drying washing in front of wood buring stove?

[WaltzingWithHeiferlumps]

I've recently redecorated my sitting room and put in a multi-fuel burner.

With drying washing in winter, I've previously dried it on a hanging airer thing in the kitchen, above the open fire.
There are three problems with that now.

1. The space I have there isn't always enough to hang all my washing. I often do two loads a day.
   
2. It can take up to 24 hrs to dry especially if the kitchen fire isn't on, which it often isn't because my stove in sitting room is so fab, that's the one I tend to light
   
3. Washing can end up smelling of cooking if I'm not careful.
   

So I wondered about buying one of these type of airers to put the surplus in front of the stove in the sitting room for after we've gone to bed.

However, I have a feeling that some Piglet John might consider this to be a bad idea, leading to condensation etc, which I really don't want as the sitting room looks lovely now for the first time since moving in 3 yrs ago. It has crossed my mind that there's less ventilation when dealing with woodburners as opposed to an open fire where there's a decent draught which keeps the air circulating.

If I had a couple of the windows open a teeny crack would that keep condensation at bay? Or is it just such a bad idea that I should bin right now?!

[wowfudge]

Airer over the bath, door shut, extractor on. Or buy a tumble dryer. With the weather in this country and the issues drying washing inside can cause, I wouldn't be without a dryer.

[specialsubject]

no outside space?

it is possible to dry washing outside in the UK year round, but obviously there are fewer suitable days than in summer.

otherwise, buy a vented dryer. Preferably not one that will spontaneously combust.

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

Honestly - a tumble drier if you can find the space anywhere. Vented or with a tank. They are the business.

[WaltzingWithHeiferlumps]

Thanks for your comments wow, special and Tread

I'm not keen to get a tumble drier, as my electricity bills are already sky high.

Yes I have outside space but days and days and days can go by when it's too windy or too wet to hang washing out, so an internal solution is needed really.

Bathroom - yes I see what your saying here .... I don't have an extractor fan, but do have two windows on two different walls. If I opened both of them and shut the door, presumably that would be a good enough alternative to an extractor fan?

[MamaMary]

I don't see a problem with your idea as long as you keep a door open.

I dry my washing in front of my rayburn in the kitchen. People have been doing this for many years.

[wowfudge]

Modern tumble dryers don't actually use a lot of electricity. PigletJohn has posted the numbers on MN several times IIRC. I find it worth it's weight in gold because you don't have to do much in the way of ironing either.

I've got one of those combusting Hotpoint dryers special. So far we've had it at least six years without incident.

[Bunbaker]

If you don't want a tumble dryer the bathroom with the windows open is the best option.

Where I live it is just too damp to get washing dried outside at this time of year.

[Believeitornot]

Are your bills sky high because you do two loads of washing a day? that is a lot!!

[donajimena]

I have a pre pay meter for my electric and I can honestly say that I haven't noticed a huge increase in my consumption since I got my tumble drier.

[specialsubject]

on days like this I do think a dryer would be nice; but I actually don't NEED to do any washing, we've got plenty of clothes and spare bedding and towels.

but if there was a baby about or I worked out of the house my opinion would no doubt be different! As long as you only use it when you need to, and have space, go for it.

it's not the bill - it's the fact that we all need to use less electricity because the UK is already very short of it.

[WaltzingWithHeiferlumps]

Thanks all.

Believe and special I don't do two washes every day, but I probably do about 10 washes a week. On days when I can hang it out I reduce the spin to about 800 - hopefully that saves a bit of leccy. Problem is I work on a farm, so my workclothes get smelly and shitty quickly to put it bluntly, hence having to wash a lot.

Going off on a bit of a tangent, my electricity usage is awful, I seem to be spending about £80 or £90 a month, mainly from having to heat hot water via the immersion heater. I did have it down to £30ish last winter and the winter before by heating the water via the kitchen fire / back boiler (using free pallet wood), but the boiler doesnt seem to be working very well at the moment, it heats the radiators well, but the pipes make alarming noises when heating water for the immersion tank. Guess I might need a plumber out for that.

In the meantime, re. drying washing inside I'm thinking drier in the bathroom with the windows open is the way forward.

Thanks again.

[specialsubject]

I didn't comment on how many washes you do. . And as you do real work I'm surprised it is that few!

electric water heating is very expensive. Also if you are using pallet wood, has your chimney been checked? The treatments on it can really knacker up chimneys.

[FinestGrundyTurkey]

Your spin speed will have negligible effect on your elec use (& make stuff take longer to dry & produce more condensation) so turn it back up

I use an over-bath airer & condensation is minimal to none, although it is a big bathroom & the door is usually open. Baths (with the door shut) produce a lot more moisture.

I also hang trousers, towels & bedding over the banister (not all at once) & again there's no perceptible condensation - but again it's a big space & also is open to the attic

Your rack in front of the stove plus an over-bath airer should do the job nicely

[FinestGrundyTurkey]

\link{http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/8505590.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:14507206137%7Ctsid:59130%7Ccid:265006737%7Clid:18283950120%7Cnw:g%7Ccrid:73382240337%7Crnd:15436390944598761801%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:1o1%7Ckw:&gclid=Cj0KEQiA1dWyBRDqiJye6LjkhfIBEiQAw06IThczN3eLNtr51KYiMPfDZxvY0YL8dhLHyy04gTU7tE8aAkcU8P8HAQ\your airer is cheaper at Argos} (I think it's the same one?)

I have this one but only use it if I suddenly have masses of laundry all at once - it is very good though

[Hornydilemma]

Re your electric use, I pay €50 a month for cooking, lighting and electric shower. In the summer I go without hot water (not on purpose!) - as the dishwasher does dishes, shower heats up as and when I use it, and I use a steam cleaner for the floor. On the very odd occasion (maybe once a month) I need hot water to wash something, I boil the kettle.

In winter - the OFCH heats the water as well.

I do have an immersion heater and haven't used it for about 2 years.

Might be worth looking at your water heating needs given the above?

[SSargassoSea]

If there was no airflow through the stove the fire would go out due to lack of oxygen so the air is circulation round the room and out hte chimney so dry in front of stove.but make sure it doesn't fall onto it.