Is it possible to dry bed linen folded 8 times on a radiator?

Drying clothes is a big problem in an apartment, and even more so if the property is small. But our people have already adapted to this - a “battery” dryer is fully justified in such conditions. But, turns out it's harmful. Why and what to do?

How does this usually happen?

In winter, as a rule, the windows are tightly closed and the batteries operate at full capacity. Why not use their top to dry things quickly? We take the wet laundry out of the washing machine drum, lay it on top of the radiator, and that’s it.

Sometimes you have to throw several layers of wet clothes over the battery. And what, “it will gradually dry out!”, the average person thinks. For example, to to dry an ordinary sheet, you need to fold it about eight times, and there are generally sixteen layers of fabric in a duvet cover with this folding method! Do you think there will be consequences from this?

Is it possible or not to dry?

Most are inclined to "no", and this is not without reason. Indeed:

• during rapid drying, a lot of water evaporates, the humidity in the apartment increases greatly;
• washing powder contains a proportion of chemicals that are not rinsed out completely and then “hover” around the room;
• Excessive humidity means “sweaty” windows and wet wallpaper, condensation on the floor and other similar “buns”.

Besides, Bed linen folded several times and hung on the radiator deserves close attention. Eight layers of fabric (or more) means severe overdrying of the lower and underdrying of the upper surfaces of the formed “square”. Part of such a sheet will be very difficult to smooth out later. But you can sometimes turn it over on the radiator, then the risks will be slightly reduced.

In such a humid warm environment, which is obtained in the 4th and 5th layers, it is often "rotting" occurs. The corresponding smell will help you understand that this has happened.

On a light bed yellow spots may appear. It is possible that powder residues are “baked” or the laundry is not washed, but this often happens in places where fabric and iron come into contact.

"Battery" things have a specific smell – persistent, with slight “rotting.” Just compare it with the aroma of laundry dried outside.

And, of course, always great likelihood of rust stains. The radiator is cast iron (or iron), so such a nuisance is not at all alien to it.

Is dampness really that bad?

As a result of such an experiment a person lives in “damp” conditions, and this is fraught with consequences. High humidity in the apartment is the reason:

1. Allergic manifestations. Chemicals from the powder are toxic and, periodically entering the body, accumulate. In the end, the immune system cannot stand it, and tearing, dry cough, and nasal congestion appear, not to mention more serious consequences.
2. Difficulty breathing. In conditions of high humidity in the house, you can really suffocate. This is especially noticeable when someone comes from the street. “I can’t breathe” is an expression that describes exactly this situation.
3. Dampness in the apartment. Wallpaper, curtains, furniture - any hygroscopic things can absorb evaporating liquid. And mold fungi are just waiting for this. The higher the humidity in the house, the faster they multiply. Mold spores can “live” on surfaces for a very long time, and there are so many of them floating in the air!

You can measure the humidity in a room using a hygrometer.. As a rule, the normal figure is 30–60%; in winter, due to dryness, it can be 30–45%. But if you dry clothes on a radiator or in the house in general, the humidity increases.

How then?

If there is no way to dry the item except on the radiator, then you'll have to adapt. If certain conditions are met, you can live peacefully and not be afraid of the consequences. Pay attention to these points:

1. Ventilate your apartment well. And during drying, keep the window open so that unnecessary moisture escapes. Ideally, it is better to open two windows so that there is a slight draft.
2. Use hypoallergenic washing powders. For example, for children's underwear - “Stork”, “Eared Nanny”. If you really want to use air conditioning, then it is better to dry such a thing somewhere on the balcony, because the toxic fragrances released into the room during radiator drying are very harmful.
3. Before placing the item on the battery, check if it is leaking. In general, this needs to be done systematically to avoid disastrous consequences. The leak may be very tiny, but it is quite capable of leaving a rusty stain on the laundry.
4. Turn inside out duvet cover, sheet or other item that is dried on the radiator. This can reduce the likelihood of stains appearing on the fabric.
5. It is better to use not the radiator itself, but a special dryer, which is attached to it.With the help of such a thing, the duvet cover does not need to be folded eight times, but you can carefully and evenly hang it along all the strings so that there is space between the layers.

More ways to dry clothes

Radiator drying can be replaced with others. Implementation will depend on the desire and finances of the hostess. Try this:

1. In a special car. There are devices that are designed specifically for drying things. Laying bed linen in them is very convenient and takes little time. It's just not cheap, unfortunately.
2. In the washing machine drum. Some washing machines have a drying mode. After that, go straight to the iron, and that’s it. Of course, you need to think about such a device ahead of time.
3. On a folding design. Special “curling sheets” designed for drying various kinds of things. A duvet cover or sheet can be hung on it so that there is air between the layers. Precautionary measures - ventilation, etc. must be observed.
4. On the coil in the bathroom. The simplest method. Only the room must have an exhaust system. And it’s better to turn the laundry over as it dries so that the inner layers don’t lock.

And of course, ropes in the hallway or outside the window no one canceled. How do you dry it?