Exact way to load your heated airer to dry washing quicker – and the ‘big wash’ error adding to bills
MANY of us are turning to heated airers to get clothes dry whilst it's cold and wet outside.
Most are cheaper to run than a tumble dryer and could help you save money on your energy bills.
But if you don't hang your clothes correctly, it could be a costly mistake.
You'll need to leave the clothes on for much longer, which will bump up your electricity bill.
Lynsey Crombie, aka Lynsey Queen of Clean and This Morning's resident homes expert, said "If you want your airer to save you money, you've got to use it correctly.
"Overload it with too many clothes and they won't dry quickly, costing you money and taking up space. No one wants the airer left out for days on end."
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Here Lynsey shares her top tips for how to get clothes dry fast using an airer.
Lay heavy jeans flat
"Place heavy jeans flat on the bottom shelf and flip them over occasionally for even drying," she says.
"They won't dry as quickly on a winged airer but it's best to lay them out as much as possible over the centre rails."
Put delicate tops on hangers
"Use hangers for delicate tops and knitwear," Lynsey explains.
"Position them on the rods on the outer edges of the airer. Not only will they dry faster but you will have more space for other items, too.
"Hangers are recommended for trousers too. Fold them in half to stop them dragging along the floor.
Hang every day items
"Every day items such as t-shirts, leggings, pyjamas and socks should be hung over the rods," Lynsey says.
"Turn them occasionally for uniform drying."
Avoid overloading
"Avoid putting too many clothes on the airer," Lynsey recommends.
"Overloading and bunched up clothes can slow down drying time. Keep clothes spread out to allow air circulation."
Never overlap
"It's tempting to overlap clothes if you have a big wash that needs drying," Lynsey says.
"But overlapping prevents proper heat exposure and drying."
Fold bedsheets
"Bed sheets take up a lot of space and it is tempting to just throw them over the airer," Lynsey explains.
"Actually, you should fold bedsheets in half or in thirds and drape them smoothly over the rods."
Use a cover
Invest in a cover, or simply use a large bed sheet to cover your airer whilst in use.
"Cover it in full as this helps retain heat and will speed up drying," Lynsey says.
Covers work by creating a warm pocket of air for the clothes to dry in.
The cover traps in the heat your airer produces and can slash the drying time of your laundry.
Position in a sunny spot
"If no cover is available, place the airer in a sunny part of the room, preferably near a window," Lynsey says.
"Sunlight will help dry your clothes faster. If you can, open a window, as the ventilation will also speed up drying time."
Avoid walls
Keep the airer away from the walls. "Positioning your airer to close to walls can drop moisture, leading to mould and mildew," Lynsey says.
"If you have no other option, you may want to consider a dehumidifier."
Meanwhile, we tested a variety of heated airers and the cheapest cost just 6p an hour to run.
Other ways to save money on your energy bills
If you are trying to keep your energy costs down in the winter it can be a challenge, but there are som things you can do.
Just making some small changes to your daily routine can make all the difference when it comes to being more energy efficient.
When you do put the heating on, you should always make sure that your curtains are closed and all the windows in your house are shut.
This might seem like an obvious thing to do but many people leave their bathroom window slightly open and forget to close it.
Even if it is only slightly ajar this means that precious heat is escaping right out of the window rather than staying in your home.
You can also buy draught excluders which can be cheap - we spotted them on Amazon for £7.99 - but you should always shop around for better offers.
You could also think about turning your thermostat down.
Just one degree lower could save you up to £100 a year on your energy bill, according to British Gas.
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If you want to keep an eye on how much you are spending on energy you can always install a smart meter.
This is usually provided by your energy supplier and keeps a real-time record of your energy consumption.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.