Drying clothes without using the dryer

[RedRobyn2021]

Are you still going to use your dryer?

We live in quite an old property and I worry about causing damp/mould

Anyone on here with young children who don't use a dryer? How have you found it?

Before our daughter I never had a dryer, I just opened the windows every day and I was out five days a week at work.

Now between me and my partner we are home 5 days a week and will need to heat the property and I feel like it would be unfair to my daughter letting it get as cold as it did before we had her.

Really worrying, hoping for ideas, solutions and to hear what others are doing?

We've never had a tumble dryer.
We use Washing line in the garden and dry soon heated airer from Lakeland

I will be pegging out all winter and finishing off in the dryer if necessary. I won't be drying indoors as it's so bad for the house and I can't bear washing draped everywhere.

If you work full time you can't peg out in winter. I'm thinking of investing in a heated airer. I've heard good things about the lakeland ones.

We recently moved from a flat- with no dryer or outdoor space to dry clothes. Over the years, I would hang wet clothes over the doors and on hangers all around the flat. Its only since re-decorating that I realised that the moisture had caused some of the doors to warp and not close properly! Just a warning NOT to dry things in that manner.

Do you have outdoor space for a clothes line? Hang things upstairs? Get one of the those things you hoist up on strings to dry things from the ceiling to use the heat from the room to dry?

I hate having wet washing dotted around the house so have always used the tumble dryer for ease.

However this year, I’m planning to try to use the washing line over the winter. Clothes will dry if there is a bit of sun and a breeze so I’m going to try to do that as much as possible. Even if they’re not fully dry by the end of the day, hopefully I’d have made a good dent in the moisture content ready for a quick blast in the tumble dryer to finish off.

Also going to be much more selective about whether clothes actually need washing or not!

We've never had a dryer and I can guarantee my house is older than yours as it's medieval.

Ideally dry outside, if not possible we use the radiators (on or off) and a big clothes airer in the spare room.

line dry as much as I can then inside on a minki maiden. I also have a pedestal fan that I put in front of the dryer and then let it blow on the clothes. Dries in no time

Do you have one room you can use with the window open but the door closed?

One child, never had a dryer. Between May to September I use the garden most of the time, the remaining month indoor electric airer (which I rarely turn on) and a small portable electric dehumidifier next to it.

We don't have a drier.
We use clothes horses.
Yes, damp is a consideration, but opening windows can help with that, if you can't put the heating on much. And keeping the clothes horse in one room with the door shut so the wetness can't spread throughout the building

I buy clothes that dry quickly (bit late for that now for you)

I do an extra spin on the washing machine to make sure its as dry as possible

Dry outside where possible. We often put stuff on the airer which we move inside after its been out for a bit.

Shirts are hung on hangers on the curtain rails, with the window on the latch for airflow.

Then we have a heated airer in front of the same window.

We have never had a drier, not even with small children. Washing goes out on the line if it's a dry day, all through the winter. Sometimes it goes on a line in the conservatory, or on an unheated airer if it's raining, but I tend to plan laundry around dry days.

I realise that is not an option for everyone though.

I would still use it but cut it down. Most people wash clothes before they actually need washing. So I would wear everything more (not pants obv - but they aren’t taking up much laundry space anyway) and keep tumbling. Or you can tumble the worst of the wet out and hang inside to finish drying to avoid mould.

I am considering exactly the same, OP. 2 young kids and both work full time.

My concern is - do dehumidifiers or heated airers cost much less to run than tumble dryers?

Also, I already own a tumble dryer - so I would need to pay for a dehumidifier or heated airer. Which seems like I would be paying £80 in order to save £80 a year...

In the summer, washing line or clothes horse on landing with windows open.
In the winter clothes horse on landing with dehumidifier on. I open windows approx 20 mins every morning in winter just to circulate fresh air.

Have you considered a dehumidifier? www.humidifiergeek.com/dehumidifier-vs-tumble-dryer/ If you scroll down it compares energy usage and dehumidifiers are much cheaper to run. They also dry delicate items and shrinkable knitwear which cannot be put in a dryer (over an airer). Stops the rest of the house getting damp too.

I'm going to buy an extra airer and either line dry or use the airer and then finish off in the dryer for 10 mins, especially the towels/bedding.

I put my airier on the landing it's the warmest part of the house.

There's 4 of us and DH does a dirty job so I can't not use my tumble dryer.

Reading through this, I think I will use the line as much as possible, and conservatory with the inner door closed and outer door slightly open with a standard clothes airer. Also wash clothes less often and use the tumble dryer when needed.

I would think if you already own a tumble drier you could use it quite a bit for the cost of buying and running a heated airer - especially if you also buy a dehumidifier.

I dont have a tumble drier as there is no where to put one. I find drying outside works half the time and the airer might take up room when its up but i can put it away and move it around

I have a wash and wear option on my machine so I use this and hang outside for couple hours and they stuffs dry. I will continue to do this in winter unless raining I'll stick it in middle of living room whilst at work. Xx

I don’t have a dryer but do have a heated airer and a dehumidifier- i too am wondering about the costs of running those. That said we have no alternative as our garden doesnt get the sun in winter or passing breeze as v high walls.

4 people here.
all the washing goes in the washing line outside. Summer and winter. No need fir a tumble drier. We use the washing machine more if less everyday (maybe twice a day at weekend with bedsheets etc…)
the only time I used one was when the dcs were babies and I was using cloth nappies. They were just too rough Wo the tumble drier.

I do think the answer might be to wash clothes less.
as children we usually wore the same clothes to school all week with spot cleaning and airing inbetween times.
our issue is towels. I need to get much stricter with everyone airing and reusing their own towel a few times

Dont forget microfibre towels dry much quicker. We got some for camping and its all the kids use now

I’ll be line drying as much as possible and perhaps finishing off with my Lakeland heated airer (with a sheet over the top). Using the tumble for emergencies only

the tumble is good for emergencies but Before kids I lived happily without