Beat the winter WASHING BLUES

Free your home from wet clothes and potential damp problems

- RACHEL OGDEN

Drying laundry can be a problem when it's cold and wet outside. Cover radiators with it and you'll make your house colder with condensation, plus your heating has to work harder. Drape it on an airer and it can be hanging around for days. Fortunately, there are some smart solutions - no tumble dryer required!

Before you hang

Remove as much water as possible prior to hanging clothes. An extra spin in your washing machine works well, although it uses additional energy (12-20p per cycle, depending on the machine's rating and cycle length). Lay delicate fabrics on a clean, dry towel then roll up the towel and squeeze away excess water.

Hang strategically