10 ish loads of washing to do

[NairobiGal]

How am I going to tackle this?!! Had a huge leak into huge built in wardrobe yesterday and now I have an enormous amount of washing to do. Cleaners have been in and the leak has been fixed. The ceiling is now drying out and that is all sorted. My washing machine is tiny, no tumble drier, can't afford Launderette at £8 per load (it's the only one near me). Everything is going to take so long to dry because it is so cold and haven't got the heating on. Help! Any ideas? Not sure what I expect mn to do other than offer solidarity but I currently have laundry panic!!

Any friends, family on neighbours that would do a load for you and maybe take a couple to the laundrette

Try to dry things on hangers etc even though they’re dirty as otherwise they’ll start to get mouldy.

Then wash what you need eg wash tomorrows clothes. You might need to put the heating on selectively. Or wash at home and dry in a laundrette?

Definitely see if family, friends and neighbours can help out. If that isn’t possible then prioritise and slowly chip away making sure you always have the stuff you wear a lot getting washed.

Definitely ask about. I’d take a load in for you if you were my mate

otherwise will insurance cover the cost of the launderette?

I'd put the heating on to be honest. This isn't normal situation and requires extraordinary solutions. Ask friends family to help too

Honestly, if there's any way you can do it, the launderette is the best way - they take anything up to 16kg in a load, which is probably nearer 3 loads in one - and then there's the tumble dryers.

Keep things that can't be tumbled at home, take a book/magazine, washing powder, softener and earbuds and spend a while just getting as much done as possible.

If you definitely can't manage the launderette, the most practical way is to do the quick drying things and things you can/need to iron dry first, as they'll be off the airer sooner, meaning you'll be able to get them put away as the next load is finishing.

I sympathise. I've got a massive backlog from the washing machine needing a repair. I did break and buy some more socks and knickers for the last few days, rather than wash by hand.

It's also a good time to think realistically, will you ever wear something again or is it worth the effort to repair/wash - and if not, into the bin.

Tackle the things you will need first. So if you're going to need it in the next day or two wash it now. Unless it's actually raining hang outside.
Stuff you don't need yet can be left until you have room.

Was it just water leaking? I would dry everything as is and wash load by load when I can peg out. Also, I would happily do a few loads if a friend or family member was in your situation.

Revolution Laundry dryer is £3 for 15mins 18kg, I dried my quilt in near enough 15 mins. Maybe goggle your nearest laundrette to see how much they charge for their dryers.

Just put the heating on, it’ll help dry out the leak damage too. I’ve just come back for holiday and have done a huge number of loads this week, just peg
pegged them out for a bit, then out them on airers close to the radiators and on hangers from every door frame etc.

Are you going to claim on house insurance by any chance? They might cover launderette bill?

stores.revolution-laundry.com/en-uk/

I was going to suggest the Revolution washers and dryers too. There are a few near me in petrol stations and at convenience stores

Clothes in the bin!!! That's awful!!!

Thanks everyone. My friend is going to do one wash for me and I can probably manage one load tk the Launderette and will just have to chip away at the rest!

Turn the heating on and/or use a dehumidifier.

If you're rich enough to have a house with not just a walk in wardrobe but a "huge" walk in wardrobe and have cleaners I do not believe that you can't afford £10 on heating for a few hours.

Depends on whether they're actually perfectly fitting, not faded, immaculate clothes that just need a wash or if they're faded, fraying or in any way like 90% of DP's stuff better used as floor cloths.

Hope it's not as bad as you thought originally.

What are you on about? I have a cleaner who comes every other week for 3 hours. Two hours is paid for by the landlord (I know. I'm very lucky) and I pay an extra £8 for the extra hour. He pays all the fees to the company. I don't have a walk in wardrobe, it's a massive ugly built in thing that looks like it was built in the 70s. I'm on universal credit (shock horror at me paying £16 a month on a cleaner) and a lone parent who works full time for under 30k a year. I pay for my son to be in nursery full time, I pay my rent and bills, and have very little at the end of the month. Sound rich to you? Seriously get a life.

@NeverDropYourMooncup clothes that are no good for wearing should be recycled, I could never just bin clothes.

Put the heating on for a few hours and see if you can borrow a dehumidifier. Your landlord might be able to get you one as otherwise they are going to end up with a mouldy property.

My landlord is lovely and I've emailed him to see what he can do so hopefully he will have a solution 😊

If they're soaking wet and would be going mouldy, as in this hypothetical solution where the OP is struggling to work out how she's going to cope with the volume of wet and dirty clothing from a leak, they're not going to be appreciated being dropped off in a binbag outside the charity shop - they're going to go straight into their bins.

Launderette. I'm in London and wash and dry a huge load for £8

Laundrette sounds the best bet - if you can afford cleaners then you can afford £8 per load. That doesn’t sound bad to me. Maybe do a few at home then the rest there.

I think forking out for £8 per load rather than letting clothes ruin and go mouldy seems
sensible. Even if you need to cut back somewhere else. I’d just want to get it sorted quickly.

Sorry read your update about cleaners. But I would still prioritise getting some loads done at the laundrette.