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Am I the only one who spends so much time shuffling washing about to get it dry?

30 replies

grants1000 · 05/02/2013 17:17

I feel like all I do is shuffle washing about the house to get it dry! No yumble dryer, don't have the heating on all day every day as that would be joke expensive. I have a Sheila Made but not everthing fits on and dries in time for the next lot, with two boys who are muddy from school every day. Otherwise it just sits there in a suspended state of animation, neither wet nor dry. Can't go outside obvs and I havea drying rack, but it could be days before its dry, so I shuffle from the drying rack to the Sheila Made to the radiotors when on and have just realised I must spend so much time doing this, what am I doing wrong, beside having no tumble dryer, even just for the pants, socks, towels, bedding etc.

So bored of the wash.

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BeaLola · 05/02/2013 17:24

Can't help but sympathise withyour problem.

Before we adopted DS last year it wasn't a problem as only me & DH & a lot of suits etc were dry clean only. I must admit I do not like washing drying on radiators - don't know why but I don't like it so used to use an airer in winter in main bathroom if I couldn't use outside line.

When we adopted DS I said to my DH I think we will need to get a tumble dryer for the winter months as I cannot see where we will dry all his stuff & tbh it is the best thing we have ever bought especialy after he hs been sick in bed, wetting bed etc.

I work with people who tell mne that if you hang things up properly it all dries very quickly but tbh I don;t know how theuy do it.

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MaryIngalls · 05/02/2013 17:25

I don't have a tumble dryer either, and heating is on for 2 hrs each morning and evening. I sling all the clothes onto a normal airer, making sure they are nice and spread out and minimal overlap (sorry if I am stating the obvious). The airer is kept near a large radiator. If I put the clothes for drying in the morning, I turn them all over in the evening (and remove and fold any that may already be dry). They are usually dry by next morning, with a couple of exceptions like thick towels. These I either leave longer on the airer, or put in the airing cupboard for a few hours. HTH

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LovesGSD · 05/02/2013 17:34

I used to have this problem too, each DC has their own washing stand and I find that helps Smile My problem is drying the bath towels Hmm

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specialsubject · 05/02/2013 17:37

why can't the washing go outside - no outside space?

dried loads the other day, and could have done so this morning too. Only there was none left.

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usualsuspect · 05/02/2013 17:40

It's a bit cold to dry washing outside.

Although I do hang mine out on windy dry days even in the winter.

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Acandlelitshadow · 05/02/2013 17:49

The only weather mine gets its indoor shoes for is rain. It then comes inside to go on airers in the bathroom and dries by the next day although to be fair it's often helped on its way by having the heating on this time of year. I very rarely tumble dry and it smells great. It's even been drying outside the last day or two. Summer is icumen in Grin

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grants1000 · 05/02/2013 17:49

Outside? It's been like living in a snow globe today!

And if I put washing out then went to work all day/to a meeting and it rained, I'd be back to square one. It's no problem in the Summer as have a good sized garden. I have a utlity room with the boiler in it but it still takes an age to dry, all layered out, no overlap etc etc. All that faff of turning them over etc etc bores me. Don't have an airing cupboard either, I would do it we ever got the main bathroom done. Plus in the summer the boys are in shorts which don't need washing everyday like now with their muddy school trousers and jumpers, I think they roll in it. I could get another airer for the main bathroom, maybe.

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grants1000 · 05/02/2013 17:54
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smable · 05/02/2013 17:55

I find the best way is that anything that can go on hangers is hung on the curtain poles and everything else on the airer obviously it's not the best look hanging wet clothes in the window but with 4 kids it's the only way

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cyanarasamba · 05/02/2013 17:59

If you can find space for a dehumidifier in the room where your clothes airer is I'd recommend one. I put mine on for 2 hours after hanging up the wet things and its all dry next day.

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PixieHot · 05/02/2013 18:05

I love my Lakeland heated airer and my dehumidifier. Washing actually dries now Grin.

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attheendoftheday · 05/02/2013 19:17

I used to do this until I got a Lakeland heated airer. I love it and we have our dining room (previously decorated in drying clothes) back.

