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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

How do you dry your laundry in winter?

74 replies

BerylStreep · 12/09/2011 17:00

Having never had a tumble drier, I may have to now admit defeat. I have always dried clothes over the radiators in winter, but we have recently had the house renovated / redecorated, and DH says he can't bear to have clothes on radiators any longer.

I have resisted the idea of tumble driers as I suspect I would shrink things, it would cost a fortune and generally be bad for the environment.

How do you manage?

OP posts:

doublestandard · 12/09/2011 22:19

Yes it is just you ABF

The rest are being boring oh so practical

AngelDog · 12/09/2011 22:38

I'd get a tumble drier.

I have a washer dryer. You can usually only dry half a load of washing at once, and it takes waaaaay longer than a tumble dryer. Plus if you've got lots of laundry that needs doing, you end up unable to do any drying because your machine is so busy doing the washing.

Our washing machine repair men said avoid anything made by Hotpoint.

upahill · 12/09/2011 22:43

I agree with Angeldog about the wash/dryer.
Also if it breaks down you have neither a washer or dryer.

AngelDog · 13/09/2011 07:31

I have also heard that washer dryers are more prone to breaking down than separate ones, but I can't remember now where I read that.

nannyl · 13/09/2011 08:29

on all but the very coldest / wettest of winter days i hang my washing on the line
on a day when its a bit breezy and perhaps the sun is shining my washing goes from wet to just damp. I then bring it in and put it on the airer over night and its dry by morning.

On the really cold damp nasty days it just goes straight on the airer, but most weeks there is at least 1 day where washing can dry a bit outside

I have a tumble dryer but can count on my fingers the time i use it per year!

Original poster

BerylStreep · 13/09/2011 10:12

doublestandard I sniggered too. Tres witty.

I read the same about washer dryers, but if I go for a separate tumble dryer, it will have to go in the garage, with all the junk.

OP posts:

spongefingeranyone · 13/09/2011 14:57

My tumble dryer is 12 years old, lives in the garage and is still going strong. Previously had a washer/dryer and never again, the dryer is very inefficient compared to a separate dryer.

Personally I cannot bear the washing hung on radiators, airers all over the house looking like a laundry. Added to which it takes forever to dry, ends up smelly, makes the house damp, gets in the way and having the central heating on all day to get it can't be any worse on the electric bill/environment than having a tumble drier.

Hardly any clothes shrink and they are all lovely and soft and need far less ironing. And I couldn't contemplate how king size bed linen drapped over the house or how crusty towels would be dried au-naturel. Also, as a WOHM I just haven't the time to hang stuff outside, get it in etc over the winter. Tumble drier is a necessity and not a luxury or something I will compromise on. OP - get a tumble drier but not a washer/dryer.

Debs75 · 13/09/2011 15:10

I have always used a fold up airer next to a radiator but since ds was dx autism and we developd a large laundry pile I got a tumble drier. I would like one of these thoughwww.pulleymaid.com/classic_clothes_airer.htm

Have just got my 3rd after the 2nd blew on me. I do though now have 4 kids so have a lot of washing. It is a Beko in red and it is great. All singing and dancing but easy to use.

Personally I wouldn't get a washer/dryer as they used to take ages to do 1 cycle so 1 load of washing could take upto 4 hours to finish. I can do 3 loads in my machine in that time and have at least 2 of those loads dry in the tumble dryer

sprinkles77 · 13/09/2011 15:27

washer / driers rubbish. Get a separate drier if any.

I don't have one due to lack of space and running costs. Will have to reassess if we have another baby though. I have a pulley in the kitchen, the ceiling is not that high, so big things have to be folded or they get in the way. If you get ne get the biggest one possible, if you are choosing between 2 lengths get the bigger one as you can trim the bars if you need to. They are also a bit fiddly to install as they need to go into a joist, not plaster board. Unless you are pretty handy I would get someone to put it up for you. I was worried that the washing would pick up cooking smells but it seems not, probably cos I open the window or use the extractor fan.

