Drying laundry in the bedroom: Harmful or harmless?
When your balcony does not offer a suitable place to dry laundry on cold, rainy days, a small drying rack next to the bed can be a welcome alternative. However, as harmless as it may seem, drying laundry in the bedroom can affect the indoor climate. The reason: damp clothes release water into the air as they dry, which can increase humidity in the room. In this article, you will learn how to support a comfortable indoor climate even when drying freshly washed clothes on a drying rack.
by CALIDA
September 17, 2025•3 min reading time
Drying laundry in the bedroom: Avoid excess moisture, mould and stale air.
Table of Contents
The key points
Wet laundry increases humidity in the bedroom and can therefore contribute to mould formation.
If you have no other option, air the room regularly and maintain an appropriate room temperature.
Drying laundry in the bedroom can be managed more effectively with a few simple tips – for example, by arranging the clothes correctly on the drying rack.
Using the bedroom to dry laundry: Not always a good idea
Depending on the material and spin cycle, freshly washed laundry can still contain several hundred millilitres of water. If you hang these textiles up in the bedroom after washing, the moisture gradually evaporates into the room air. One possible consequence: humidity rises above the recommended 50 to 60%. This can increase the risk of mould formation, while the laundry dries more slowly and unpleasant odours may develop.
This becomes particularly relevant during the colder months, when windows are opened less frequently because of the low temperatures. Moisture remains in the room for longer, while cooler air can absorb less moisture.
Moisture can accumulate on windows, walls and behind large pieces of furniture. Persistently high humidity can therefore encourage mould growth. To maintain a comfortable indoor climate, it is advisable to keep an eye on humidity levels and air the room regularly.
No other option? How to dry laundry in the bedroom
Sometimes there is no alternative – for example, if you do not have a balcony, laundry gets in the way in the living room or there is no heating in the bathroom. In this case, the key is to remove moisture from the room as quickly as possible.
Air the room regularly to maintain suitable humidity
Regular airing is particularly useful when drying laundry in the bedroom. Place the drying rack as close to the window as possible and open it several times a day for five to ten minutes to let humid air escape. If possible, create cross-ventilation by also opening a window opposite the first one. Tilting the window open is less effective.
Extra tip: Since humidity in the bedroom can also increase through breathing and sweating during the night, you can dry your clothes in the bedroom during the day and move the drying rack to another room before going to bed.
Avoid keeping the room too cool in winter
To help the room air absorb moisture more effectively, you should maintain a bedroom temperature of around 18 to 20°C even in winter. Breathable CALIDA nightwear made from suitable materials can also contribute to your personal sleeping comfort.
Extra tip: If you want to avoid using a tumble dryer during winter, it may be useful to turn the heating on a little more often to maintain an appropriate room temperature. However, remember to turn it down again while airing the room.
Hang laundry correctly for faster drying
The way you hang your laundry also affects how long both the clothes and your bedroom remain damp. Follow these tips:
Leave enough space between individual items so that air can circulate.
Hang heavier textiles such as towels or jeans alternately with lighter, thinner laundry.
Place the drying rack near a window or at some distance from the radiator so that the laundry can dry more quickly.
Conclusion
Drying laundry in the bedroom is not automatically problematic – but low room temperatures and infrequent airing can cause humidity in the room to rise significantly. This can affect the indoor climate and encourage mould formation. By airing the room regularly, maintaining an appropriate room temperature and positioning the drying rack correctly, you can help your laundry dry faster while keeping humidity in the bedroom at a suitable level. Combined with comfortable CALIDA nightwear, this can help create a pleasant sleeping environment.
Discover more interesting blog posts:
