Is it worth hanging washing outside to dry in the winter?

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Silly-Wrangler-7715@reddit

In cold weather clothes indoor dry faster than in hot weather. Cold air can hold less water so when heated its relative humidity decreases, basically it gets dryer and helps dry your clothes faster. Science!

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banjo_fandango@reddit

Old Lancashire saying: if it’ll dry the flags (paving stones) it’ll dry the rags.

Therefore: if the ground looks dry, some moisture will come out of your laundry if you hang it out. It probably won’t ‘dry’ though. My advice - hang it out if it’s dry/windy outside, then bring it in and finish it off with a dehumidifier.

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flexo_24@reddit

Invest in a dehumidifier. I got one this year and best investment I’ve made.

Saves us putting the heating on and rotating the socks and pants on the radiators around the house for hours on end.

I’ve got the Meaco Arête 25l.

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D0wnb0at@reddit

Dehumidifiers work in tandem with radiators. They don’t work well under 18c.

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Accurate-Flatworm361@reddit

I dried two loads on the washing line in the past 24hours in North West England. Barely above freezing but sunny and, the key thing, a few hours of the humidity below 70%.

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caniuserealname@reddit

I know it's probably coming off a bit cult- like on reddit these days, but get a dehumidifier.

It'll help you with washing in the winter, but it'll help you in general dealing with this damp-ass country.

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SyboksBlowjobMLM@reddit

If you have space for a dryer, and the budget for that to be a heat pump dryer, that’s your best option.

Energy efficiency is the same or better than a dehumidifier and airer combo, but the space requirements are less and the dampness is properly contained.

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SomethingOrOther25@reddit

A heated airer will be your best friend

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Thestolenone@reddit

We had washing out today, it was sunny and breezy all day and while it didn't completely dry it only needs an overnight air to get there. We do have a dehumidifier for wet days but haven't had it long so haven't used it to dry clothes yet.

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boldstrategy@reddit

Air rack inside, crack a window open, it will freeze outside in this weather

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CassetteLine@reddit

Dehumidifier too! So useful for drying clothes in winter.

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boldstrategy@reddit

Great shout!

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Scarred_fish@reddit

Temperature has nothing to do with drying clothes. Indeed, the cool dry low humidity of winter dries them even faster, and they feel amazing! Getting into freshly air dried bedsheets in winter is one of the true luxuries in life!

We never dry clothes inside unless completely stuck, you can always dry them outside.

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M4l3k0@reddit

wtf? So why are tumble driers hot... why are hair driers... and so on and so on...

Someone is high today...

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Scarred_fish@reddit

Because you're having to utilise temperature instead of humidity.

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StandardOffer9002@reddit

Temperature has nothing to do with drying clothes.

LOL what. I've read some nonsense but this is special.

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Ronaldo_McDonaldo81@reddit

And getting into an ice cold bed that’s also damp is actually one of life’s luxuries, there you go.

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Precipiceofasneeze@reddit

To be fair I actually really enjoy getting into a cold bed.

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StandardOffer9002@reddit

In the summer I do. Less keen in the winter.

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Scarred_fish@reddit

Er, I think you need to think again..

In case you're not trolling, and genuinely don't know or have somehow not noticed how much faster things dry in winter, It's because water molecules in the air randomly condense onto the fabric. So, the drier the air, the higher the ratio of evaporation to condensation, and the faster clothes will dry.

Warmer air holds more water, so higher temperatures increase the relative humidity, which means clothes dry slower the warmer it is.

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ASY_Freddy@reddit

Clothes dry because water in the fabric evaporates into the air, not because water molecules condense onto the fabric. Condensation would add moisture rather than help with drying. The key factors are humidity, airflow, and temperature:

Humidity: The drier the air (low humidity), the faster water evaporates from the fabric. Winter air is often very dry, which is why clothes can dry quickly even in the cold.
Temperature: Warmer air can hold more moisture, but it doesn’t always mean slower drying. If the air is warm and dry (low relative humidity), clothes dry faster. On the flip side, warm and humid air slows down drying because it’s already saturated with moisture.
Airflow: A good breeze helps remove water vapour from around the clothes, speeding up the process no matter the season.

So while cold winter air can be amazing for drying clothes due to its dryness, the claim that warmer air inherently slows drying isn’t accurate; it depends on the humidity and airflow.

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Scarred_fish@reddit

>Clothes dry because water in the fabric evaporates into the air, not because water molecules condense onto the fabric.

