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Original poster

Winter clothes drying routine

107 replies

teaandtoast2 · 15/09/2023 11:59

It's been fine over the summer drying clothes on the line outside but in the winter we don't have enough radiator space, and things don't dry quickly (we only have the heating on if it's really really bitter, and even then just an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening).

We don't have a dryer but we are now a family of 5 (kids aged 5, 3 and 3 months) - we pretty much do a quick 15mins wash most days.

Anyway send me your winter drying tips!

Thank you xx

OP posts:
ChuckMater · 15/09/2023 13:07

After the cycle put your washer on a drain and spin cycle and it gets rid of extra water

Monkelmo · 15/09/2023 13:16

Extra spin cycle, then on hangers over the bannister rail or curtain poles. Socks and pants goes on one of those peg hangers things or on a collapsable clothes tail that gets moved from room to room depending on where the sun is.
Once they're no longer soaking they go in the airing cupboard with the immersion heater, but I don't like putting them in there straight from the machine as it makes everything smell funky

Calmdown14 · 15/09/2023 13:23

Does your garden get any sun? I peg out all year round.

If your main washing line is not in a sunny spot, it there anywhere else you could put a temporary line given you don't use the garden the same in winter. Or a whirly either just with the extra foot in or utilize a patio umbrella weight thing.

I got a couple of airers that hang over bannister (each has about five rails) and use these for things with thicker waistbands or collars that need finishing off. The heat all rises here so good spot to dry.

bananaboats · 15/09/2023 13:32

We have a Dehumidifier with a clothes drying mode, highly recommend!

SnowSnow · 15/09/2023 13:35

We have a dehumidifier and airer. If you are getting a dehumidifier get a decent sized one rather than the very small 20 quid ones. It gets washing dry overnight and warms the room it is in nicely. Bonus also that you don’t end up with condensation and then mould

Porridgeislife · 15/09/2023 13:38

Wash at night
Dry in a small room with big airer (Minky 3 tier) and the door closed
Run a Meaco dehumidifier

We do about a load a day and it dries overnight (even jeans) with a dehumidifier

GasPanic · 15/09/2023 13:43

High speed spin and do an extra spin. High speed spin at at least 1200 rpm, 1600 rpm better.

Dehumidifier to dry clothes on bannisters.

Also, buy clothes that don't retain water. Cotton and wool does, polyester doesn't. My polyester fleeces come out almost dry from the washing machine. If you do not like polyester on your skin you can wear a thin cotton undergarment below, much better and easier to dry than a chunky wool jumper. You may have to throw fashion out the window to minimise your drying.

Finally wash stuff less - wash it when it actually needs washing, not just every time it has been worn once.

FrogsWormsandCaterpillars · 15/09/2023 13:43

I hang washing outside all year round unless it’s raining or below freezing. I usually do it on the airer in winter I so I can get it in quickly. Sometimes I’ll finish it off with an hour in front of the radiator

PilatesPeach · 15/09/2023 13:44

For those of you with a Lakeland heated airer, do you also have a cover for it please? thank you

YourNameGoesHere · 15/09/2023 13:47

PilatesPeach · 15/09/2023 13:44

For those of you with a Lakeland heated airer, do you also have a cover for it please? thank you

I do but I rarely use it. I normally cover it with a fitted sheet instead as the seems to work just as well and it's easier to put over than the cover and I'm lazy ..😂

Suchardchoccy · 15/09/2023 13:49

We have the same issue but only a family of four for now (a 2 year and 7 month old) i try to wash when it's not raining and dry them outside on the line and the maidens) but if it's raining then i dry them on the maidens in front of the radiator in the living room as it's the only space in the house. Might get a dehumidifier this winter too.

megletthesecond · 15/09/2023 13:49

If you have a bit of sun in your garden you can line dry all winter.

Suchardchoccy · 15/09/2023 13:50

And i always use the fastest spin anyway

MidnightMeltdown · 15/09/2023 13:51

You need a dehumidifier. Mine has a setting for drying laundry.

CatsOnTheChair · 15/09/2023 13:52

Use the outside line as often as you can.
If it's not raining, our washing goes outside.
Yes, sometimes you bring it in and think "WTF was the point in that?" But it dries much quicker having had a blast outside.

Time towels/sheets etc washing for dry windy days.

Do an extra spin before hanging out.

CatsOnTheChair · 15/09/2023 13:53

Use the outside line as often as you can.
If it's not raining, our washing goes outside.
Yes, sometimes you bring it in and think "WTF was the point in that?" But it dries much quicker having had a blast outside.

Time towels/sheets etc washing for dry windy days.

Do an extra spin before hanging out.

ShadyPaws · 15/09/2023 13:59

I use a heated airer and a dehumidifier

BIossomtoes · 15/09/2023 14:01

Tumble dryer all the way. I saw a comparison of running costs with heated airers and the dryer came out slightly cheaper.

sparkedsparkle · 15/09/2023 14:04

I'm lucky enough to have the space so I dry in the spare room but on two clothes horses in front of radiator. Never hang clothes on radiators as it blocks the heat tbh.
I also hand by bed sheets off the bannister and have hung hoodies/ trackers over open doors too

Theoldwoman · 15/09/2023 14:10

Why do you not have the heater on more? It’s really important to keep babies warm and young children ( and the elderly)

How on earth do items get clean in 15 minutes? Never heard of that before.

I would get a dryer to be honest. Use it only for: sheets, towels, undies, socks, pyjamas, baby wraps, singlets, and nappies.

Everything else gets hung up.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/09/2023 14:13

If at all possible I put my wash on at night,

peg on an airer in the am before work and provided it's dry put it in the garden - we don't get sun on it during the winter months but most days most of the clothes are almost dry -

Bring it in as soon as it starts to get dark and by now as I said it's almost dry,

Put surer near a radiator so it finishes drying but without creating damp issues inside . Sometimes hand items in radiator.

Put next wash load on

This of course assumes we've had no rain otherwise I probably only end up washing e every 2/3 day. I also make use of my machines spin cycle to get excess water out after wash

Cannotthinkofanametoday · 15/09/2023 14:14

Extra spin, then on the airer in the lounge, dehumidifyer on and door shut. 99% dry by morning and a warm room.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/09/2023 14:14

Unfortunately we have no room at all for heated airers, humidifiers or everywhere to put those clothes drying racks

So jealous of those who do Grin

Desecratedcoconut · 15/09/2023 14:18

Family of five (4 adult sized) : We have an enormous, robust, as tall as me, clothes horse that lives near a radiator and a window.

I'm another one who thinks a 15 minute clean is more of a gesture than a wash, fwiw.

Tweedledeedums · 15/09/2023 14:23

Definitely recommend getting a dehumidifier- I got mine a couple of years ago, it was about £120 I think from screwfix. I just put the clothes on the clothes horse and the dehumidifier right next to it... I tend to set it to run for about 5 hours overnight. It's amazing the amount of water that collects in the tank! And clothes don't have that horrible damp smell that happens when they dry too slowly