With the unpredictable weather that autumn and winter brings, drying clothes can be a challenge.

Overcast days often result in us resorting to radiators and clothes airers instead of hanging laundry outside. However, one laundry expert has revealed the best way to dry your washing quickly without it smelling damp - all you need is a little faith in the weather forecast.

Sarah Dempsey insists that even on cloudy days, as long as there's no rain predicted, our clothes should still dry. The expert suggests that if the ground outside is dry, your washing should dry without any issues. She advises getting it out on the line as early as possible.

Sarah, a laundry expert at MyJobQuote, said: "Aim to hang your washing out as early in the day as possible to give it the maximum amount of drying time before the sun goes down. Bring your washing in at the end of the afternoon or, ideally, by sunset."

Of course, hanging your clothes out in the rain is pointless, but if it's just cloudy, your clothes will still dry - even without any sunshine. And if it's windy, your clothes should dry even faster

She explained: "There is no point in hanging your clothes outside in the rain. However, you want to make the most of hanging laundry out on sunny days. It doesn't need to be sunny to dry your clothes. As long as it's dry outside, your clothes will still dry.

"If it's breezy, you'll find your clothes will likely dry within a few hours, regardless of how sunny it is. If the weather is overcast, try to get your clothes outside as early as possible so they'll get the maximum amount of time possible hanging outside."

She added that on a hot sunny day, clothes should only take about two to three hours to dry completely, but if it's cloudy or cooler, drying could take up to six hours or even longer if the air is very humid.