I’m a clothing expert – my ‘sheet method’ makes wet coats dry way quicker & so does a counter-intuitive trick
A CLOTHING expert has shared more energy-efficient and simple ways to dry your coats.
If storms hit and rainy weather takes its toll it can be tricky to dry your coats efficiently and easily, but thankfully a sheet trick comes in handy.
Fairfax & Favor Assistant Press Manager Charlie Cooke has a slew of tips for easily drying coats that have been caught in the rain or snow, starting with a viral trend.
DO USE THE SHEET METHOD
Made popular on social media, the sheet method involves placing your coat on a drying rack near a radiator, and then placing a bed sheet on top.
It traps more heat and allows your clothes to dry much quicker.
It can be a great time saver if you are somewhere without a dryer or you are looking to save money on energy.
DON’T KEEP WINDOWS CLOSED
“When drying items indoors, you should keep windows open to ventilate the room and avoid causing dampness which can lead to mold,” Charlie said.
This can be avoided by simply airing out the room and still helping your items dry to remove excess moisture.
DO USE THE WASHING MACHINE SPIN CYCLE
Charlie said that it may seem counterintuitive to wash a coat you want to dry, but cleaning it will remove any dirt and germs collected from the outside.
The trick is to spin dry your coat twice at the end of a cycle and remove the excess water before you hang it to dry, as this will speed up the drying time.
As a warning, she advised to only wash coats in the machine that are labeled as safe to wash, so you don’t ruin them.
DON’T DRY COATS ON THE RADIATOR
“Not only is covering your radiator with your coat potentially dangerous, but this will also lead to mold and dampness in your home,” Charlie explained.
Instead, she recommended placing clothing items on a rack next to your radiator, but not touching, to ensure your coat isn’t at risk of damage and you are not causing any risk to yourself.
DO USE HANGERS TO DRY COATS OUTDOORS
Try drying your clothes on a hanger, hanging securely to a drying rack in your backyard, this will keep your clothes in shape and secured outside for optimal drying.
Again, Charlie reiterated that this is a trick that is only for coats that are labeled as safe to do so.
DON’T DRY COATS FOLDED UP
As an additional word of caution, unfolding or unrolling your clothes when drying is an increased way to get mildew and mold in your clothing.
Instead, she said that having all of your jackets laid out or hung properly will ensure that all areas can dry at the same time, removing moisture.
Charlie added that you should always read the label of your item to check whether the brand recommends hanging it to dry or laying it flat.
DO USE A DEHUMIDIFIER
Dehumidifiers are great for reducing condensation and humidity in your home.
As your clothes dry, moisture is released into the air which is evaporated with a dehumidifier.
“By preventing humidity, this reduces chances of mold in your home and aids the drying process of clothes you are air drying indoors,” the expert said.
DON’T DRY COATS IN PACKED ROOMS
As Charlie previously mentioned, air drying clothes indoors means moisture is absorbed into the air which creates a humid environment.
If your clothes are drying in a “built-up” or packed room, this could lead to mold and affect some pre-existing health conditions.
