Dry clothes for 2p an hour this winter without running heating

Drying clothes indoors in winter can be a nightmare but there's one easy method you won't want to overlook. With energy costs creeping up and the arrival of winter, household bills are set to soar as the weather gets colder. Brits are rethinking their laundry routines to help save money, with many trying lower-power alternatives to tumble dryers, like drying pods.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic and General, has shared his best advice for drying your washing in the most affordable way this winter. He says: "The main appeal to using tumble dryer alternatives like heated airers and dryer pods is the lower running costs.

"Heated airers usually use between 2 and 26 pence per hour, whereas a tumble dryer can cost you closer to 75 pence per hour.

"Although you'd probably have to use a heater airer or drying pod for longer at a time, it would likely still cost you much less overall than a tumble dryer load."

He adds that drying pods, which can help getting your clothes ready to be worn quicker without having to ramp up the heating, are also gentler on your clothes, with less risk of shrinkage and damage to delicate fabrics and sportswear.

Ian says airers are compact and portable meaning they can be used more flexibly, placed in rooms with more radiators and airflow making them adaptable to the colder months.

But, Ian warns that it's important to make sure that a heated airer or drying pod is safe and not at risk of overheating.

He says: "Don't use them in small, enclosed rooms with little ventilation as excess heat and humidity can increase this risk.

"Remember to follow the manufacturer's guidance and regularly inspect that the product is working.

"Reducing your tumble dryer use can also help to extend its lifespan by giving the mechanical parts a break every now and then."

Back-to-back drying cycles increase the risk of your machine overheating, especially without regular vent and filter cleaning, which can lead to an expensive tumble dryer repair."