Any tips on how to dry clothes

[GrapeDuck]

So we're getting to that time of year again when i'm struggling to dry washing. I live in a small house with not much room. I'm out the house every day between 7am-6pm so hanging them outside isnt really an option. This year compared to last I have a messy two year old who gets through clothes like there's no tomorrow.

Does anyone have any tips on how to dry clothes quicker as they are starting to smell damp and musty. Thank you.

I'd get a tumble dryer if at all possible - they make a huge difference. No time spent hanging it all up on airers, no clutter of laundry about the place and no damp issues caused by having wet washing around the place.

What about a DriBuddy? Disclaimer: I don't have one but maybe some else does and will post if they are any good. Not too privy and very compact

Do you have French or patio doors ? I tumble dry everything that can be but anything that cannot ie some t shirts , trousers etc get put on coat hangars and hung up on the curtain rail of the patio doors , it's always dry within 12-16 hrs .

Lakeland drysoon - overnight and voila!. Also a tumble drier - only present to myself in years and what a bonus.

Is there a reason your washing can't stay outside whilst you are out? I would put the bulk out early morning tbh, or do washing at weekends so most can go outside. If you do all bedding/ towels/ and thicker jumpers and jeans at least at weekend, then that would only leave underwear/ dresses/ tshirts to dry inside which should be ok on a drying rack in a room with ventilation.

We are out most the day working also. What we do is load machine at night and set on delay so it comes on at 4.30am. It's finished by 6.30am, so whoever gets up can hang it on drying rack indoors/ tumble dry or whatever. Do you have a timer on yours? Then at least it's freshly finished as you wake so you can choose to hang outside or on drying rack before you leave.

If the weather looks dry, hang outside. Even if it gets a bit cold you'll get rid of a lot of the moisture.

A heated airer is brilliant too. If you bring things in when you get home they can finish on that.

Try and do towels and stuff at the weekend.

I hang outside under shelter if I am out and it looks like rain. Then either tumble or hang indoors to finish drying. Agree it is a pain in the neck. If I don;t keep on top of it all, it all goes pear-shaped very quickly!! Also keep an eye on the forecast - I hold off doing sheets/towels until it's dry.

If a tumble dryer isn't an option, a dehumidifier is a good investment - I've fallen out with the dryer in my washer dryer and dry a lot of clothes in the kitchen, in the evening, with a dehumidifier blasting away. It has the added bonus of not making your house damp, which can be a problem with drying indoors.

A concertina type airer is also good for lots of drying space without taking up so much floor space.

I need to get onto the engineers to fix my dryer, mind. I'm struggling to keep up with it all. This morning's fog has only just lifted, so I've not been able to hang anything out, so far, today.

If its not raining, hang it outside for an hour or two after you get back from work.
When you take it off the link ne, it still deals soaking, but dries really really quickly once inside.

Buy a tumble drier
Alternatively radiator airers plus a heated airer. Leave your windows open a crack too.

Look for winter clothes for your son that dry quickly. If you only dress him in tracksuit bottoms and jersey tops then a washer with a high speed spin will leave them nearly dry. Buy him a nursery "uniform" and keep nice clothes for the weekend.

If he only wears nice wool jumpers and heavy jeans [much nicer admittedly] then you are a bit stuffed as they take ages to dry.

hanging things outside keeps them cold, so less prone to bacteria and mould multiplying and causing musty smell.

If you have no tumble drier, you can hang over the bath with the extractor fan running, and door and window shut. The fan will suck the water vapour out and prevent it diffusing through the house and causing damps. Fans are intensely cheap to run. If you fan is worn out and noisy, change it for a better quiet one with a ball bearing motor.