How to Dry Clothes Indoors in Winter (Without the Damp)

Every British winter, it's the same story. The washing comes out of the machine, there's no chance it'll dry outside, and suddenly every radiator, chair and door handle is draped in damp socks. It takes forever, and all that moisture ends up in your home.

The good news: a few simple habits make a big difference, and the right airer makes it even easier. Here's how to dry clothes indoors faster, without the damp, plus three space-saving airers from Foxydry that do the hard work for you.

Ways to save at Foxydry

• All three airers come with a 2-year warranty
• 30-day returns
• Prices are in euros, so check the final price at checkout
• See today's offers at Foxydry

The quick answer

• Spin it well: use the fastest spin your clothes can take.
• Give it air: hang clothes with space between them, in a room with a window open a little.
• Go up high: warm air rises, so clothes on a ceiling airer often dry faster than on a floor airer.
• Keep it off the radiators: it fills your home with moisture and can lead to damp.

7 simple ways to dry clothes faster indoors

• 1. Use a high spin. The more water the machine spins out, the less has to dry in the air. Use the highest spin your fabric label allows.
• 2. Shake things out. Give each item a good shake before you hang it. It gets rid of creases and opens up the fabric so air can get through.
• 3. Leave a gap. Don't squash everything together. Space between clothes lets air move around them.
• 4. Open a window a little. Moisture from your washing has to go somewhere. A slightly open window, or a fan or extractor on, lets it out instead of onto your walls.
• 5. Choose the right room. A warm room with the door closed is best, like a utility room, kitchen or bathroom. Keep it out of bedrooms if you can.
• 6. Hang high. Warm air collects near the ceiling. Clothes hung up high often dry faster, and they're out of your way.
• 7. Don't use the radiators as a rack. Draping wet clothes over radiators fills the room with moisture and blocks heat from the room. An airer near a radiator, not on it, is a better habit.

Got a dehumidifier? Running one in the same room soaks up the moisture and speeds up drying even more.

Why a good airer helps

A floor airer takes up half the room, and you end up stepping around it for days. A wall or ceiling airer gives you lots of hanging space, keeps the washing up high where the warm air is, and folds away when you're done. That's where Foxydry comes in.

Foxydry is an Italian company that makes airers for your ceiling or wall. Here are three models for different homes and budgets.

Which airer? Our picks

• A simple ceiling airer with no electrics: the Foxydry Mini, €159.70. See the deal
• Can't fix anything to your ceiling: the Foxydry Wall, from €169.70. See the deal
• The fastest drying, with a remote: the Foxydry Air, €489.70. See the deal

Before you buy: Foxydry's website shows prices in euros. Check the final price, the delivery charge and any import fees at checkout before you pay.

The three airers side by side

1. Foxydry Mini: best simple ceiling airer

€159.70 at Foxydry. Check today's price

Think of the old Victorian ceiling airer, made modern and much easier to use. Pull the chain to lower the rack to head height, hang your washing, then lift it back up to the ceiling. A friction system makes it light to lift, even when it's full, and it needs no electricity at all.

It puts tip 6 into practice: your washing hangs up where the warm air is, completely out of your way.

Why you'll like it

• No electricity, so no running costs
• Frees up your floor and radiators
• Up to 11.5 metres of hanging space
• Rust-resistant aluminium and steel, made in Italy
• Grey or white, in two lengths

Good to know

• It must be fixed to something solid, like a ceiling joist or beam. Foxydry says plasterboard alone can't hold it, so you may want a handyman to fit it.
• It lowers by up to 1.8 metres, so it works best with normal or high ceilings.

Get the Foxydry Mini

2. Foxydry Wall: best if you can't use the ceiling

From €169.70 at Foxydry. Check today's price

Renting, or have a ceiling you'd rather not drill into? The Foxydry Wall fixes to a wall instead. Open, it gives you rows of drying rails with space between them. Closed, it folds up almost flat, sticking out just 9cm.

Choose one, two or three racks, depending on how much washing you do. The biggest version gives you 34 metres of hanging space, more than most families will ever need.

Why you'll like it

• No ceiling fixing needed
• Folds almost flat against the wall
• 1, 2 or 3 racks to suit your family
• Works indoors or outside, for example on a balcony
• Four lengths to fit your space

Good to know

• You'll need a clear bit of wall about 1.4 metres high.
• Prices: €169.70 for one rack, €199.70 for two, €229.70 for three.

