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Original poster

"Airing" clothes - necessary or just extra work?

78 replies

ElspethFlashman · 25/08/2018 12:40

This applies less to the tumble driers amongst us as the line and clothes horse driers.

I've been thinking about this lately as I seem to be doing laundry 5 out of 7 days at the moment. My MIL is aghast at the idea I take clothes off my ceiling airer and straight into drawers. She puts them in the tumble drier for 5 mins first.

I was at work saying this seemed redundant and unnecessary and lo and behold, it seems every bloody colleague I have was horrified at the idea I put DRY clothes straight into drawers!

AIBU?

OP posts:
Popchyk · 25/08/2018 12:44

How is putting dry clothes into the tumble dryer for 5 minutes "airing" them.

Sorry, I don't really understand.

For info, I normally put stuff out on the line. When it is dry I iron it (if needed) and put it away.

Only ever use the tumble dryer on a rainy day in order to get the wet stuff dry. I thought that was what they were for. I'd never put already dry stuff in the dryer. Some people like to tumble dry towels to fluff them up but I don't bother.

dementedpixie · 25/08/2018 12:48

I don't even own a tumble dryer so I always put dry clothes away without 'airing' them

Notquiteagandt · 25/08/2018 12:48

My dryer has a senser on it. If clothes are dry it wont switch on...

Seems waste time amd effort to me

MikeUniformMike · 25/08/2018 12:50

I dry things on a washing line. When they are dry, I bring them in, iron some things, fold the others and put them away.

Knittedfairies · 25/08/2018 12:52

What does she think people did before tumble dryers were commonplace? Seems like extra work to me.

blitzen · 25/08/2018 12:59

I like to air my clean stuff, but by that, it means I put my dry stuff on the radiator or hang up for a day before putting in the wardrobe or drawers.

mosessupposes · 25/08/2018 13:01

She thinks they put them in the airing cupboard presumably. Lots of people used to have airing cupboards. Or else they would air them in front of the fire. I don't air. Line dry and in or tumble dry in winter. Life's too short.

mosessupposes · 25/08/2018 13:02

Sorry that was to knittedfairies

bigbluebus · 25/08/2018 13:02

Surely the only place to air clothes is in an airing cupboard?
My DP's had a huge double airing cupboard in my childhood home and all clothes would be out on the shelves in their after they had been ironed! I only keep bedding and towels in my airing cupboard - more as a place to store them rather than because they need 'airing'.
All clothes in this house get put away in wardrobes, drawers etc after they've been ironed (if they need ironing).

thedevilinablackdress · 25/08/2018 14:39

I have never heard of this, and from the title, thought it was going till be the other way round. i.e. hanging on a line/clothes horse after being in the tumble dryer.
Seems v. odd...but then, I've never had a tumble dryer.

bluerunningshoes · 25/08/2018 14:43

I don't have a tumble dryer.
everything gets put away directly from airer/line once dry.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 25/08/2018 14:51

I have an airing cupboard. Laundry gets dried (on line/airer/tumble dryer), folded or ironed, put into airing cupboard, then into drawers.

It’s how my mum did it when I was growing up, and my house has an airing cupboard, so it’s what I do (shrug).

MrsJonesAndMe · 25/08/2018 15:04

Whaaaat? Airer or line and then into ironing basket or drawers/wardrobe depending. Another who don't have a tumble drier anyway...

Ohyesiam · 25/08/2018 15:06

What does your mil think the majority of the world who don’t have tumble driers do?
I air my clothes in the air.

Original poster
ElspethFlashman · 25/08/2018 15:20

Oh well before she had a tumble drier she put them into the airing cupboard for about a week

And it turns out people I work with do this too!

Lots of "Oh I couldn't bear to lie on cold sheets that hadn't been aired!" and "But it only takes 5 minutes and makes SUCH a difference!"

Like, WTF? I have literally never said "This clean dry sheet is fine and all but would really benefit from being aired"

When I was growing up there was a massive multi stage process to laundry, but is it really necessary? Are we all going to get lumbago if we sleep on unaired sheets or (even worse) wear an unaired vest?

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 25/08/2018 15:25

I thought 'airing' was just making sure the item is really dry, so you don't get mould.
So if it's been dried on a line, on a clothes horse,in a drier and it's really dry - it doesn't need airing.
But it it's not quite dry, eg from steam iron or damp weather, it needs airing.

gamerwidow · 25/08/2018 15:28

Yes this comes from a time before central heating when it was hard to get clothes dry in cold wet months. No need for it now.

DramaAlpaca · 25/08/2018 15:29

I put line dried stuff in the airing cupboard for a bit, like my DM does. I think it's an old fashioned thing to do, but then I'm quite old too. Tumble tried stuff just gets put away in drawers.

LightastheBreeze · 25/08/2018 15:32

DM used to air everything for days over radiators or airers, the only time I do this is in the winter if stuff comes in damp and then it goes over radiator to finish off or in dryer, no need this time of year though.

Batteriesallgone · 25/08/2018 15:32

I don’t have a tumble dryer

Two adults three kids in the house

No one is dead or suffers from the lack of a tumble dryer

However I accept I don’t know what I don’t know, so perhaps airing clothes is the elixir of youth and I will pay for my slovenly ways. Probably. I am very slovenly

abitoflight · 25/08/2018 15:40

Nonsense imo

Slartybartfast · 25/08/2018 15:44

i put my clothes in the airing cupboard, i thought that was what you were referring to.

Slartybartfast · 25/08/2018 15:46

and once a week or so i put them away.
if the weather is really hot i put them away from the line, but that only happens for about a week per year

Original poster
ElspethFlashman · 25/08/2018 15:49

Well it is, some people use the airing cupboard and some the tumble dryer. But the concept is the same - not using anything till its so bone dry, it crackles!

OP posts:
Pibplob · 25/08/2018 15:49

If I tumble dry then it goes straight back into wardrobes and drawers. If I line dry / use clothes airer indoors then I do put it in the airing cupboard just to make sure it really is dry. Nothing worse than the smell of slightly damp clothes.