Dry laundry indoors safely by choosing the right room, ventilating well and controlling moisture to stop damp and mould.
DW-01Pick the right roomChoose a room with a window that opens and, ideally, a door you can shut off from the rest of the house. Avoid bedrooms and small windowless bathrooms — the moisture has nowhere to go and condenses on cold surfaces overnight. A spare room, bathroom with a window, or utility area works best.
DW-02Check the room before you startLook at the walls, window frames and corners for black speckling or a musty smell — signs of existing mould. If you find any, wipe it off with a damp cloth and mould spray before drying washing there, so you're not adding moisture to a room that's already struggling.
DW-03Set up the airer away from walls and furniturePosition a clothes airer at least 300mm from walls, curtains and furniture. Damp air needs to circulate freely — if washing sits right against a cold wall, moisture condenses there instead of evaporating into the room, which is exactly what causes damp patches and mould.
DW-04Never dry washing directly on a radiatorDraping clothes over a radiator traps moisture between the fabric and the wall behind it, which is one of the most common causes of damp patches and mould on that wall. Use a freestanding airer near, but not touching, the radiator instead.
DW-05Ventilate the room while washing driesShut the door to stop damp air spreading through the house, and open the window a small amount, or leave the trickle vent open, so moisture escapes outside instead of settling on walls and windows. If the room has an extractor fan, run it as well.
DW-06Use a dehumidifier if you have oneA dehumidifier pulls moisture straight out of the air, which dries washing faster and stops condensation building up on cold surfaces. Set it to run in the closed room and empty the water tank once it fills.
DW-07Wipe down condensation dailyCheck windows, sills and cold walls once or twice a day while washing dries. Wipe off any condensation with a dry cloth straight away — left sitting, it soaks into paint, plaster and wooden sills and encourages mould growth.
DW-08Take washing down as soon as it's dryDon't leave dry clothes hanging in the room for convenience — it keeps humidity higher than it needs to be for no reason. Fold the airer away once everything's dry.
DW-09Air the room out afterwardsOpen the window fully for 15 to 20 minutes after you take the washing down, even in winter. This clears any last moisture in the air and stops it settling on walls overnight.
DW-10Keep an eye on humidity long-termA cheap humidity meter left in the room tells you if levels are creeping up over time. Aim to keep indoor humidity between 40% and 60% — above that, damp and mould become much more likely regardless of how carefully you dry washing.