Drying clothes can prove troublesome if you’re keeping the heating off. (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

With energy prices rising, many members of the public are looking to make savings wherever they can.

The government does have several support schemes running to help with energy, including the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the Cost of Living payments.

However, in the government’s recent Autumn statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the current energy price cap guarantee of £2,500, which was due to stay in place for two years, would apply only for six months and rise to £3,000 from April 2023.

As Winter closes in, more and more of us are still delaying turning the heating on when possible in an attempt to save on bills.

While you already have to be very careful when deciding whether to keep your heating off (making sure you avoid damp and ill health), another problem presents itself when it comes to drying clothes.

So, how do you dry your clothes when you’re looking to save on bills?

Here is what you need to know.

How to dry your clothes when your heating is off

Rebecca Bebbington, a consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes, has offered several top tips for drying clothes to save energy and avoid problems like dampness in your home.

Have a suitable airer

Making sure you have a suitable airer for the space you are working with is essential, by ensuring you are maximising your capacity for drying clothes without using up the whole room.

Rebecca reminds us that: ‘If you’re tight on space there are slimline airers available that can fit in any room.’

Space out the clothes when drying

While it may seem logical to cram as much onto your airier as possible, this can end up being counterproductive, and clothes pile on top of each other and are likely to dry slowly.

Rebecca says: ‘Ensure all of your laundry is spread out and avoid any overlaps.’

Avoid putting clothes on the radiator

Make sure all of your clothes are well spaced out on your airer. (Credits: Getty Images)

Lots of people attempt to speed up the drying process by putting damp washing on their radiators when they are on. However, this can increase the moisture levels in the air and encourage dampness, so it is best avoided where possible.

Give the clothes an extra spin

If your machine has the ability to do so, putting your clothes on for an extra spin cycle can help remove excess moisture.

This means that an extra ten minutes in the machine can save you money without the expense of running a tumble dryer. 

Make the most of any sunshine 

On the odd occasion that we get better weather over Winter, it’s good to make the most of it.

Rebecca says: ‘The sun still comes out to say hello even on the coldest of days and when it does it’s important to make the most of it.’

‘Place your airer in the sunlight to make the most of the warmth that’s coming in, speeding up the drying process.’

Don’t overfill the washing machine

While cramming all of your clothes into one cycle can be tempting to cut down on washes, this can sometimes prove problematic when drying.

Rebecca has said: ‘… It’s easy to overfill the machine too and this can prevent the cycle from spinning the clothes properly, meaning they will retain most of the water by the end of the cycle.’

MORE : UK economy to suffer biggest hit from energy crisis among G7 nations

MORE : Energy saving myths busted: From clingfilm on windows to black paint

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

Drying clothes in a colder house can be problematic, as you definitely want to avoid damp.