Is a humidifier a gd idea for lodger's room?

[Willow33]

The room isn't damp - it's very well insulated with good heating. However we don't have a tumble drier. We dry our clothes in a space near our kitchen but there wouldn't be room for her to dry her stuff there. If she had a humidifier in her (large) room, would that help to dry her clothes?

[JoJoSM2]

Is there no space for a dryer anywhere in the house?

[Willow33]

Is there no space for a dryer anywhere in the house?

Possibly.

[Undersmile]

A dehumidifier (makes dry), rather than a humidifier (which moistens)?

[LikeTheShoes]

You would probably want a dehumidifier for drying clothes.

Is there space for an airer? (Or even a, mumsnet favourite, heated airer?)

Unless the room is small or stuffy I think a dehumidifier is probably not necessary? (We have one, it's very noisy) could she not just open a window? You could see how it goes and possibly get one at a later date?

[specialsubject]

No outside space for drying?

[YelloDraw]

Are they really going to want a dehumidifier in their room as well as their wet washing?

TBH I would look to get a tumble drier somewhere or switch to a washer drier - I wouldn't want to have to dry all my towels and sheets in my bedroom.

[Willow33]

Yes, sorry meant to say dehumidifier. Outside space for drying? Yes but not in this weather.

Isn't a dehumidifier going to be easier on the elec bills rather than a tumble dryer though?

[YelloDraw]

Probably, but FFS you are having someone paying to live in your house so you need to make it a nice place to live. And living in one room with all your towels and sheets taking up the space and taking several days to dry in winter with a dehumidifier going is, frankly, a bit shit.

[Hufflepuffin]

Where do you dry your sheets? I would say she can dry her sheets wherever you dry yours, maybe pick a day!

A dehumidifer does help dry washing overnight but you wouldn't want to sleep in the same room as it. If you used it in the space near your kitchen to speed drying up, would that leave enough room to dry her clothes?

Thinking about it, I think I would say she could have the clothes drying space by the kitchen every (say) Wednesday, any washes in between she will need to dry in her room. A good dehumidifier (like a meaco) will pull moisture from a whole house (I think it says a 3 bed so if larger you may need an upstairs and a downstairs one), but the clothes drying function works best if it's in a smaller room with a closed door (I say this based on the manual and experience)

[PigletJohn]

does the bathroom have an extractor fan that works?

it will suck water vapour out of the house rather than letting it cause damp and mould, if you hand washing over the bath with the door and window shut

[Willow33]

We go to the laundrette for big washes to get them dried. Otherwise having two little dc means that we have a wash one the go everyday and use air driers to hang stuff up on - near the kitchen.
We are definitely doing our best to make it a nice place for her to live in so I am asking for views on dehumidifiers as I have not had one before.

[Marcipex]

I love mine, but it's in the spare room with a rack of laundry. I can hear it now from downstairs, although the TV is also loud.

I really wouldn't want to sleep with it.

The lowest setting is quieter but doesn't do a lot.

[Willow33]

Ok, so could she have it on whilst she is out in the day at work?
Or is a tumble drier going to be more economical with the bills?

[Marcipex]

Yes of course it could be on while she's out. It's about equivalent in cost to running a fridge.

[Hufflepuffin]

It does sound like you are doing your best to make it a nice place to live! My godmother had lodgers and she said that she learnt over the years that whatever rules you agree before they agree to move in work without awkwardness as everyone knows where they stand. It sounds like she's agreed to move in but if you establish now that she can only dry washing in her room during the winter then everyone knows and it's fine! If her room is large would there be room for a sheila's maid on the ceiling?

[Marcipex]

The highest setting would dry a moderate wash load over the day.
My old one had an 8 hour boost setting for this, it would need emptying by then.
Mine holds 10 litres.

[Kr1stina]

You need to buy a washer dryer. It's unreasonable to expect a paying lodger to dry sheets, towels etc in their bedroom .

[Willow33]

You need to buy a washer dryer.

Ideally that is what we would like to do ultimately but it's not something we can afford in the short term.

[YelloDraw]

Use the first month's rent from the lodger? They will be paying upfront in advance so you could get a washer dryer as soon as they move in.

[YelloDraw]

Or a condenser tumble dryer is cheaper (can get one for £120 ish) and can probably go where you currently dry your washing.

[Kr1stina]

If you are going to let out a room and make money , you will have to spend some money upfront to make the place suitable. Use the first months rent, as a PP said.

If you want a good lodger who will behave well, you need to treat them properly.

[cestlavielife]

Dehumidifier has a dry washing setting so.yes they are good ypu need to spend more than 120 to get a good one

[gillybeanz]

You need a tumble dryer, far better than a dehumidifier that will need to dry the clothes and remove the water from the air.
Clothes from one load of washing emit 2.5 litres of water in your home, that's why you shouldn't dry clothes on airers in front of your radiators.
It also affects people with allergies and asthma, is really not recommended due to the increase in mould spores and growth of dust mites.

[YelloDraw]

Appeas i'm about £80 out on my tumble dryer costs ;-) £200 to get a basic condenser

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/laundry/tumble-dryers/indesit-idc8t3b-condenser-tumble-dryer-white-10134871-pdt.html

[Willow33]

Thank you for the responses - you have given us lots to think about.