© Getty Images
Drying laundry in sub-zero temperatures: This is how it works
This is the best way to dry laundry in winter.
Drying laundry in winter? This even works outside. However, you should avoid this mistake.
When it's bitterly cold outside, we like to stay warm inside. This also applies to our freshly washed laundry. The drying rack with the wet textiles that we like to hang outside in the summer is quickly moved into the living room. After all, no one wants to have damp clothes.
But that is exactly a big mistake that many make - and which is completely unnecessary. Even in sub-zero temperatures, laundry dries outdoors.
Drying laundry in winter: Almost everyone makes this typical mistake
Whether in the living room, study or bedroom: when it's cold, most people hang their laundry indoors. But with this method, the wet textiles ensure that the humidity in the rooms increases. In the worst case scenario, this can cause mold to form in the home, which is extremely dangerous to your health.
This is why laundry dries even in the cold
Instead of indoors, it is better to hang your things outside when the temperatures are slightly below zero. The dry winter air is super effective for drying clothes etc. How does it work?Sublimation.
During this process, the water turns into a gaseous state without first becoming liquid. The water droplets in the wet laundry freeze and then evaporate immediately. And it works really quickly. In this way, the wet laundry will dry much faster outside than in the apartment.
Also read:
Dry laundry when it snows
Important when drying laundry in winter: The sublimation trick only works when it is frosty (below freezing point) and dry. If it is foggy or snowing, you should not hang your textiles outside because the more humid the air, the less moisture it can absorb from the wet laundry.
In this case, you can't avoid hanging the laundry indoors. To prevent mold from forming, you should keep a few things in mind:
- Shake your clothes well by hand before hanging them up, as not all textiles can tolerate a strong spin cycle in the machine.
- Place the drying rack in the largest room available to you. The smaller the room, the faster the humidity increases.
- Open the windows regularly to ventilate the room to allow the moist air to flow outside. This is more energy-saving than leaving the window tilted permanently.
- Consider setting up a dehumidifier (is available here on Amazon*).
