instead of a tumble dryer?

It will totally save you money! A clothes airer is completely free to use. According to USwitch, if you stop using your tumble dryer completely, you could save £60 a year.

How long do clothes take to dry on an airer?

Air drying clothes on a dryer can take many hours. However, drying times depend on a variety of factors, including the material of the clothes you’ve washed. Thick school jumpers will take longer to air dry than thinner babygrows for example.

If you put soaking wet clothes on an airer, they’ll take even longer to dry … if they dry at all. Speed up the process by giving clothes an extra spin cycle in your washing machine to remove as much moisture as possible.

If you need your family laundry dried quicker, heated clothes airers might be a better option. Which? research found they take between 4 and 24 hours to dry clothes.

Which are the best clothes airers?

With so many to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. If you’re short on space, look for upright airers that often have 3 or 4 tiers on which you can hang clothes.

Some airers are also retractable, meaning you can keep one side down if needed. Got room to dry? Horizontal laundry racks have wider sides to hang clothes from. Another option is a pulley clothes airer which is usually attached to your ceiling. 

What is the best heated clothes airer?

Want to avoid the tumble dryer but can’t wait for clothes to dry on a normal clothes airer? Then a heated airer might be the best option. 

Searches for ‘heated airer’ have increased by a massive 1,400% in the UK according to Google Trends.

There are lots of heated clothes airers to choose from, but if you have lots of laundry to dry, a multi-tiered one might suit you better. Using a dryer cover to trap in the heat can also help speed up the drying time.

How much do heated airers cost to run?

According to USwitch, the average heated airer costs 20p a week to run.

This compares to £1.67 a week for tumble dryers.

However, it depends on which heated air dryer you buy, and how often you have it switched on. 

How can I stop my clothes smelling damp?

Musty-smelling clothes are all too common when you’re drying clothes inside. But they don’t need to be.

Fairy Outdoorable’s SolarDry™ technology eliminates damp smells and instead leaves them with that ‘dried on a line outside’ aroma. 

Wash with your usual Fairy Non Bio PODS® or Washing Gel (both of which give brilliant results at 30 degrees, another money saving win!) and add a cap of Fairy Outdoorable Fabric Conditioner into your washing machine drawer.

For extra freshness, use Fairy In-Wash Scent Booster alongside your detergent and softener.

Fairy Non Bio has been voted number 1 for sensitive skin*, so all the products are gentle enough to be used on all your family laundry, including baby clothes. 

* Online panel of 3327 females among which Fairy Non Bio was voted most often as the #1 detergent & fabric softener for sensitive skin.

How can I get my air-dried clothes and towels feeling soft?

No one wants scratchy, stiff towels and clothes. Especially if you’ve got a baby or young children when you want only the softest fabrics against their delicate skin.

Fairy Outdoorable Fabric Conditioner not only gives laundry a gentle scent, it leaves everything huggably soft even when dried on an airer.

The whole Fairy Non Bio range has been dermatologically tested and endorsed by the Skin Health Alliance, so you can feel confident knowing it won’t irritate your baby’s delicate skin.

Do I need a dehumidifier?

Drying clothes inside can lead to lots of moisture in the air. A dehumidifier can help deal with that moisture, and the cold fan can speed up your clothes drying time.

They’re a good idea if you are drying laundry in a room that doesn’t have lots of ventilation, but word of warning: they can be a bit noisy.

Top tips for drying your clothes inside this winter

1. Don’t overload your clothes airer

With so many socks, school uniforms and towels to dry, it can be tempting to cram them on all your clothes airer. But this means they’ll take longer to dry.

Hang items out flat with space in between and they’ll be bone dry much quicker.

2. Use Fairy Outdoorable Fabric Softener

Say goodbye to musty clothes with Fairy Outdoorable Fabric Softener and Fairy In-Wash Scent Booster.

Long lasting freshness and softness that you know and love from Fairy means they are a laundry must-have this winter (and beyond!).

3. Don’t put clothes on your radiator

According to Which?, this could actually be the most expensive way of drying your clothes. That’s because your radiator will work extra hard when they’re loaded with wet clothes. And that could mean your heating bills will rise.

4. Time your laundry

Doing back-to-back loads of washing is fine in the summer months when you can hang things on the line outside. But in the winter, when you’re using a clothes airer inside, you could end up with lots of damp laundry.

Space out your washes if you can, giving everything time to dry before adding a new batch of wet clothes.

Check out the whole Fairy range here along with 7 laundry swaps to save you money.