Top 6 Hacks to Dry Your Laundry on Rainy Days (if You Don’t Have a Dryer)

On this page we cover:

• The hairdryer method
• The towel and iron method
• Rolling your clothes into a towel
• Placing your wet clothes near a heater
• Use a dehumidifier
• Oven drying
• Which clothes dryer is best for reducing humidity

The hairdryer treatment

For a quick fix, you can use a hairdryer to blow-dry your clothes (yep, you read that right). It’s not so much the heat that does the work, rather the airflow. To dry your clothes with a hairdryer, use a low heat setting and a high fan blower setting, and slowly rotate the item of clothing as you blow all over. Be sure to blow out all the pockets, sleeves, collars and other nooks and crannies. Any damp spots you leave behind can become havens for bacteria and mould.

The towel and iron method

Ok, so this hack isn’t suitable for drying an entire load of washing, but it can help you dry an item or two quickly. Start by placing a dry bath or face towel over your ironing board, then put your washed piece of clothing down over the towel, and then cover it with a second towel (like a sandwich). To dry your clothing, iron right over the towel from edge to edge. The towels will absorb excess moisture and protect the clothing from the direct heat that could damage the damp fabric, while still letting enough heat through to dry the material. Bonus – it’s also a great steam trick for getting rid of wrinkles!

Roll your clothes into a towel

This is similar to the method above, but doesn’t require an iron. Simply place a garment in a large fluffy bath towel and then roll it up tightly, or use a twisting motion, so that the towel can absorb the access moisture from your wet clothes. Start at one end and then roll up the towel with your item of clothing inside, until the towel is twisted to the max. Repeat this process twice and then let your item of clothing air dry.

Place your wet clothes near a heater

Place a heater in a small but well-ventilated room (the laundry) and then hang your clothes on a clothes horse next to the heater, approximately one or two metres from it. The heated air produced by the heater will dry your clothes in a matter of hours. It’s also good to have a dehumidifier in the room to reduce humidity and prevent mould.

Please note: you should never place any items of clothing or material over an electric or gas heater as this poses a fire hazard.

Use a dehumidifier

Many dehumidifiers come with a laundry mode, designed specifically to dry laundry inside. Even if your unit doesn’t come with such a feature, it can still help dry wet clothes inside. Just hang your clothes near your dehumidifier in a small room with all the doors and windows closed, and turn your unit up to a high setting.

Oven drying (small items only)

Yes, you can use your oven for cooking and drying small items of clothing like tank tops, socks, and underwear (although it’s not designed for this purpose). Heat your oven to 100⁰C for 10 minutes and then turn it off again. Place small items of clothing in a baking tray (with a baking sheet) and make sure nothing can touch the element or the walls of the oven. Keep in mind, this option is slow. It takes an hour for an oven to heat just two pairs of boxer shorts.

Please note: This method isn’t the best for your oven, as humidity from the wet clothes can build up inside the appliance, and reduce its performance and lifespan.

CAUTION, DO NOT TRY TO DRY CLOTHES IN A MICROWAVE: Drying any fabrics in a microwave can cause a fire.

Should you dry your clothes inside?

Not if you can help it. Drying clothes indoors can lead to mould and encourage dust mites, which are hard to get rid of and can directly impact your health. Around two litres of water evaporates out of a freshly washed load of clothes, and it goes straight into the air.

If that air is outside, great – it can join the clouds. If that air is inside, it can promote mould and dampness in the home. If drying your clothes inside your home is your only solution, make sure you do so in a well-ventilated room and, if possible, use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity.

Which clothes dryer is best for reducing humidity?

Both vented and contender dryers work relatively well to reduce humidity while drying laundry. A vented dryer vents the excess moisture from wet clothes directly outside through a hose, while a condenser dryer extracts the moisture from the clothes and drains it away as condensed water in a storage tank.

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About the reviewer of this page

This report was reviewed by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.