Winter clothes drying routine

[teaandtoast2]

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

Dehumidifier, I couldn't be without mine. We live in a small house and the only place I can dry the clothes is our kitchen/diner. I have the dehumidifier on pretty much constantly from now to next April! It's very low on energy use and not only do the clothes dry quickly but is better for us than breathing in damp air all the time. Get one with a large water container and a clothes drying setting. Ours has a 5ltr container, it's amazing how quickly it fills up!

Couple of airers and a dehumidifier. Works wonders - research Meaco, they are really good and cheap to run too.

I've been eyeing them up since last year. I'm gonna invest in one this winter. It's always a nightmare drying clothes in the winter.

I do but only because it came with one as part of the package we bought. So can't really compare as we've never used it without. Helps stop little hands grabbing the hot rails too.

Two large clothes airers which live in front of a radiator/just inside the patio doors. Very occasional use of the tumble dryer.

Dry outside as much as we are able and if we can't we use an airer in the spare room with a dehumidifier (we have one with a laundry setting).

I dry outside as much as possible, if the flagstones are dry/drying then out it goes.
I’m thinking about putting a clothes rack in the greenhouse this winter, might be worth it 😊

We dry a lot in the airing cupboard

Obviously depends if you have one

We bought a little 2.5kg tumble dryer to dry pants, socks and kids clothes. It was amazing and small enough to keep in a cupboard and bring it out when needed. Cost about 80p per load last Winter. It also did bedding (one bed at a time) and towels!

Apart from that a dehumidier (which is sometimes a similar size to the little tumble drier!)

And extra spins. Adults clothing went on radiators with a dehumidifier on.

(I noticed last year that clothes still dry outside on an airer near the door. Close by so if it starts raining you can bring it back in v quickly with minimal fuss!)

I used to mess around with clothes horses in front of radiators (had a few I’d place in front of various radiators). I have 5 DC now so a tumble dryer is the only thing that gets us through.

The Lakeland heated airer has been a game changer for us. When we redid our kitchen and utility room this summer I had a space built for it under the utility room extractor fan to prevent dampness. It is so easy to dry clothes in winter now.

Launderette. Take a book and a cup of coffee. It’s actually bliss

Another Vote for the launderette! I wash several loads at home one after the other and then take it to the launderette and put all 4 loads in their big drier,£4 and 30 mins later its all dry and I have had a coffee and read my book in peace!

I need to replace my tumble dryer at some point.......

Maybe I could live without it. But I'm wondering is it more economical to buy a heat pump dryer and use that, or an airer/clothes horse and a dehumidifier?

Leave your windows open a tiny crack when you’re drying clothes. It lets the moisture escape and they dry much quicker.

We’ve got a Meaco dehumidifier. Put the washing on airers in a room with the dehumidifier and then close the door (it’s more effective in a confined space). It’s not huge, about the size of a medium suitcase (and has wheels!), and lives in the airing cupboard with the folded airers when not in use.

This ^^
People underestimate just how much water evaporates from their washing, then are surprised that their house is damp.
When I tumble dry towels I empty several litres of water from the condenser tank.

I use a dehumidifier for everything else or line dry.

Dehumifier, things on airers near radiators, hanging high up like on bannisters & door frames. Find when its very damp the dehumidifier is essential and if you have kids its important they arent breathing in too much damp.

We continue to line dry as much as possible.

Have 2 airers which live at the top of the stairs landing and a heated airer which takes half a load in the dining room.

Have a pulley in the kitchen which small stuff goes on.

Windows always open a crack when laundry drying.

I'd love space for a condenser dryer. Sigh.

You can work out how much energy the specific model of dryer would use but in general dehumidifiers have lower running costs (pennies per hour), plus they don’t wear your clothes out as much, and obviously they can remove general moisture from living as well as washing. https://inthewash.co.uk/laundry-and-ironing/dehumidifier-vs-tumble-dryer-for-drying-clothes/

I have a heated aired that’s exactly like this one in John Lewis. I got mine from Aldi a couple of years ago. I think it was around £80 and came with a cover. It works fantastically well.
https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-3-tier-heated-indoor-clothes-airer/p2427279

Unless it's wet or damp outside I try to put the clothes horse outside as much as I can. Then when it gets dark, back inside and window open to air the room.

If I have to dry it indoors I open the windows as well and we think about a dehumidifier for this year.

If I put a clothes horse outside it would get blown over.

Heated airer + dehumidifier 🙌🏻

I dry mine on the outside line throughout the year. I keep an eye on the forecast and put the washing in the dryer or boiler room to fully dry out and warm up if necessary. I also dry on bathroom racks and bathroom radiator.

I never dry anywhere in the rest of the house in case we end up with damp and mould which is really toxic.