When there is little warmth in the air, and if you're lucky enough to live in a part of the country that is getting rain, hanging the washing out in the backyard can seem like a waste of time.
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On the other hand, dryers are not good for your electricity bills or the environment.
Here are a few ideas to help you get your washing dry inside. It might be a bit slower, but if you can wait a day or two for those clothes, you might save a lot of money.
Whichever method you choose, bear in mind two important elements: air flow and heat. You need to allow air to circulate between the clothes, which might mean you need to spread your clothes our across a couple of extra racks.
Sources of heat you may not have considered include in front of your oven, next to the hot water system (if it is easily accessible inside), over or under your central heating vents, and some people even string up a line over the bonnet of the car in the garage to catch the engine heat.
And don't forget sun coming through the window. It might not have much heat, but it's better than putting your washing in a dark corner.
If you have heated towel rails, these are great for drying clothes. Leave them on overnight to take advantage of off-peak electricity pricing. This gives you the added advantage of having moisture in a room designed for damp; wherever you choose to dry your clothes make sure air is circulating to avoid mould.
Investing in a well-designed drying rack will guarantee you can dry as many clothes as possible, efficiently, with however much space you have.
Natasha D'Cruz, Hills Product Manager, said it is important to get a clothes airer to match your lifestyle.
"Consider the length of the items you often dry, dresses and trousers will require more hanging space, so a unit with wings will be handy. If you have young children you will want more closely stacked racks to cope with lots of smaller garments.
"One easy way to extend the space on your airer and get clothes dry more quickly is to use hangers. This is a real time saver, especially if you wear a lot of dress shirts, as you can put your clothes straight into the wardrobe," she said.
If you hate the thought of traditional airers getting in people's way in living areas, there are options.
The new Hills Premium Drying Centre has adjustable height, extendable shelves and interchangeable shelf rails to fit around your wardrobe and wash. You can build it around your washing machine or against a wall. Some might say it even looks stylish - a far cry from the sagging line strung up across the shower!
