The damp and humid season can be a nuisance, especially when it comes to drying clothes. Even after washing, clothes can retain a musty smell and take ages to dry.
In such cases, many households resort to using dryers or taking their laundry to a laundromat. However, not everyone can afford to buy a dryer or rely on professional services.
If you’re looking to dry your clothes at home efficiently, here are seven tips to ensure they dry quickly and smell fresh:
1. Wash and dry clothes early in the morning
While it’s convenient to do laundry at night, the lack of sunlight and wind, coupled with high humidity, can make your clothes damp and smelly. Instead, opt to wash and dry them early in the morning when the weather is at its best, giving your clothes ample time to dry throughout the day.
It’s also best not to leave washed clothes in the machine overnight, as the humidity inside can breed bacteria and cause odors.
2. Divide laundry into smaller loads and spin-dry thoroughly
Overloading your washing machine can result in inadequate spinning and less than satisfactory cleaning. This leads to longer drying times and creates an environment conducive to mold and bacterial growth.
To avoid this, divide your laundry into smaller loads. This ensures that your clothes are thoroughly cleaned and spun dry while also prolonging the life of your washing machine.
3. Use hot water for washing
During humid seasons, consider washing your clothes with hot water. While it may increase your electricity and water usage slightly, hot water effectively kills bacteria and evaporates faster than cold water, resulting in quicker drying times.
If you don’t have a washing machine with a hot water setting, you can boil water or use a water heater for the final rinse, then spin-dry and hang your clothes to dry.
4. Don’t skip the fabric softener
On sunny days, you might get away with skipping the fabric softener, but during humid seasons, it’s best not to. Fabric softener will not only make your clothes smell fresher but also help them dry faster and inhibit bacterial growth, preventing unpleasant odors.
5. Hang clothes with ample space
After washing, thoroughly wring out your clothes, give them a good shake to prevent wrinkles, and then hang them up. If possible, consider using a thick cotton towel to absorb excess moisture before hanging them out to dry.
When hanging, ensure you use a spacious area and spread out the clothes as much as possible, maintaining a minimum distance of 5cm between hangers. This will expedite the drying process.
Clotheslines or wires tend to bunch up in the wind. To prevent this, use clips or hangers with holes to secure your clothes and maintain adequate spacing.
6. Utilize heaters
Air circulation is crucial for drying clothes and maintaining freshness. If you lack a spacious and well-ventilated area for drying, consider using heaters.
Heaters will warm up small, damp rooms, and placing a clothes rack next to them will ensure your clothes dry within a few hours.
Note: Avoid using regular fans during the humid season, as they will only increase condensation, prolonging drying times and making your space even damper.
7. Iron before and after drying
If you don’t have access to a heater or dryer, a multipurpose iron can be your savior. Irons not only smooth out wrinkles but also speed up the drying process with their heat.
After washing, thoroughly wring out your clothes and lay them flat. Use a dry iron to press them before hanging them out to dry.
To ensure complete bacteria elimination, consider ironing your clothes or giving them a quick once-over with a dryer before wearing them. This extra step not only removes residual moisture but also kills any remaining bacteria and keeps your clothes crisp and neat.
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