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coldcupoftea · 05/02/2013 19:23

You need a lakeland heated airer- I got one after seeing it recommended on here, now 3 of my friends have them too! Seriously, MN should get a sponsorship deal, they are mentioned on here so much...

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Beamae · 05/02/2013 19:27

We have been saved by our cheapo dehumidifier from Argos. In a room with the door closed without heating the washing is almost dry overnight.

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KindleMum · 05/02/2013 19:29

I always put my washing through an extra spin cycle after it's washed. Gets more water out of it so it then dries quicker. I really notice the difference and I figure it must be tons cheaper than a tumble dryer.

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holidaysdistantmemory · 05/02/2013 19:43

Me too, another job before going to work is to move the washing onto the freed up radiators. Tedious. No dryer here, and heating on for bare minimum. Have airing cupboard but full of boxes with dry towels, bedding etc. Have a fear of damp. I try to open the windows upstairs whilst having my brekkie, bit of air around helps. Put my sheets on the washing line yesterday for the first time this winter, used loads of pegs, got home from shops and there was such a gust that they were in a tree next door, grgggg! Serves me right for trying.

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bran · 05/02/2013 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DorisIsWaiting · 05/02/2013 19:49

We bought a dehumidifier, I do 4 ish, washes on a saturday hang them on the curtain rails and over an airer in one room, then stick the dehumidifier on for the day. They are usually dry in under 12 hours and the room doesn't gets damp either!

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SCOTCHandWRY · 05/02/2013 19:57

Buy a tumble dryer, no I mean really ! They are not as expensive to run as you might think.

If you dry on a rack without a dehumidifier it's not great for your Health, a dehumidifier is a good idea from that pov, but rack and line dried clothes tend to need a lot of ironing, and an iron is a very energy hungry thing!

I worked out once, that the energy taken to dry an 8kg load with my dryer was approximately the same as drying it outside then ironing it all with a steam iron.

I'd rather tumble and not iron Grin of course if you don't tumble, and don't iron either you'll be quids in!

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Yamyoid · 05/02/2013 20:01

Dehumidifier helps and I use the dryers in the launderette for towels and bedding.

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DeathMetalMum · 05/02/2013 20:30

Hang up important items on a coathanger on the curtain rail in front of a window with an open trickle vent upstairs is better as heat rises. I have discovered this this winter and has been very helpfull. Dp's large t-shirts go here as they take up lots of space some are quite thick most are dry by the end of the night others the next morning. (We do have a curtain pole without curtains on atm as recently moved and there were blinds installed as well as a curtain pole but kept it up for this reason.)

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NotGoodNotBad · 05/02/2013 20:45

We rarely tumble dry or put things on radiators, it all goes on the Sheila Maid. Any overflow goes on a rack over the bath, and in the rare event that that is full we have a foldout rack. Most things dry in 24 hours, teatowels etc. much less and jeans etc. may take longer.

Where is your Sheila Maid? Ours is above the stair which is actually a brilliant place as all the heat from the house goes up there. Smile

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reliablemillipede · 05/02/2013 22:54

Would also suggest getting a tumble dryer!, you will find the space to put it if need be !, my friend had hers in the garden shed for years before she renovated her kitchen, they are really not that expensive to buy, ok, running costs have to be taken into consideration, but I can honestly say I would rather do without my bed than my dryer !

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NotGoodNotBad · 06/02/2013 08:50

I'm really not a big fan of dryers! About 2/3 of our stuff says not to tumble dry, and having had things damaged in the past (they shrink, or unnoticed leather patches shrink and crack, or they go wrinkly) I tend to follow the instructions on this.

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grants1000 · 06/02/2013 09:39

Yes I am thinking tumble dryer for my birthday in March, seriously, it would make me so happy to do the sheets, bedding, towels, pants and socks, nearly dry the school shirts and hang them up to finish off no ironing. I have just battled with a large duvet cover over two breakfast bar type stools and it pisses me right off. It could be tumbling away now, getting all dry, warm and soft............

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