Airing cupboards- what exactly are they for?

[ThatBintAgain]

I've never had one until recently. I think they're an amazon place to store towels and bedding. And I put bread in there to rise sometimes. But beyond that I don't quite understand them.

Apparently MIL wouldn't let her children wear clothes unless they'd been aired. As such DH had now taken to hiding stashing clothes in there in a plastic box when they come out of the dryer. I don't get it- can someone please explain them to me?

When I say amazon I meant AMAZING. Damn you autocorrect.

All ironing ever done by my mother was put in the airing cupboard before it was shipped out to the relevant room. I have no idea why. To this day she is horrified that I don't 'air' my ironing. I use mine to store my towels and to hide DH's favourite t shirt when I'm fed up looking at it.

I don't know. They usually hold the boiler so make the towels lovely and warm. Mine doesn't though, it's just a cupboard in the bathroom. I may use it to hide crap inside so that I don't have to venture into the spider infested cellar.

They take any remaining dampness out of things?

I store my towels and bedding in mine though - no clothes get 'aired' round here.

Well they pre-date tumble driers. If you don't have a tumble drier (I don't) then airing things is very useful. They do what a sunny day on the line would do, take any residual dampness out of things, especially sheets and towels. Mine is stuffed to the hilt ! (I love getting warmed pjs out in cold weather, bliss).

Finishing off clothes that aren't 100% dry from the rack/line.
Drying large items like duvet covers, to save on tumble drying cost.
Drying off football boots.
Drying swimming towels and cozzies.

Well, that's what mine gets used for (and we call it a "hot press" on account of DH being Irish).

Now I've bought a house with an airing cupboard, I don't think I could ever live anywhere without one ever again... Where would towels, bedding, spare bedding and all the quilts and duvets go?!

What hellymelly said. I'm missing one in my current flat and don't have a tumble dryer. Now usually put touch dry things on the radiators for a bit to make sure they are thoroughly dry before putting away but an airing cupboard is much better.

their main purpose is to contain the hot water cylinder (if you have one).

fuel costs being what they are, the cylinder and its pipes should be very well insulated (two red jackets on top of foam is not too much) so the cupboard should not be as hot as it used to be before people understood how to save money with insulation. It will also keep the water hot for 24 hours (unless you use it).

here's one with a great subsidy