That's exactly what I said :)

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cmdrxander@reddit

3 things affect the speed at which clothes dry. Temperature, humidity and wind. You only really need 2 of them to dry clothes effectively but if you have all three they’re dry in like an hour.

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24877943@reddit

This guy knows RH

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Scarred_fish@reddit

I mean, most kids have noticed it by the time they're at school. It may not be obvious why, but everyone (well, nearly everyone!) know how basic humidity works.

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StandardOffer9002@reddit

There's only one troll here.

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alltorque1982@reddit

I am so confused by this. In summer, I can get 3 loads washed and dried in a day. In winter, 1 load will take days to dry outside. Am I imagining that? I don't claim to be a scientist, I just want dry clothes.

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reachisown@reddit

Yeah this science doesn't really apply unless in a controlled environment.

Right now laundry outside would take like 3 days to dry if it ever dries at all whereas in summer as you say will only take the afternoon.

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CassetteLine@reddit

They’re wrong. Temperature plays a huge part in evaporation rate. Cloths dry faster in summer than in winter.

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CassetteLine@reddit

Temperature has a huge effect on it.

I did a quick calculation, comparing 5C at 80% RH and 25C at 50% RH. Chosen as those are fairly representative of UK outdoor conditions.

Evaporation rate at 5C 0.033 kg/m2/hour.

Evaporation rate at 25C 0.301 kg/m2/hour.

So yes, temperature has a huge effect.

Then for balance if we go 5C and 50% RH to only change temperature, we get 0.083.

Temperature matters.

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noseysheep@reddit

If it's clear, windy and above freezing it can be

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Ultrasonic-Sawyer@reddit

Watched a video years back if this family in siberia which showed them drying their washing on the line in something mental like -40c. On youtube somewhere like how we do washing in siberia or something.

Pretty mental.

But basically so long as its not raining or snowing then you should be alright.

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Autumnwood@reddit

If it's not freezing, I put mine out in the day, and bring it in at night to continue drying on a rack.

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World_wanderer12@reddit

I do, I have some out today, if its sunny and with a bit of wind it dries to a certain extent then can be finished off on an airer in the house.

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Conscious-Ball8373@reddit

So long as it doesn't freeze first.

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davehemm@reddit

Freezing (<0°C, not just feeling freezing) alongside a very low humidity (RH <50%, so not really UK) can lead to sublimation of the ice, wind needed, sun can help. Won't be quick, but it will happen.

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

Doesn't work under about 10C was what I was told. Even if you have it out all day, will it really dry in the hours of sunlight we have. A good guide is look and see if the floor is dry. If so, there is a chance. Can get the worst of the damp off and finish inside. But this time of year I can't live without my drier tbh.

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andercode@reddit

Dehumidifier. Its always the answer, not sure why people keep asking the question.

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Oilfreeeggs@reddit

There’s an app called laundry timer and it will find your location and estimate drying time

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CassetteLine@reddit

OP the answer here is a dehumidifier.

We shut our laundry in the bathroom, put the dehumidifier on for its 6 hour laundry mode, and by the end it’s dry.

Not too expensive to run, heats the house a bit, and means you’re not making the house damp.

Genuinely so worth it. They’re a fraction of the price of running a tumble dryer, and can then also be used to dry the rest of the house if/when needed.

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Durzo_Blintt@reddit

If it's windy and sunny it dries well, but it's not often we get both here. If it's just windy it's ok...

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pseudonomdeplume@reddit

In winter I put mine on a clothes horse with a dehumidifier next to it - dries quickly and stops the damp issue!

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Ineffable_Confusion@reddit

I didn’t have access to a tumble dryer in the first houseshare I lived in so I bought an electric clothes dryer. Saves wondering for days whether something on a clothes horse is dry in the winter and costs less to run than a tumble dryer

Either put it in the bathroom or leave it near a cracked window and that should help take care of the humidity

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quellflynn@reddit

didn't it snow yesterday?

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Bobcat-Narwhal-837@reddit

If its a windy day you will get some drying done. Still day, don't bother, even if it's sunny. If your laundry freezes, give it a good shake to knock the ice crystals off and you'll get some of the water out of it.

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rustynoodle3891@reddit

Exactly. Wind is the key factor here, plus above freezing temperatures.

Personally I'm often too lazy/don't want to get cold so I'll hang it over radiators or on a clothes horse nearby. Haven't had any issues with damp doing this.

