Drying laundry on the balcony in winter - does that actually work?

Created: 10/24/2022, 11:00 am

By: Andrea Stettner

Drying clothes on the balcony is also possible in winter.

To ensure that the laundry is really dry, you should follow a few tips.

Anyone who does not have a tumble dryer in the house and therefore dries trousers, sweaters, etc. on the drying rack often faces a dilemma in winter: drying laundry in the apartment increases the humidity, which in turn promotes the formation of mould.

Especially when there is too little heating and improper ventilation.

If there is no other drying room in the house, then only the balcony or garden remains.

But does the laundry actually dry outside in winter?

Even in winter, laundry is dried on the balcony or terrace.

© IMAGO/Michael Gstettenbauer

Laundry dries particularly well in winter when there is frost

You don't have to worry about your laundry in freezing cold temperatures and dry weather: laundry often dries better in frost than in warm temperatures.

We owe this to a physical process known as sublimation.

The water in the laundry first freezes and then turns into a gaseous state (= water vapour).

The frozen laundry will be dry immediately after a while.

These washing tips from grandma are a thing of the past

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Observe temperatures and weather

However, frost drying only works optimally when it is dry outside.

In rain, snow or fog, the humidity is too high.

You should also wait for really low temperatures when it comes to temperatures, otherwise the laundry may thaw again immediately and then be wet again.

Experts therefore recommend waiting for temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius for frost drying.

Drying laundry on the balcony saves a lot of electricity even in winter

If you have the opportunity, you should definitely try “frost drying” on the balcony in winter.

The laundry should be particularly soft and fragrant.

You can also save some electricity by leaving the dryer off.

Can I dry the laundry on the balcony in wet weather?

But what to do when it's raining or snowing outside in winter?

In principle, you can dry the laundry on the balcony even if the humidity is higher.

But then it takes a lot longer.

If there is no roof at all, you should rather bring the drying rack into the apartment.

In certain rooms, however, the drying rack has no place, especially in winter.

Dry laundry: vote with us.