Martin Lewis believes that one everyday activity could be the cause of insanely high energy bills.
You may have never thought it but drying your wet clothes on radiators could be causing your energy bills to shoot through the roof.
We’ve all been there, standing at the window hoping for the lovely British rain to go away so we can hang our clothes out in the sunshine…of course, that’s a rarity. Instead, we retreat to the warmth of our radiators, understandably.
What happens when you dry your clothes on the radiator?
What happens when you dry your clothes this way, you are trapping the heat by creating a barrier between the wet garments and the radiator itself.
This requires the radiators to run for much longer than they need to and this can all lead to a little problem called mould growth.
Mould can be destructive to property, belongings, and even our mental & physical health. It is something that should be prevented at all costs.
Stop the dampening of energy bills with Martin Lewis
The Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has a fair bit of knowledge when it comes to saving money through energy use. To save some extra money on laundry day you could:
- Instead of stacking clothes on an airer, use hangers instead.
- Remove excess water with an extra spin cycle in the washing machine.
- Press your wet clothes with a hot iron.
Tips to dry your clothes efficiently with a tumble dryer?
Sometimes avoiding a tumble dryer can be quite difficult, especially in the winter when there is no other option. Although it can be quite a strain on your energy bill, there are some useful tips to employ (if you have one) that can help you wring out big savings.
- Do not overload the dryer and allow hot air to move around the clothes.
- Dry fabrics that are similar together.
- Use an auto-dry setting instead of a timed one. This stops energy wastage.
- Ensure filters are free from fluff for efficient operation.
- Attempt to complete all of your washing in one day – a second lot of clothes can make use of the heat already built up prior.
- Place your dryer in a warm room. This way it won’t take as long to heat up.
- If it is a vented machine, ensure the exterior vent is working correctly and any dust or debris is removed. This is also great for safety.
- Purchase some dryer balls, which will separate your clothes and allow more hot air to reach them, reducing drying time.
Don’t have a tumble dryer or don’t want to use one?
They are not for everyone but they are also not the be-all and end-all. There are a slew of different methods to dry your clothes inside of your home.
Heated Airer
Heated airers are a fantastic option for drying, particularly if an energy-efficient model is available. Most of the time they can be cheaper to run than a tumble dryer. Set up the airer anywhere in your home and allow the airer to work its magic, it should only take a few hours.
Standard Airer
Standard airers don’t come with the luxury of heating up, but they are great for drying significant loads. Make sure it is sturdy and placed in a well-ventilated area. If possible, place it in a room that is used the least.
What if mould shows up?
As we’ve discussed, mould is a nasty business and nobody wants to give it an open invitation into their living space. To prevent it from making an unwanted appearance when you dry your clothes you can:
- Open windows in drying rooms for good airflow.
- Buy dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air caused by the wet clothes.
- Choose a well-ventilated room and one that is used the least.
Summary
Using radiators to dry our wet clothes may not be the great idea we think it is. Although tumble dryers can be expensive to run, we can implement different methods, tips, and hacks into our daily lives. This can reduce the energy we use drying clean clothes and cut down an energy bill that would normally leave us out to dry.
