Clothes will dry outside in autumn if hung out during these times of the day

Households across the UK are being urged to dry their clothes outside at specific times of the day in autumn to maximise sunshine and avoid dampness. Now that autumn has arrived, the days are gradually getting shorter and temperatures are starting to fall, which is bad news when it comes to getting your washing dry.

The summer months provide glorious conditions for drying clothes, with long periods of sunshine and hot temperatures, but the weather in autumn can be a frustratingly mixed bag. While it’s still warm enough to hang your washing outside to dry, laundry experts say there are specific hours of the day when this should be done to avoid your clothes getting damp and taking longer to dry as a result. According to experts, the optimal time for drying clothes outside is between 10am and 2pm as this is typically the warmest part of the day.

The sun’s peak intensity occurs during these hours so it allows you to make the most of both the warmth from the sunlight and the wind, both of which are crucial for evaporating moisture to help your clothes dry faster and more evenly.

Experts at the Royal Meteorological Society said: “Clothes take longer to dry in cooler winter temperatures than in summer. But as long as the air is dry enough, water will slowly evaporate (or ice will sublime) even if the temperature is below freezing.

“In fact, clothes will dry faster on a cold and dry day than on a warm and humid day, especially if they are in direct sunlight. Hang clothes out in the morning to make the most of the sun’s peak intensity, which usually occurs between 10am and 2pm. 

“Keep an eye on the forecast and look for breaks in the weather. Even if there’s only a short window of opportunity, pop your laundry outside for a quick air dry.”

By hanging your clothes out early in the morning, you give your washing a longer window to dry by maximising exposure to dry, warm and windy air.

Your clothes should be dry, or very close to dry, by mid-afternoon if you follow this four-hour time frame, but if your laundry is still a bit wet it’s advised that you bring it back inside to finish off drying before the evening dew sets in, as this will help avoid dampness. 

Experts at Planet Friendly Living add: “Even in the UK it is still possible to dry your washing outside in winter. You don’t need a warm or sunny day to dry your washing (although that does speed up the process) you just need it to be dry. 

“A breezy day is always best, but so long as the ground outside is dry, you should be able to get a load of washing dry. Aim to hang out your washing as early as possible to give it the maximum amount of time to dry before the sun goes down. Bring it in promptly at the end of the afternoon to avoid the dew. 

“If it’s not quite dry you can finish it off inside on a clothes airer or even give it a short time in the tumble dryer.”