How do I dry laundry in a cold house?

[NotQuiteUsual]

So not going into the energy price stuff. But basically our house is going to be really cold this winter and the tumble dryer is obviously off limits. But with three kids there's so much laundry. I've reduced the amount I wash stuff to the maximum I can.

But what I can't figure out is how to dry it when our house is as cold as outside. We have super limited space to dry outside. Half a loads room, not even enough to hang a single bed sheet. It gets no sunlight in the day and is only good in the summer, but I have been trying it. We've got two airers that stay under an open window to try keep the damp under control.

I'm sure i must be missing a trick though and I really don't want to smell like damp all winter either. So any tips?

Lakeland clothes hanger hooks could help you maximise space on a line - outside use them with plastic coat hangers. Also a soctopus. Try hang as much as you can outdoors. I have an airer that I lift in and out depending on the weather. I peg things to the airer so they don't blow away. If the ground is dry outside then clothes will dry. Maybe not in a day.... But you could bring them in at night and iron them dry if not too damp.

You can’t really dry clothes in an unheated house. Do you have a fireplace ? Can you light a fire in one room and heat it. Use airers in there?
You’ll have one warm room even if the rest of the house is cold.
Or look at ways to reduce or increase money coming in so you can dry clothes when absolutely necessary?

Do you have a hot press with a hot water tank? That should be warm for a few hours when the hot water is on.

Word of warning
Plastic greenhouses often collapse/take off in winter storms

You could take a step back and think about the clothes you wear and how often.

Synthetics dry faster than natural fibre. Fleece type tops can be great for kids and dry in no time. Polycotton bedding etc dries much faster.

Wearing a vest under a top keeps you warm and you can wash the vest but wear the top again. Sponge marks off clothes rather than washing them every time if they've just had a bit of something spilled on them. Hanging something up can freshen it without the need for washing, if it's just got the smell of cooking or something.

We wash way too much just because it's easier to chuck it in the wash than assessing what's actually dirty.

If you can afford one, dehumidifiers heat the room as well as removing moisture and help dry washing.

The cost saving on heating has to be balanced against what it might cost if your things go mouldy, to be frank. Make sure you ventilate well.