I also use a clothes horse, but both my toddler and my cat like playing with it and I end up with clothes all over the floor.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/09/2011 21:25

I have a tumble dryer and tried line drying in summer then using the dryer in the winter . It broke recently and I was moaning about this to two friend's who both said they don't have tumble driers. DH has mended it now but I have been shamed into not using the dryer so much .

So now I have a big airer thingy in the carport and it is brilliant. I'm going to get another airer to put in the greenhouse if the carport one gets full. And I might possibly get one of those Rotaire cover things to go over my £10 rotary line I got the other day as have read good things about.

I wouldn't be without the dryer for vomit emergencies etc but am going to try not to use it much.

simonthedog · 17/09/2011 20:19

I have a tumble dryer but also one of these which is very good and cheap to run

NorkyPies · 17/09/2011 20:25

simon, I've been thinking of getting one of those, but how practical is it to put it up and take it down every time? Do you leave yours up permanently somewhere? (I have limited space.)

simonthedog · 17/09/2011 21:03

It is quick and easy to put up and down. I store mine in the box it came in on top of the wardrobe in the spare bedroom. It is fairly big when it is up though. I find things need less ironing than when they've come out of the tumble dryer.

Milliways · 17/09/2011 21:23

I use my Tumble Drier for Towels, sheets and Undies only - ie things that don't need ironing (It is in the garage so things get left!).

Everything else is on large airers in the kitchen/Diner or DH's study, and on radiators if necessary. A few things fit in the airing cupboard as well on hangars just inside the door.

NorkyPies · 18/09/2011 16:53

Thanks, Sinmonthedog. Worked out that I could put it under the flip-up garage door. (Garage is pretty full, but has a power point.) Might get one, then. There is a discount store near me where I saw one going cheap (it has lots of things at reduced price from that TV channel - and I can see why, as lots of them are bizarre items that you don't need).

zebrafinch · 29/09/2011 16:04

Got the lakeland catalogue this morning. The electric clothes airer is 5pence an hour to run. It gives out quite a good heat.

echt · 30/09/2011 20:24

Everything goes on the line, then aired in the laundry which has a ducted heating vent (weird Australian heating) which keeps the whole room tasty warm. Am thinking of one of those ceiling airer thingies.

No tumble drier and never had one, even in UK.

The only bind is warmer weather when it rains but it's too warm for the heating, but this doesn't last very long. This involves lots of running out to peg out the washing as it trips from pissing down rain to brilliant sunshine in minutes. I speak feelingly as we've had a month's rain in 48 hours, and more to come.:O

echt · 30/09/2011 20:24

I probably meant toasty warm, as I'm not reduced to scoffing fabric yet.

careergirl · 01/10/2011 00:33

all "clothes" apart from jeans on the airer in the kitchen.

jeans towels and bedding in the dryer. Unavoidable in the winter months really.
I make sure they are spun well and as much water wrung out as possible before popping them inthe dryer.
during the summer line dry outdoors where weather permits. Fresh air being free and all!

startail · 01/10/2011 00:36

Rayburn, washing line across the kitchen, not elegant, but effective. If I'm organised and especially if I've had the oven on, washing can go up after dinner and come down in the morning.

startail · 01/10/2011 00:40

If sunny, conservatory roof bars do a great job on towels and sheets. Underwear on cloth horses there and by radiators if I can get away with it. Tumble drier only if I really must.

cecilyparsley · 01/10/2011 00:43

I'm a big fan of spin dryers for getting as much water out as possible before hanging stuff up to dry

frenchfancy · 01/10/2011 07:26

We use the tumble dryer. I guess once a day. Just done the calculations - costs us about £4/week. Saves me more than an hours time in terms of hanging out time - and my time is worth more than £4/h.

prisonerofazkaban · 01/10/2011 10:07

I use a driBuddy. Cheap to run and easy to store away when you are not using it. I got mine off ebay for a tenner and I love it.

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