By Charlotte Reid 
Practical tips to beat humidity and have your clothes ready regardless of the weather.
Drying clothes can be a complicated task when the weather is not cooperating. Sunny days are ideal, but during the rainy season or in very humid climates, the process becomes slow, tedious and often results in that annoying musty smell that is difficult to get rid of.
The good news is that there’s no need to resign yourself to this: with a few simple tricks, you can speed up the drying process and keep your clothes fresh, ready to wear in no time.
1. Wring out your clothes thoroughly before hanging them up
The first step to saving time is to make sure your clothes have as little water in them as possible:
- Intense spin cycle: choose the highest cycle allowed by the washing machine (taking care with delicate items).
- Squeeze by hand: if you wash without a machine, you can gently twist the garment or use an absorbent towel to remove excess water.
The less water left in the fabric, the faster it will dry.
2. Hang in ventilated areas
Even if there is no sun, air movement is key:
- Place the clothesline near windows or balconies.
- Leave space between garments so that air can circulate better.
- Using a fan can make a big difference.
Hanging clothes in ventilated areas helps them dry faster.
3. Invest in a dehumidifier
Humidity is the enemy of drying. An electric dehumidifier helps reduce humidity, speeds up the process and prevents odours.
If you don’t have one, you can improvise with coarse salt or activated charcoal in containers near the clothes.
4. The dry towel trick in the tumble dryer
Do you have a tumble dryer but don’t want to use a long cycle? Place the garments next to a clean, dry towel: it will absorb some of the moisture and reduce the drying time.
5. Express methods: iron or hairdryer
When you need a garment urgently:
- Iron: place a thin towel over the clothes and run the hot iron over them.
- Hair dryer: useful for specific areas such as collars or cuffs.
They are not a substitute for complete drying, but they can help you out in a pinch.
An iron can be an ally in speeding up the drying of clothes on humid days.
6. Hang indoors, but in the right place
If you hang your clothes indoors, do so in strategic spaces:
- Kitchen or bathroom with extractor fan: these have better ventilation.
- Hangers: they save space and help the clothes to air more.
Avoid bedrooms: they increase humidity and encourage mould growth.
7. Use heating safely
The stove can also be an ally:
- Place the clothesline near the heat source, but never on top of it to avoid risks.
- If you have an electric radiator with a drying function, use it! It is designed for that purpose.