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?

There's a lakeland shop on ebay which sells reconditioned heated airers at half the price with 12 months warranty. I have the 3 tier one and it is ok, but I wouldn't t have paid full price for it. It's ok if you haven't got space for a tumble dryer.

in the colder months we tend to keep our kitchen warmer than other rooms, since it's the only room with underfloor heating, it's also quite big so limited risk of condensation etc... we mostly dry stuff in there on non-heated airers. maybe tumble dry the odd load if we've got loads of laundry, but try not to.

depending on where yours is but I used to open the boiler cupboard door put my clothes airer in front of the boiler. would dry in an hour

Do you have a garden or balcony?

As long as it isn't raining or below freezing I put laundry outside. It dries quickly in the breeze, has a nice smell, and doesn't clutter the house!

I have a space built at back of house which is covered and there is a washing line. I hang clothes on hangers & then also use a clothes horse - if they’ve been there 48 hours I finish off on tumblr dryer

I use my tumble dryer every day. It goes on the line and then finishes off in the dryer. It was only during the heat wave I didn't use it at all as it all dried quickly on the line. I probably use mine a lot but with 2 adults and four young kids I have so much washing.

Get a spin dryer!
they get way more water out than the washing machine spin

I leave it all in one room and whack that radiator right up.

Tumble drier. I just can’t even begin to imagine why you wouldn’t use it if you have one

I've got the Lakeland dryer - I think its around 8 years old and still going strong.

I Mumsnet work from home but don't want to have the heating on all the time so in the winter I have the dryer in my study which keeps me at a nice temperature. If it's on over night I leave it in the utility room where the cat sleeps so she has a bit of warmth. She likes to sit under it. Makes it feel like none of the heat is wasted.

Ninoo25 Yes I put all sorts of fabrics on the dryer. Its very good for drying knitwear flat.

I hang out as long as I can (usually end of October) and then it's the tumble drier until March/April and for delicate things a rack of the bath. I can't stand clothes over radiators and I find drying too much inside causes mould etc

I hand washing outside summer and winter. Doesn't always completely dry in winter, so then have to put it in airing cupboard, or on airer afterwards.

I use my tumble dryer all the time. I have no
alternative, no outside space to dry anything, my flat is tiny and it's me, my 18 year old daughter and my 19 year old son, plus cat. So a fair amount of washing gets done. There's no space for any airers, and we are all electric, so have stupid pointless storage heaters instead of proper radiators. It is not as expensive as you think to run the dryer, even with mine being a condenser dryer so costing a bit more.

Washing lines for as long as it dries, probably march - October.

Tumble drier for bedding, towels, adult socks and pants/knickers.

Airer in the kitchen with underfloor heating, underneath a velux window for the rest. Kitchen door closed. Damp washing agrevates my asthma and makes my nose itch!

In the summer I wash everything and anything. When I can't dry outside, not so much!

About two wash loads a day here if not more ... normally just use my wobetree (that's the kids name for the clothes horse)
But actually thinking I could get a small tumble dryer in the bathroom cupboard. Surely electric to run it won't be half as much as heating on trying to dry washing in a open plan 3 storey house

I have a walk in hot press ( airing cupboard ) so the drying rails go up in there . The living room fire is lit every evening in winter and because we have a back boiler the hot press is always warm . Clothes always get 10 mins in the tumble drier to remove creases and make towels softer .

We use the Tumble Drier - we have a 9mth old baby and I couldn’t stand washing hung up all over the house on airers/radiators plus the baby would probably just pull them off!

I do all the washing in one day - about 6 loads for 4 of us. Hang anything that goes on a hanger over the shower rail (eg school shirts which then don't need to be ironed / my work tops / skirts)

Take knickers / socks / towels and tumble dry proof stuff to the launderette round the corner.

Have one airer that I use for the remaining stuff.

Can anyone please recommend a dehumidifier?

I use metal over-the-door hooks and put long clothes on hangers. Also sheets
and towels can go on trouser hangers here. Inside cupboard doors is good fur these hooks. Just leave the door slightly ajar so the air can get in. You can get over the door towel rails which can be useful for drying too.

No room for a tumble drier. Washing goes out on the line whenever possible. If not, airers indoors in back bedroom. We've got some open hanging rails which we bought when we were having wardrobes fitted, so stuff that doesn't need ironing gets put on hangers and hung on the rails to dry.

I am very tempted to get a heated airer though, particularly for towels and bedding.

Walking the plank
Thanks for that, I’ve been looking for an excuse to get one for ages 😊

I use clothes horses with open windows in warmer weather and a dehumidifier in colder weather. I use to use my washing line for larger items but one of my neighbours (and I think I know which bitch who did it) decided to randomly cut it.

For those who are looking to buy a dehumidifier if you have a cat or dog they apparently stop working quickly due to their fur bring caugtbin the filters. If you don't have a pet you should clean out the filters weekly rather than the every couple of weeks the maunfacturers recommend.

I have a Meaco dehumidifier - Which recommended as efficient etc. Is fantastic.