Here’s a Smarter Laundry Routine Every Mumbaikar Should Try This Monsoon
It’s Monday morning. You’re already 15 minutes late for work. You reach into your cupboard, looking for your one good pair of formal pants, and they’re still damp. You washed them two days ago, hung them by the window, and hoped the fan would do its magic.
But the Mumbai rains had other plans.
If you’ve ever stood in front of your wardrobe, clutching wet clothes and mentally calculating whether jeans are too casual for a client meeting, this article is for you.
First, Let’s Talk About What the Mumbai Rains Actually Do to Your Laundry
Mumbai rains aren’t just wet. They’re relentless.
The Indian Meteorological Department issued a red alert for the city this week, which basically means:
“Keep your umbrella ready, and forget about drying clothes the usual way.”
When it rains in Mumbai, clothes don’t dry. Period. Even if they’re indoors. Even if they’re under the fan. Even if you bribe them with Dettol and fabric softener.
Why? Because of three things:
- Zero sun for 5–6 days at a stretch
- Super high humidity, which makes the air itself feel wet
- Poor air circulation indoors, especially in small flats and PGs
And let’s be honest, most of us don’t have a dryer at home. We hang our clothes in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or wherever there’s a hook. That’s where the problem starts.
The Most Common Mistakes People Make With Laundry During Monsoons
Let’s not sugarcoat it. We’re all guilty of at least one of these:
- Washing everything together: Heavy jeans, bedsheets, gym t-shirts… all in one load
- Using too much detergent: Thinking it’ll help with the smell
- Drying near open windows: Because “fresh air” sounds better than reality
- Hanging damp clothes over chairs, doors, and curtain rods: No explanation needed
The result?
Clothes that look dry but smell like fungus. Fabrics that feel stiff. White shirts that turn slightly grey. And yes, your decent pants becoming completely unwearable.
So What’s the Solution?
No, it’s not buying a new cupboard full of clothes. And it’s definitely not putting your jeans under the iron at 6 a.m.
The real solution is changing how you do laundry during the rains.
Not just where you dry them, but how you wash, spin, and care for them right from the start.
Introducing: The Monsoon-Proof Laundry Routine
This isn’t rocket science. It’s just smarter laundry.
Let’s break it down into practical, Mumbai-friendly steps:
1. Switch to Daily Wash Mode
During rains, don’t wait for laundry to pile up. Wash smaller loads more frequently. Why?
Because small loads dry faster. Less crowding in the washer means better rinsing and spinning. It also prevents that stale, sweaty smell from setting in.
2. Use Refresh Cycles if You Haven’t Worn It for Long
Your shirt isn’t dirty. It just smells weird because of the humidity.
Most modern washing machines now come with a Refresh mode, designed exactly for this. It uses steam or short spin cycles to remove odours and wrinkles without over-washing.
Perfect for monsoon days when your clothes aren’t technically dirty, just… damp and depressing.
3. Stop Overusing Detergent
More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes. In fact, extra detergent can stick to fabric and make it harder to rinse, especially when there’s limited water evaporation due to humidity.
Use less, but smarter.
Look for high-efficiency detergent designed for front-loaders and shorter wash cycles.
4. Choose the Right Spin Speed
If your washing machine has adjustable spin speeds, bump it up during monsoons. A spin speed of 1400 RPM can extract a lot more water compared to regular 800–1000 RPM cycles.
It doesn’t dry the clothes completely, but it gives them a head start.
5. Don’t Hang Clothes in the Bathroom
We’ve all done it. Hung our wet towels, shirts, and socks inside the bathroom thinking “at least it won’t get rained on.”
But what we forget is:
Bathrooms are the most humid room in the house.
Result? Damp air + damp clothes = mould party.
Instead, hang clothes near a fan or cross-ventilation zone. If that’s not possible, invest in a foldable indoor drying rack and place it in your living room with a ceiling fan on medium speed.
6. Skip the Iron. Use Steam Instead.
Ironing half-dry clothes to “finish drying them” is dangerous. It can ruin the fibres, scorch your clothes, or leave watermarks.
Instead, look for a steam-based Refresh option in your washer. It smooths out wrinkles, removes smells, and softens the fabric. No ironing needed.
7. Say Yes to Memo Functions
You don’t need to remember your settings every time. Modern machines with Memo Functions save your last-used wash cycle. That’s a blessing during hectic mornings when you’re juggling work calls, umbrellas, and train delays.
Hit start and move on.
8. Try Delay Wash Settings
Heading to office? Set a delay wash timer so your laundry starts closer to your return time. This way, clothes don’t sit inside a damp drum for hours. They finish spinning just as you walk in.
Bonus: You won’t have to rewash them because they smelled funny.
Bonus Tips for Single Men in Mumbai Rains
Let’s be real. If you’re a bachelor living alone, laundry is just another headache you wish someone else would deal with.
But here’s what can help:
- Get a washer-dryer combo: Saves space, dries clothes fast, no balcony needed
- Wash immediately after workouts: Wet clothes left in hampers are smell bombs
- Avoid drying clothes on furniture: It ruins both your clothes and your sofa
- Use fast wash cycles: 15-minute modes are great for office shirts and gym gear
- Don’t delay: Once washed, take them out immediately, don’t let them sit
So, What Machine Can Actually Handle All of This?
Now that you know the monsoon laundry rules, you need a machine that actually supports them.
Let’s talk about the Haier 10.5 Kg Washer Dryer (HWD105-B14959S8U1).
Here’s why it’s a total game-changer for rainy Mumbai life:
- Super Drum 525
A wider drum means more clothes per load, and better airflow between them during spins. This helps with faster drying, especially useful when you can’t dry outdoors.
- Direct Motion Motor
Super quiet. Won’t wake up your flatmate or make the whole building vibrate. Works smoothly even during late-night washes.
- Refresh Steam Function
Steam-based cycles that freshen up clothes without doing a full wash. No ironing needed. Smells gone. Wrinkles gone.
- Hai Smart App
Control your wash from your phone. Track progress while you’re stuck in traffic or on a delayed local train.
- Memo + Delay Timer
Set it once, forget it forever. Schedule your wash when electricity is cheaper or when you’ll be home.
- 1400 RPM Spin Speed
Dries faster inside the drum. Ideal when you don’t have space to hang anything.
- Special Programs for Everything
From jeans and shirts to babywear, sportswear, delicates, and even a self-cleaning mode.
Final Thoughts: Rains Can Soak the Streets, Not Your Routine
Mumbai rains don’t care about your schedule. But your laundry routine can be smart enough to fight back.
All it takes is understanding how the weather affects your clothes and choosing the right machine that’s built for modern Indian homes.
So if you’re tired of sniff-testing your shirts or waking up to damp formals on a Monday morning…
It’s time to upgrade.
Try the Smarter Way to Wash This Monsoon
The Haier 10.5 Kg Washer Dryer Front Load is designed for exactly this chaos.
Compact, powerful, fully loaded with smart features, and perfect for every Mumbaikar who’s done waiting for the sun.
Check it out at Haier India.
Let the machine think for you, so your pants are always ready, rain or shine.