Get the Foxydry Wall

3. Foxydry Air: best for fast drying and big families

€489.70 at Foxydry. Check today's price

This is the top of the range. Press a button on the remote and the rack glides down from the ceiling. Hang your washing, press again, and it rises back up. Two built-in fans blow air across your clothes to speed up drying, and there's an LED light, so it can double as the ceiling light in a utility room.

It holds up to 35kg of washing, more than three times the Mini, and safety sensors stop it if anything gets in the way on the way down.

Why you'll like it

• Remote control, no pulling or lifting
• Built-in fans for faster drying
• LED light included
• Holds up to 35kg
• Safety sensors

Good to know

• It needs power, and Foxydry recommends an electrician to wire it in.
• The ceiling must be able to hold 50kg.
• It costs about three times as much as the Mini.

Get the Foxydry Air

What to look for in a clothes airer

The right airer depends on your home, your washing and your budget. Here's what to check.

• Where it will go. Ceiling airers save the most floor space. Wall airers are good if you rent or can't drill into the ceiling. Floor airers are cheapest but take up the most room.
• Hanging space. Check the total length of drying line. A family doing several loads a week needs much more than a single person.
• Weight limit. Wet towels and jeans are heavy. Make sure the airer can hold a full load.
• Fixing. Ceiling airers must be fixed into something solid, like a joist. If you're not sure, ask a handyman.
• Power. Manual airers cost nothing to run. Electric models with fans or heat dry faster but need a power supply, and some need an electrician to fit them.

What do customers say about Foxydry?

Foxydry scores 3.9 out of 5 from 124 reviews on Trustpilot. Happy buyers say the racks feel sturdy and well made, save lots of space, and that customer service is quick to send spare parts. One wrote: "Customer service is great too. Emailed back the same day."

The most common complaints are tricky installation with unclear instructions, and slow delivery for some orders. Our tip: watch Foxydry's installation video before you start, and order a few weeks before you need it.

So, which airer should you buy?

Go for the Mini if you want a simple, no-electrics airer that clears your floor and radiators.

Go for the Wall if you rent, can't drill the ceiling, or want lots of hanging space in a utility room.

Go for the Air if you do a lot of washing and want it dry as quickly and easily as possible.

Not quite right? Foxydry has more sizes and colours. See the full Foxydry range

Common questions

Is drying clothes on radiators bad?

It isn't dangerous in itself, but it adds a lot of moisture to the air, which can lead to condensation and damp. It also stops the radiator from heating the room properly. An airer in a well-ventilated room is a better habit.

How long do clothes take to dry indoors?

It depends on the fabric, the room and the weather. Thin cotton can dry in a few hours in a warm, airy room, while thick jeans and towels can take a day or more. A high spin, space between items and a ceiling airer all help.

Is a heated clothes airer better?

A heated airer warms the rails with electricity, so clothes dry faster, but it costs a little to run each time. A ceiling or wall airer like the Foxydry Mini or Wall uses no power at all and keeps the washing out of the way. The Foxydry Air sits in between: it uses fans rather than heat to speed up drying.

Can I fit a ceiling airer myself?

The Mini and Wall can be fitted by a confident DIYer, as long as you fix into something solid. The Air needs an electrician.

Where is the best place to dry clothes indoors?

A warm room with good airflow, like a utility room, kitchen or bathroom with the extractor fan on. Keep the door closed and a window slightly open so the moisture can escape.

Do dehumidifiers help dry clothes?

Yes. A dehumidifier pulls moisture out of the air, which helps clothes dry faster and keeps damp away from your walls.

Full specs (for the details fans)

Foxydry Mini: manual chain with friction system. Lengths 152cm or 128cm. 8 rods. 11.5m or 9.6m hanging length. Up to 10kg. Lowers up to 180cm. Aluminium and steel. Grey or white. 2-year warranty.

Foxydry Wall: wall-mounted, 1, 2 or 3 racks of 8 rods each. Lengths 152, 128, 108 or 88cm. Up to 34m hanging length. 10kg per rack. Open 52cm deep, closed 9cm deep, 137cm high. Aluminium and stainless steel. 2-year warranty.

Foxydry Air: motorised with remote. 160cm or 122cm. 20m or 16m hanging length. Up to 35kg. Two fans, LED light, safety sensors. Lowers up to 180cm. Needs mains power. 2-year warranty.

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