Drying washing indoors with no heating on tips?

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Not planning to have the heating on for a while...

I have so much washing to do every single day, at least a full load every day (don't suggest for me to cut it down, it's impossible, I've tried).

I have a dryer which I use for pants, socks, pjs etc! But I don't like using it for thicker stuff or stuff that may shrink so a lot of it goes onto airer but it does not dry this time of year with no heating on.

I dry outside as much as possible but it's always raining here lately, it just doesn't dry outside. I can't skip a load because it'll be twice as much to dry next day.

nor does it dry indoors either this time of year. I don't have the biggest house so no room for laundry to be everywhere.

I have considered a heated dryer but I already use my dryer most days so don't want to add to the cost £££!

any tips on airer drying this time of year please? It's taking 1.5-2 days to dry at the minute, I have two airers. I am in a continuous circle of laundry and drying!

Hang stuff over the banister if you have one, towels and bedding do well like this.

Candy Smart CSEH8A2LE 8Kg Heat Pump Tumble Dryer - White - A++ Rated
£399. Uses 1.93 KWh of electricity to dry a full 8kg load on cotton program of 225mins (3.75hrs). (I don’t have this one, this is just the first cheap one listed on Ao.com)

Average U.K. price for 1 KWH electricity in U.K. was only a few days ago 28p, so 54p to dry 8kg clothes.

(I included the above as not sure @1990s if you’ve done the plug measure thing on your dehumidifier since the 1 Oct price increase to average of 52p per KWH, you might want to if you haven’t yet).

Current cost based on new 52p per KWH with Oct price increase we just had is £1 per. 8kg clothes.

So either half price or same price as a dehumidifier depending on when you last measured but always in less than half the time, takes up less floor space with no risk of causing condensation mould in your home.

Oh and heat pump dryers are also a secondary heat source. Mine pumps out 37C hot dry air while it runs. I don’t have my heat on yet because if I do a couple loads of laundry a day it will by itself warm my entire downstairs up from 15C to 20C and that’s job done with heating for the whole day. Then I just tuck up in bed in the evening. Obviously come winter will need to actually turn on heat. But every little helps.

I saw someone put airers in a cheap plastic greenhouse. It would work on sunny days, and at this time of year. No idea if it’s helpful in actual winter. My greenhouse certainly gets a lot warmer, but it’s at the allotment and I’m not yet desperate enough to trek up there with the washing, although I’ve won’t rule it out…..

So either half price or same price as a dehumidifier depending on when you last measured but always in less than half the time, takes up less floor space with no risk of causing condensation mould in your home.

Why would a dehumidifier cause condensation mould? I use mine to prevent condensation and mould...

Yes I only bought the kids fleece pjs this year for the first time (because can't afford to have the heat on as often) and can't believe they're almost dry when they come out of the washing machine

Oh, not being clear. Drying clothes indoors causes the risk. A dehumidifier offsets the risk, but doesn’t eliminate it.

Do you live anywhere near a laundrette? Dropping the jeans/ towels/ bedding in for a service wash once a month can be a game changer.

I do one load of washing and spread it out over 2 drying racks. Put it near an open window. Working ok so far with no heating on.

I’ve not got my heating on much at the moment because I’m in the SE and it’s still quite warm but what doesn’t go through the drier gets hung on the rail by the French doors and it always dries within a day .

A spin dryer will spin at 2800rpm. So re soon all items that come out of the washer. Then dry however you want but the drying time will be much quicker.

I have this airer from Aldi and it dries clothes so much quicker than the standard airers.

Dehumidifier.
Or for those without one and looking, a heat pump tumble dryer.

When the weather isn't conducive to drying, I put almost everything in the dryer.

Only wool, silk, lingerie and nylon stuff like sports gear goes on the airer and that all dries very quickly anyway. Everything else can go in the dryer on the low heat setting, it won't shrink.

I do try to make best use of my airer first though, by putting it near an open door or window best positioned to catch the wind, depending on where it's blowing from that day.

If you don’t want to use the heater is because of cost or because it isn’t cold enough yet?

I use a fan to dry clothes on an airer. If you don’t have ceiling fans use a pedestal fan. Or open windows to get a breeze blowing on the clothes. I think air movement helps evaporate the moisture in the clothes.

I also put my washing on a second spin. It does make a difference.

Can you create a covered area outside to protect from the rain? My neighbours have a gazebo just for this purpose and I realise it's a clever idea. I also make use of the banisters at the top of the stairs as heat rises and things tend to dry quite well there, especially towels and jeans. I managed to get some radiator clothes airers to fit onto the bannisters which gives a bit more capacity. I peg all socks and pants onto a few of those octopus thingies from IKEA and hang them off the living room door and they always dry in about 24 hours

Can I also suggest having more bedding so there is less pressure to dry newly washed items?
I drape mine over the banister to hang down the stairs.

I would put the stuff in the dryer for just 30 min. Take it out when it's warm but still damp and hang it then, it dries in no time.
However this might cause condensation, especially if the house it chilly.
If you go additional spin cycle as PPs suggested this will help. Or reclaim the dehumidifier from whoever has it!

We have major bedwetting issues in this house so most days involve a thick mattress protector and often duvet, duvet cover and sheets too.

i have a heated airer which I use a lot. Have to keep an eye on when we have it on/off - moment stuff is dry it comes off. Also frequent turning. Whilst my washing machine has a tumble setting I use it rarely. (Maybe 20 times a year? Compared to daily washes)

A heat pump tumble drier needs a warm room to work in the first place. I have a 255watt dehumidifier and it will cost me under £1 to dry clothes overnight. My tumble dryer will cost about £1.50. The dehumidifier makes the air in the home much more comfortable. Drying clothes without one can add a litre or more moisture to your home even with those heated drying racks. Think how much water you get in a tumble dryer, that is in the air in your home.
Op as your tumble drier is so cheap to use why not use it for most things, especially towels and sheets etc. It would be cheaper than buying something else.

I have one of these up high and leave the window open and it dries quickly. I saw a post being shared on Facebook someone had bought a plastic green house for the garden and put an airer in that!

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That is a very useful post Discovereads!

unfortunately I’m in a flat with no room for a separate rumble dryer, and to be fair if I wasn’t in a flat I’d dry my washing on the line :)

Oh, too bad. And washer/dryer combo units do genuinely still suck so that is not an option for maximum cost and energy efficiency.

I have to use a tumble dryer because of mobility issues. But line drying best all around if/when you can.

But yes, even if your plug thingy doesn’t work, you can always look up the KWh energy usage of your dehumidifier model online and then when your energy supplier tells you your actual KWh price calculate the costs to run it (the 52p is an average of regional unit price caps for electricity usage that for some reason the gov have sent to the energy companies and they’re supposed to be using them but I cannot find the specific unit price caps by region published anywhere for us to date).