Please talk to me about airing cupboards...

[TheRedRabbit]

We have just bought a house with an airing cupboard in it. Also has the hot water tank in it. Other than storing sheets/towels in it, what can I use it for?

Can I put clothes in that are still slightly damp and will they dry? I thought if you put folded clothes in then they wouldn't be able to dry, but have heard someone mention this.

Any other uses?

piglet - mines a mustard colour - what does that mean?

yellow insulation, rather old and thin, not up to current standards. Get yourself a red insulating cylinder jacket, and wrap it up warm. Sometimes they are subsidised down to about £8, have a look on websites of Wilkinsons, Homebase, B&Q, Wickes. Let the immersion heater cap and cable poke out. While you're at it, buy a pack of stiff foam pipe insulation, probably 22mm, and some fixing tape to suit. You cut it with a breadkife. Aldi will have 5metre packs for £2.69 on Thursday which is very cheap. Put it on the hot pipes especially between the boiler and the cylinder, and that come out of the top of the cylinder.

I have two red jackets as well as factory fitted foam on my cylinder, and "water regs" pipe insulation which is very thick, but I'm barmy.

Good insulation will keep the water hot for longer and save your boiler coming on to top it up so often. This will save you money especially in summer when the boiler should hardly be used.

cheapest I found if you have a branch near you, order and collect.

About £13-£14 in the other shops.

Thanks very much everyone. I am now airing-cupboard informed :)