Washing clothes are easy because, for many, it is all about dumping the clothes inside a machine and waiting till the wash cycle ends with a beep. However, even this becomes a daunting task during the rainy season because drying becomes a challenge. Most of us resort to drying clothes inside the house, but drying clothes indoors is a difficult choice for people living in bigger cities, where space is a luxury.
Given this serious problem, Gharpedia has come up with popular indoor clothes-drying ideas to integrate into your small space.
The need for drying clothes inside the house became a culture only in metros and bigger cities as rapid urbanisation changed the landscapes. The changing skyline offered limited space to people, and air-drying clothes indoors became a necessity.
Since this has become a practice, let’s explore how you can dry clothes indoors cleverly.
Minimum Space Required for Drying Clothes Indoors
For a family of four to five people, considering six to seven garments per person (including small and large), there would be around 25 to 35 garments to dry, which requires a minimum horizontal space of 9.14 m to 15.24 m (30 to 50 feet) in length. Any garment normally requires 3 to 4 hours of daytime to dry, depending on the season. Hence, for a 3 m (10 feet) wide balcony, you need to tie a minimum of two and preferably three rows of strings at 200 mm to 300mm (8 to 12 inches) apart.
Unfortunately, all the above space problems that occur when we air dry clothes inside go unnoticed. Most housewives have adopted crude and precarious indoor clothes-drying ideas, which can sometimes lead to fatal accidents. There are instances of people falling from balconies and dying in a bid to dry their clothes. Thus, it is imperative to answer the very important question: how to quickly dry clothes inside the house? or how to dry clothes in winter and monsoon? or how to dry clothes inside?
Don’t worry; we bring you comprehensive indoor clothes-drying solutions.
“How to Dry Clothes Indoors Quickly?”
Considering the problems faced by people with drying clothes, we are providing you with some workable solutions for drying clothes indoors.
With the advancement in technology, a variety of drying racks are available, ranging from sliding, movable, wall-mounted drying racks or clothes dryers to washer dryers (washing machines with dryers or tumbler dryers). Foldable clothes drying racks are also available on the market. This is a wonderful solution because, when not in use, you can fold it and slide it to a corner. With the availability of new drying racks and clotheslines, you can make smart use of some specific indoor spaces, which will not only help you dry clothes indoors but also help you save money on electricity!
Commonly Used Indoor Clothes Drying Ideas
Let us look at some innovative ways of drying clothes indoors:
01. Clothesline to Air-Dry Clothes Inside the Home
The first and simple option for indoor clothes drying is line drying, or clothesline. You only need a few things: a line, clothespins, and possibly posts. Tie the clothesline between two walls or posts in your room. Hang your clothes with pins to prevent them from falling to the ground.
02. Different Types of Clothes Drying Racks
In modern apartments, builders have started providing dry areas where you can only wash your clothes but can also dry them. Nowadays, clothes drying racks of various shapes and sizes are available on the market. These racks not only look good but also provide a great convenience for air-drying clothes indoors.
Following are the different types of clothes drying racks:
(I) Ceiling Clothes Drying Racks
As the name suggests, ceiling clothes drying racks are installed on the ceiling and are mostly used on balconies of apartments due to a lack of space. They operate with a pulley system, which enables you to pull the drying clothes rack down, hang your clothes, and pull it up. This is the perfect indoor clothes-drying idea. There are different types of ceiling clothes drying racks available on the market as shown in the figure above.
(II) Foldable Clothes Drying Racks
Foldable clothes drying racks are a good solution for small homes. Since they are easy to fold, you do not have to worry about how they will look in your home when not in use. They are rust-proof, which means, you don’t need to worry about the rust staining your clothes. These types of drying racks are available in different designs as shown in the figure above.
(III) Adjustable Rolling Clothes Drying Racks
A rolling clothes drying rack is useful for anyone with time or space limitations when setting up a clothesline. You can easily move the rack because of the rolling arrangement in the rack. You can move the rack to any location conveniently, even when it has damp clothes hung on it.
(IV) Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Racks
A wall-mounted clothes drying rack can be attached to any wall space. The best part is that it doesn’t look like an eyesore when not in use. As space becomes less, using these types of clothes drying racks is becoming a more popular alternative and an efficient replacement for the conventional clothesline. It is useful for drying smaller pieces of clothing like hanky, socks, etc. You can use it anytime, and when not needed, you can push them back and close the unit.
(V) Expandable Clothes Drying Racks
If you want to maximise your clothes drying area, you must invest in expandable clothes drying rack. Ideal for drying delicate clothes like towels, socks, etc, it folds neatly for easy and discreet storage. These clothes drying rack is adjustable, so it can fit according to your needs, depending on the size, load, or space you want to set it up in.
(VI) Portable Tripod Drying Clothes Stand
The portable tripod indoor drying clothes rack is versatile and self-standing. These types of clothes drying racks are ideal for long garments like shirts, dresses, etc. The curved arms have grooves that can hold almost any plastic or metal hanger. You can fold them and store them away.
(VII) Radiator Clothes Airer
The radiator clothes airer is another solution for drying clothes indoors. It is ideal if you’re short of space. It creates extra drying room for garments while keeping them out of the way at the sides of the room. This radiator clothes airer can be placed anywhere in the home. It is ideal for balconies, windows, doors, etc. For drying clothes on the radiator airer, just hook it over the heater. This is the perfect solution for quickly drying smaller clothes like hanky, socks, towels, etc. It is foldable when not in use.
03. Use Washer Dryer for Drying Clothes Quickly
A washer dryer is a washing machine with an in-built tumbler dryer. So, if you need to dry clothes quickly, it’s a good option, as it washes and dries your clothes in the same cycle. So, all you need to do is pick up the clothes from the machine, and they’re ready to wear! It is of great help, especially during the monsoon season.
Also Read: How To Clean Washing Machine And Dishwasher
04. Use the Staircase Railings
A long staircase also provides a suitable and practical place for drying clothes indoors. Particularly in small houses or in chawl-type houses, these few cubic metres of additional usable space are suitable for drying clothes and making the spaces available for maximum use. You can dry your clothes on the staircase railings without any additional effort.
05. Window Grill – Commonly Adopted Practice for Drying Clothes Indoor
The best way to dry your clothes during the monsoon season is to hang them on the window covered with the grill. This is the best option for people who live in tiny apartments or flats. However, it will impact the overall look of the house.
06. Under the Fan – Popular Air-Drying Clothes Indoors Solution
People also use fans for drying clothes indoors during the monsoon. However, this not only looks bad but also leaves behind a foul odour in your room and clothes.
07. Round Peg Hanger
Drying clothes on a round peg hanger is the best option for small clothes like hanky, towels, socks, etc. You can hang them anywhere in the house. It is most suitable for drying clothes for small kids.
08. Use Ladder to Dry Clothes Inside
The crude, simple option for indoor clothes drying is the ladder. You can easily dry your clothes on the ladder as per your needs.
Takeaway
Well, drying your clothes should not cause extra anxiety in your life. It should be a stress-free task. Living in a small apartment does not mean that you do not have options. When it comes to drying clothes indoors, there are plenty of options available, and we have mentioned a few here. One of them might be helpful to you.
If you find our ideas useful, or if you have any important additional input from your end, we would love to hear from you and appreciate your suggestions. Please give your input in the comment box you see below!
Make sure to read our article:
Monsoon Tips For Home: Make Your Home Monsoon Ready
Here’s a video to sum up all the points mentioned above:
Image Courtesy : Image 4 – georgeandwilly, Image 6 – verycozyhome, Image 9, Image 12, Image 13, Image 14
