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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how you dry your laundry in the winter?

312 replies

Marie0 · 17/09/2018 22:43

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
LookMoreCloselier · 17/09/2018 23:56

4 of us and I do two loads per week. Surely those who wash every day have very small loads? We have a washer dryer but I don't use the dryer as it's old and crap. I dry on the whirly if I can even in winter but it will still need hung inside then to get some warmth. We have 3 heated towel rails which I use for underwear. I often hand dhs t-shirts on hangers and then hand on curtain pole with window a bit open. Then there's the banister especially for large items like towels. The clothes horse is almost a last resort. Also have radiator airers, each one gives 3 metres of drying space.

Xmasbaby11 · 17/09/2018 23:58

Drier. Doesn't use much electricity. So quick and easy. Just amazing!

Digggers · 18/09/2018 00:02

Ceiling pulley. Gets the washing out the way to the warmest part of the flat ( heat rises)

To ask how you dry your laundry in the winter?
AltheaorDonna · 18/09/2018 00:11

I just won a lovely top of the range heat pump drier and I love it! It has a seven star efficiency rating so cheap as chips to run and there is zero condensation. I will be continuing to line dry too as we have lots of sun in Oz, but I think the tumble drier will be easier on my clothes, I've had a few things faded out on the line.

PickAChew · 18/09/2018 00:14

Our bedding alone takes 2 big loads. More when Ds2 leaks all over.

Bouledeneige · 18/09/2018 00:27

Why would you buy a tumble dryer and then not use it? Or did it come with the accommodation? Use it.

passwordfailure · 18/09/2018 00:45

There's 3 of us and I do at least 1 9kg load a day, sometimes 2. Mostly it's because of the dogs, they get really mucky on walks and I shower them then use a couple of towels each on them. And generally have to change my clothes after washing them. If I don't catch them quick enough to use the hair dryer on them they rub themselves on the sofa throws which I then have to wash too. It is really a good job I love the dogs, they make a lot of work!

delphguelph · 18/09/2018 01:01

Never heard of a heated airer, they look great.

We use a tumble dryer.

Mc180768 · 18/09/2018 01:19

Tumble dryer for bedding, towels, smalls. (Not bras) and for shirts, husband's shirts, trousers, I hang on hangers with a little window open and the heating on to avoid condensation. Dries in no time.

I don't find the dryer expensive. Not compared to the condensation and refitting costs of stuff and paint.

fuckwitseverywhere · 18/09/2018 01:25

Large airer set up out of the way,
Pound stretcher clippy peg things for underwear (£1)
Hang them off the airer
Everything dries in a day or two, no need for a heated one

SwordToFlamethrower · 18/09/2018 01:30

What about damp and black mould? Not everything can be tumble dried. How do people dry clothes but not get a damp and mouldy house?

Seniorschoolmum · 18/09/2018 01:30

Washing line, airing cupboard or an airer in the conservatory. I didn’t replace our drier when it died but there are only two of us.

It didn’t seem good value for money and my electricity bill has shrunk by a lot.

happymummy12345 · 18/09/2018 01:36

Honestly does anyone actually care how it looks? I don't see it as as untidy. Surely aireas (maidens as you call them) look even worse?
I put it on radiators and on aireas. I hate tumblr dryers, don't even have one, never will.

AllyMcBeagle · 18/09/2018 03:14

How do people dry clothes but not get a damp and mouldy house?

Dehumidifiers are great for this as they basically collect the water out of the air and then you just pour it down the drain (I am always gobsmacked with how much mine collects when drying laundry).

springydaff · 18/09/2018 05:05

One of these. I've kept the wood slats extra long either end to hang knickers, bras etc.

I leave a small window very slightly open during drying times. Clothes dry overnight. Absolutely wonderful, I couldn't do without it.

springydaff · 18/09/2018 05:06

And takes an enormous amount of clothes and bedding.

Poodles1980 · 18/09/2018 05:25

Tumble dryer every day here. I don’t think it’s expensive to run and would prefer it to hanging anything up in the house making the air damp

diodon · 18/09/2018 05:54

Tumble dryer.

And if you take stuff out straight away shake and hang up no ironing needed. No time wasted putting on and taking off airer. House looks better. House less damp so less mold so better for people with asthma etc.

If you hang washing your house feels colder when its damp so you'll offset the tumble dryer electricity with reduced heating costs.

I thought I saw on MSE that running the tumble dryer for an hour (to dry one load) was the same electricity as running the dehumidifier for 8 hours.

charlestonchaplin · 18/09/2018 06:15

Clothes airer in garage with windows open works much of the time. Some tumble drying or dehumidifier use may be required in addition or instead.

megletthesecond · 18/09/2018 06:17

Airer.
Washing line if it's not raining. Cold winter days are still good for almost drying clothes and getting the creases out.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 18/09/2018 06:19

I air for 24 hours then tumble dry for the last 20 mins

Or just hang on hangers
Mercy / winter bedding drying is coming Sad

MsHopey · 18/09/2018 06:44

I tumble dry everything all year round!
We live in an upstairs tint flat with 3 of us. Storage heaters so clothes can't go on them. No room for an airer.
We have no gas at all in the flat because of the storage heaters.
The water tank is heated everyday.
We're currently spending only £10 a week on electric!
Tumblr dryers aren't that expensive, they make the clothes all soft, no creases, and is so much easier than spending ages hanging things up and finding room round the house for them.
If I had a massive house and garden I'd still use the tumble dryer whether day xx

SnugglySnerd · 18/09/2018 08:14

Tops and shirts I hang on hangers on bedroom door frames. Heat ruses up the stairs and they dry very quickly with no need to iron.
Large items like sheets and towels go on the washing line then finish in the drier or hang over the banister.
Baby clothes, underwear etc in drier.
I'm already missing the summer days and being able to do 3 loads in one day as they'd dry outside!

Chocolala · 18/09/2018 08:28

We installed an indoors washing line at the end of the kitchen.

BiddyPop · 18/09/2018 08:29

We put it outdoors as much as possible. Hard when we both WOH but some days the forecast is good for the day or we know we’ll have a few good hours in the evening (like last nights’ wind before the rain came).

Otherwise, we tend to run the wash while we’re at work, and put it on the clothes horse in the playroom after dinner or before we go to bed. There’s a dehumidifier there now and that makes a huge difference (only got it late last winter to deal with loads of wet sailing gear). It’s generally mostly dry by morning, and fully dry when we get home at night - so we can take down the horse for the few hours we’re in that room.

We do tumble some stuff as well.

If we need the room during the day, we dry on the horse overnight and tumble the last bit in the morning