To ask how you dry your laundry in the winter?

[Marie0]

I seem to do washing every day - there are only 4 or us that seems too much.

Any way - although I do have a tumble dryer I’m reluctant to use it because it’s quite expensive- so just in ‘emergencies’.

But I don’t really like washing on the radiators all over the house - just doesn’t look nice.

I currently have a de-humidifier plugged in and 2 clothes airers set up.

But they take up so much room and because I wash every day - they are in constant use so a bit of an eye sore.

How do I overcome my laundry challenge?

Smalls on what we call a socktopus, other stuff on hangers on our stairs. We found it was faster than an airer.

This is a problem for me at this time of year so have read with interest. No tumble dryer and very limited space. Not cold enough to have heating on so stuff taking ages to dry in house even with dehumidifier. Also have massive problem with damp so drying over radiators when heating does go on is not good. Have looked at heated airers but have nowhere to keep one when not being used.

nice could you shut the clothes airer into a room with the dehumidifier?
what also helps with drying is using an extra spin before hanging up.

Never ever put wet clothes on radiators its the main cause of damp in the house!! I still use the washing line if it’s not raining,my airing cupboard is a god send...although I’ve heard the heated airers are fab if you can afford one.

I dry towels on the radiators then give them a quick fluff up in the drier.
In my previous home we had a big walk in airing cupboard which housed the hot water tank. It could take a concertina type clothed airer and also had loads of handy pipes and hooks i would hang stuff from.
It was a huge hit with the ladies that came to view when we were selling the house.

frufru27

Why does putting clothes on radiators cause more damp than using a heater airer?

Call me old fashioned, I still put it on the washing line!, every night I look at my bbc app to see what the weather is going to be like the next day!! If there is no rain then it’s on the line no matter what the temperature is I like the smell of washing that be outside!! Alway use the high spin 1600 in the winter then still put on line and finish off on radiator or tumble. I even but out at night if it’s windy (as we say in Scotland a good drying day) lots of wind.Just don’t do washing when it’s going to rain.

user1498983411

Same here. I'm in Scotland too. I line dry all year- I have been known to hang washing out while crunching snow underfoot. Even on days in the middle of winter you can get clothes at least 50% dry, also they come in smelling amazing, softened by the wind, whites brightened by the sun.

Nothing beats line freshened clothes.

I also don't like the untidiness of clothes all over radiators and the damp it can produce when the moisture isn't contained. A heater with a separate humidifier has two separate running costs so I go with a tumble dryer with a hanger above for smaller items and non tumble items with window open. Water goes out side to wash pavement etc.

I would add that when I previously used radiators we had condensation and damp this is now eliminated with tumbling.

Totally agree put washing out on line in winter !!

No tumble dryer here. If it can't go on the washing line because its raining - like it is here today then we use a Sheila Maid (ceiling airer) above the stairs with a dehumidifier (clothes dry quickly this way).

Plus have racks that hook over the radiator (slower drying unless spread out so I use these for tops, pants and socks). I do have a large airer but space is an issue so we don't use this option much.

Totally agree about the wonderful smell of line dried washing! Best thing ever!

Airers and dehumidifier in the spare room plus hanging outside as much as possible, even in Winter.

2 adults and 2 mucky kids here. Average 2 washes a week for everyday clothes (7kg machine), ocassional extra wash of bedding/towels/DH workwear/whites. I’m really surprised how much stuff people are going through or are they not filling the drum fully?

For our family that includes around 11 sessions of sport a week, plus DP cycles to work at least twice a week. Plus school uniform, PE clothes, work clothes, sheets, towels ...

On an airer, in the kitchen, windows open, heating on.

BTW I thought the heated airers were shit and a waste of my time.

Why does putting clothes on radiators cause more damp than using a heater airer?

I'd be interested to know the answer to this too.

I use a freestanding spin drier in winter which spins clothes almost dry without damaging them I found fast spin on washing machines makes holes in clothes where as a spin drier does not throw clothes around and can spin at 2700.

Unless it's raining I still put it outside

To add to my earlier post, tomorrow DS2's going away for the weekend, so I had to take all uniform that was dry off radiators (a couple of things after 2 hours with the heating on), and put on a t-shirt and joggers, as he only had one set dry. I'd like to pack today, but I'll need to wait for them to dry.

Redsummershoes I do already do that but it's a property that's over 100 years old so I have very high ceilings and it still takes things a few days to dry. I'll try the extra spin suggestion though.

Tumble dryer for towels/bedding/teatowels/dishcloths etc

Everything else, usually on an indoor aire,which I find holds a full load.

I carry the airer outside (with clothes on) if I think the weather is OK. That way if it starts raining I can bring it in very quickly without having to hang it up again outside. I do have patio doors though so rerally easy to put outside/bring it in

I don't like having the clothes out on the airer though and it does take longer to dry than in the summer usually

I put a wash on every day so I'm not left with a huge load of stuff needing drying - onto a clothes airer first thing and usually dry by the end of the day. Don't tend to have a problem with condensation in this house as a general rule.

Bedding I resort to watching the weather forecast and trying to wash it on a rain-free day - it gets tumble drierd if needs be though but I don't like tumble drying as I find even if I sit by the door waiting for the second it finishes stuff comes out really creased.

Was planning on buying a heated airer with cover soon as we have so much damp in house with drying on radiators.. would it really be the same for damp and mould? Surely the cover keeps in the moisture to some extent?