I asked experts how to dry clothes without heating - they all said the same thing

There's a definite chill in the air now, signalling the arrival of autumn. While the colder, darker weather is great if you like to stay cosy indoors, it does unfortunately mean it's a lot harder todry your laundry inside.

With many of us watching what we spend and not keen to switch on the heating just yet, it can mean damp, mouldy laundry that seems like it takes forever to dry. Sick of this happening to me and keen to help others, I decided to ask some experts the best way to do this without relying on central heating or a tumble dryer. And the advice that they gave was all pretty similar, involving one very popular tip.

According to most of the experts, ventilation is absolutely crucial if you want dry clothes with no musty or mouldy smell this autumn.

Laundry pro David Marquardt, CEO of The Steam Team, says this is a major part of the solution. He explained: "Even in colder weather, open windows for a few minutes to release humid air and bring in fresh air. Brief daily ventilation reduces condensation and keeps indoor moisture from building up into a longer-term damp problem, without relying on heating.

"Make the short window-open routine part of your drying process to protect the home from damp and mould while clothes dry safely."

Choosing the right time of day to hang up your laundry to dry can also make the world of difference. Stephen Day, a heating engineer atiHeat, says you can use the natural warmth of the sun to help dry your clothes, even in autumn.

He said: "Drying laundry during the daytime also helps, especially if there's natural light or even a bit of warmth coming through the windows. Positioning an airer near a window and keeping said window slightly open creates a simple airflow cycle that clears out the damp air as the clothes dry. If it's cold, even just cracking the window for 20 minutes can be enough."

Another popular suggestion was to invest in a decent humidifier, which sucks moisture out of the air, leaving your clothes mould-free and dry, even without heating.

Jonathan Kirby, a mould expert at Dryzone, explained: "Consider investing in a simple airer and a dehumidifier with laundry mode placed right beside the rack. Space items on the airer to let air pass between them, put heavier pieces on the edge that faces your airflow, then rotate half-way through drying. Wipe any visible condensation as it appears and keep vents unblocked. Remember: the cost of running a dehumidifier is often cheaper than the cost of re-heating a room with its windows open.

"If a dehumidifier isn't an option, make the bathroom your 'laundry zone'. Shut the door, keep any trickle vents open and ensure the extractor fan is running to remove moisture before it can condense on the walls."

Not only does a dehumidifier speed up drying time, it's also cheaper and possibly more effective than tumble drying too. That's according to Kudzai Chinembiri at Love Energy Savings who said: "A simple desk fan or dehumidifier with a laundry mode can significantly speed up the drying process. While a dehumidifier uses some electricity, it's far more efficient than switching on the central heating.

"It is worth also noting that clothes dried on a dehumidifier tend to have a softer feel once dry compared to clothes that have been through a tumble dryer. You also won't need to worry about damp or mould because dealing with that is one of the primary benefits of running a dehumidifier."

And when the time eventually comes to switch on the heating, there's one mistake that came up again and again that should be avoided at all costs: drying wet clothes on the radiator.

Zoe Morris, saving expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, warned: "Draping clothes directly on radiators blocks heat, meaning your boiler has to work harder (and longer) to warm the room. It also increases condensation indoors, which can lead to damp and mould over time."

Instead, she recommends placing clothes on an airer, positioned near a radiator so they benefit from the warmth without blocking it.

"For even more efficiency, a dehumidifier is one of the cheapest ways to speed up clothes drying indoors. It uses far less electricity than a tumble dryer, and also helps prevent damp, making it a double win for your wallet and your home," Zoe added.

This was echoed by the heat engineer Stephen, who added: "Don't put your washing directly on radiators to dry, as it often causes more harm than good. This is because it blocks heat from circulating around the room properly, and the moisture from the clothes gets pushed into the air far too quickly. That sudden humidity clings to the coldest parts of the room, usually around windows or in corners, and it's here that black mould tends to show up first."