You should never dry clothes in particular spot and why it could be costing you moneY

Struggling to dry your clothes in the winter can be a real pain. With Britain's unpredictable weather making it difficult to hang laundry outside and our homes taking longer to heat up, many of us end up draping wet washing over the radiators.

However, experts are now cautioning against this widespread habit. Consumer watchdog Which? advises that you should actually avoid using radiators to dry your clothes, and they've got some strong arguments to back this up.

In a revealing TikTok video, an energy expert explained: "You need to stop drying your clothes on radiators. Radiators circulate warm air around the room so, if your heating is on and is set to 20C, your radiators will pump out heat until the room reaches that temperature - at which point the boiler will stop."

READ MORE: What Joe Lycett has said about his girlfriend after sharing he's become a dad

Stay up to date with the very latest from your Birmingham or West Midlands street or neighbourhood with our Birmingham News Email Updates

"But cold and wet clothes act as a barrier to the heat being given off that means you could be heating your room for a lot longer than you need to. While you might end up with dry clothes, you'll also end up with a colder home and higher energy bills.", reports the Mirror.

Posh.co.uk, experts in radiator matters, have also highlighted six key reasons why hanging your damp laundry on the heater could be more harmful than you realise, leading to some concerning problems. One major issue is the increased cost; when you pile clothes on your radiators, the fabric may warm up, but your room won't.

This forces your heating system to work harder to warm your home, potentially driving up your energy bills. Another serious concern is the risk of mould growth due to the excess moisture from the clothes.

Draping damp clothes over radiators can release moisture into the air. Once evaporated, this moisture can cause damage and dampness in your home over time, leading to staining, peeling paint and structural damage.

In addition to damaging your home, there could be serious health implications. Poor indoor air quality and dampness can lead to respiratory problems and allergic reactions, which is particularly hazardous for children in the household.

Certain clothes left too close to hot radiators may catch fire, posing a significant fire risk. This becomes even more worrisome if you leave your home unattended or forget to remove the clothes.

Moisture from the clothes can seep into the metal of the radiator, causing corrosion and rust. Over time, this can weaken your radiator, reducing its lifespan.

If you find yourself having to replace damaged radiators frequently, this is another costly consequence. Your favourite outfits may not fare well when dried on a radiator, and you could end up ruining them.

Clothes in direct contact with the heat from radiators may develop stains, and the fabric can weaken over time. Discolouration can also occur as the heat causes colours to bleed.

Andy Ellis, from Posh.co.uk, has cautioned against a common household habit, stating: "It might seem like an easy solution but you should really try to avoid drying your clothes on radiators if you can. It can prove costly in more ways than one."

He further explained, "Your boiler will be working much harder to heat up your room if the radiator is covered in clothes and this will drive up energy costs."

He added, "Not only increased energy bills, but you might also be causing some damage to your favourite clothes, and over time you may find yourself replacing your radiator more often."

Highlighting the potential health risks, he said, "As well as the financial impacts, you will be causing damage to your home and health as well. The indoor air quality can cause mould to grow, and this can then lead to health risks such as flu-like symptoms."