"Now, more than ever, Australians are looking for compact solutions that are easy to set up, increase laundry efficiency and will help avoid high electricity bills," says Natasha D'Cruz, Home Living category manager at AMES Australasia (parent company of Hills).

Here are some clever space saving laundry ideas to get your clothes dry in no time.

Utilise an airer to save space and energy

Compared to a machine dryer, not only is air drying clothes more environmentally friendly (because it uses less energy), but it also prevents static cling on fabrics and increases the lifespan of clothes.

If you're limited on space, use vertical airers to make use of the room's height.

Identify a hotspot

Look for a suitable hotspot in your home where you can easily set up a portable clothes line or airer.

This could be in front of a window where the light and heat from the sun can reach the laundry, or between open windows to enable fresh air to flow freely into rooms and create ventilation to speed up the drying time.

Hang clothes systematically

A systematic approach to hanging clothes can make the process more efficient.

If you are hanging sheets, towels and clothes on the same clothesline, begin with sheets on the innermost rails, then towels and finish with clothing. This makes the most efficient use of the space.

For racks that are closely stacked, use to hang any smaller garments such as underwear.

If all the railings are occupied, place any additional clothing on coat hangers and position them on the outer rails of the airer or clothesline.

This saves time later on, as they can be placed straight into the wardrobe once they're dry.

Speed up the process

A smart technique to speed up drying is to place your racks near an air vent, heat source or dehumidifier.

Ensure there is space between the clothesline or airer and the surrounding walls. This can also ensure the room's humidity is minimal to avoid mould growth.

Another method is to rotate your garments occasionally to make sure that the notoriously hard-to-dry areas such as pockets and cuffs are getting a hit of heat.

Designate a laundry basket storage section

For best laundry organisation and efficiencies, avoid clothes clutter by allocating a hamper or basket storage area either hanging vertically or placed horizontally in shelf spaces in the laundry area.

Label each hamper or basket with categories for clothing types, such as hand-dry, dark and delicates. This system will pre-sort your laundry and make the process faster and easier.

Check out Hills' range at Bunnings Warehouse stores and independent retailers.