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Brian_from_accounts@reddit

I’m sure it has something to do with sublimation, but I can’t remember what

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MadWifeUK@reddit

It's wind you need, not warmth. Peg your clothes out when there's a decent breeze. Judge it by the ground and remember the old saying "If the flags are dry the rags will dry."

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JocastaH-B@reddit

I remember my mum sending me out to get the washing in off the line in winter and the jeans and sheets were like boards standing up on their own 🤣🤣

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monkeymidd@reddit

Have you got a local laundrette , you will likely be shocked how cheap services washes are . I pay £25 a week for 2 ikea bags washed , dried and folded .

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ProfessorYaffle1@reddit

Yes,

It's humidity, not temperature, which determines whether they will dry. A cold , dry day will mean clothes get dryer than if it were warm but humid
Even if they don't get any drier, if you hang some outside you can dry them inside in stages, without the rest getting musty, and as you have fewer wet things inside at any one time, you can space them out on your drier and also avoid making the room too humid.

I find hanging stuff outside gives it a bit of an airing, things feel fresher and they crumple less, as you aren't graving to cram them together on the airer

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Droidy934@reddit

Get yourself a dehumidifier, they're about £50

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Conscious-Cut-6007@reddit

I find so yes but depending on weather.

My laundry is out there now, sunny but cold day with a slight breeze and it is drying nicely. I've washed jumpers so not expecting them to dry fully but a lot of the moisture will go and will finish them off over night on a clothes horse next to a dehumidifier.

Also a whites wash so like to get a blast of sunlight on them.

Last week in the grey days with no breeze didn't feel like it did much out side as air was humid but still gave them a couple of hours.

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WelcometotheZhongguo@reddit

Yes.

Puddles dry outdoors even on very cold days because of airflow not temperature. You may still want to finish your laundry off on an indoors airer but if you get the bulk to evaporate outdoors, especially in a breeze then you won’t be bringing moisture/ damp into your home

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Beautiful-Skill-5921@reddit

My rule of thumb for outdoors is, if the ground is dry, laundry will dry.

Otherwise, heat one room, close the door and use clothes horses and a dehumidifier to dry laundry. Bonus is that the room is toasty afterwards.

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MDK1980@reddit

We bought a dehumidifier for that very reason.

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Viv_84@reddit

I have no garden so in the winter I hang up all my clothes on the clothes horse. Angle it and use my summer fan to dry the clothes. All done within 2 hours.

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Heated drying rack and dehumidifier dries pretty quick and minimises damp.

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Matt_Moto_93@reddit

It's woth inveting in a dehumidifier - Meaco do good ones. I will hang up my clothes on a suitible drying rack (hang clevrly so there is good air flow around all the clothes), and then run the dehumidifer in the same room with the door and windows shut and leave it for 6-8 hours, which is enough to dry completly, or dry enough that the rest can just finish off without the dehumidifer.

I guess if you had a south-facing garden, then on a good sunny winters day you'd get some drying done, but in reality they wont dry fully.

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-_-Orange@reddit

It works if there’s a breeze, takes forever tho. Idk your money situation but maybe it’s time to look for a tumble dryer?

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p4ttl1992@reddit

We've purchased one of the heated airers WITH a tent cover, electric wise it doesn't cost much either and it dry's clothes so much quicker.

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/24909/dry-soon-deluxe-3-tier-heated-airer?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArva5BhBiEiwA-oTnXVqM3d_iTpAOVoSBfnJr5E27-CiuuwplpV-KQiXyRF0w_sQlejGWRhoCgL4QAvD_BwE

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StandardOffer9002@reddit

I hang dry inside and have no issues with damp

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One_Loquat_3737@reddit

In my experience there are few days when you don't get some drying done unless it's a) below freezing or b) totally sunless and windless. So apart from those days I get the washing done and hung out early as it generally comes in at least partly drier than when it went out. This method isn't perfect but for me it's worth the modest effort. My gardent faces south with the line running east-west which helps if there is any sun at all.

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Stripycardigans@reddit

If it's a dry day there's no reason not to, so long as the air humidity isn't too high they will dry eventually

A windy winter day is often pretty good for drying clothes

Even if you only get them partially dry it's less moisture inside your home

Currently I don't have a garden so I'm reliant on the dehumidifier (which does work well!) But ive dried clothes outside in winter successfully in the past

If they freeze it doesn't increase the moisture content, and anecdotally ivr heard its good for keeping your whites nice and bright

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shak_0508@reddit

Depends if it’s sunny and windy, it can help.

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