cheapest way to dry clothes

[minibreadstick]

Condenser (which is c10yo), dehumidifier, or drying pod thingy? Or some other way? Im talking about for the winter, planning ahead for what to do.

I put things on the line, on an airer or over the banisters. Only tumble dry towels.

In winter, on two airers , a ballet barre and on radiators , but put bed sheets and towels in the dryer which is in the garage.

Thanks, I do use an airer for most things. But I hate hanging up smalls! That's mostly what I use the condenser for, but I want to cut our energy bill.

I just dry everything on airers in the winter. I dry towels till they are nearly dry then tumble them for 15-20 mins max. Really try not to use the tumble drier, although its useful to have just in case.

I have some of those airers that hook over the radiator, I use them in our bedroom for underwear.

I even use then when the heating isn't on. I don't like to put underwear on the washing line, and I hand wash it in the bathroom so it's easy to just stick it onto the airers.

For all other clothes I use the washing line when I can and I have big fold up airers in the conservatory.

I never use a tumble dryer.

airer or outside - we don't have a tumble drier

don't have radiators either so position clothes around heaters overnight

you can dry stuff outside in the winter too. If it isn't raining and is windy, they will dry.

I don't have a tumble drier. I have a clothes airer and also airers that go over radiators. In the winter the heating dries the clothes and in the warmer months the warmer air dries them. There are some in-between bits where stuff doesn't dry so quickly. I have an outdoor washing line too.

I also have one of those mini things with pegs on it to attach small items to, the kind that are about £1. I hook it on the side of the main airer and it's easier to sort out the small stuff.

I too use a clothes airer, airers on the radiator and line dry when possible.

This has been recommended and is cheaper than tumble drying Heated Airer

Combo of airers - have two large and one small. Also have over radiator dryer things. I also regularly put wet clothes on a hanger and stick it over a door or something. My house is really warm so tends to be dry quite quickly. Have also just bought the clippy things for socks and bits too.

If you want to cause condensation, damp and mould in your home, the best way to do it is to drape wet washing around or over radiators.

Surely it depends how well ventilated your house is? Some of my windows are permanently open a bit, even when there's snow on the ground, and all doors are wedged open.

Pigletjohn what would you recommend for avoiding condensation but also being economical? Thanks

I still dry laundry outdoors quite a lot during winter, you'd be surprised how well it dries.

Other than that, we have indoor lines in our utility room that we use if it's wet outside and I do tumble dry towels in the winter.

Agree about being able to dry a lot outside even in winter ... then finish it off on airer above kitchen fire

We have two washing lines outside so if its not raining in winter and its slightly breezy then out it goes and its usually dry by the time I bring it in. Failing that we have a large airer or just put them on the radiators, we've never had a problem with damp or condensation. We dry bed covers over the huge water tank in the airing cupboard. In summer everything is dried outside.

We havent had a drier for 2 years now after our last one conked out but we've mamaged fine without it so haven't bothered buying a new one.

Airers in winter (never had problem with damp, condensation or mould), line in summer. No tumble drier - couldn't be cheaper!

minibreadstick

if you have an extractor fan in the bathroom (which I strongly recommend to combat the other main source of condensation and mould), and it works, then the next best thing to outdoor drying or a tumbledrier, is to hang up the stuff over the bath, with the extractor fan running, and the door and window shut.

this prevents the water vapour diffusing throughout the house, because the fan will create suction, which will draw in air from the house through the gap under the door.

A typical extractor fan will run for 50 hours on 11p worth of electricity.

A modern tumbledrier uses about 30p worth of electricity per load

Piglet-thanks-that's really helpful, esp since we've just got a new bathroom downstairs with extractor, whoop whoop!

Sorry if this is a silly question but I'm fed up of gathering pants & socks & having a baby in 4 days so want the small items drier-will a tumble drier for the small bits use up the same electric as for bigger items iykwim? Still 30p odd for a load of smalls?

We have a heated airer from Lakeland which is awsome, it dries clothes in about 4-5 hours. Not sure if it is cheaper than a tumble dryer though! (We have no space for a tumble dryer!)

Stealth boast alert!

In my new utility room ( my first ever) I will be having underfloor heating and one of those old fashioned ceiling airer thingies. The roof height has been raised to accommodate this.

But I will probably still use the dryer too. I don't understand why people spend hundreds of pounds on tumble dryers and then not use them. I never think, its a lovely day I will build an open fire in the garden to cook my dinner because the oven costs 50p to run. Or I will hand wash those sheets instead of using the washing machine to save 20p. Or the vacuum uses too much electricity so I will sweep the carpets with a brush instead.

Don't get me wrong i can understand people wanting to save money. I just think it is a waste of money to have an appliance that you don't use.

I also think the dryer is worth it as it saves time, things don't need ironed which also saves time and money. I love hanging out a washing on a warmish dry day when I know it will dry. It drives me to distraction when after spending time pegging it out, it is still damp when I bring it in.

evelynj

unless you have an old-fashioned drier with just a timer, the sensor will detect when the clothes have reached a degree of dryness, and will turn the heating element off. So a small load will cost less than a large load. A full load of wet towels can cost 60p but is bigger than you think.

putting two socks in is not very economical, they work better with a mixed load. With delicates and synthetic they hold less weight than with cottons, and may run at a lower temperature. The instruction manual will say.