Drying clothes <dull thread alert>

[Imstickingwiththisone]

We've had a drier for about 5 years now and over the duration we've reduced the amount of things we put in it due to shrinkage. Now it's just towels, bedsheets and mine and dp's underwear as I got sick of replacing the DC's underwear and socks as they all shrunk.

Our clothes seems to always smell as I don't get them out the washer quick enough, and then it sits on radiators for another 12-24 hours. I try to line dry but if I'm busy or out for a long time I don't want to run the risk of rain. As an example I put a wash on this morning, DP nipped in at lunch and could have thrown it in drier but hanging everything out is too time consuming. Next opportunity to do it is at 7-8 and the clothes already feel like they might smell once dry. If I put a load on tonight I'm hanging everything out at about 9 so more quickly than sitting in the machine all day, but kids are in bed and their radiators aren't available and its just yet another shite job to be done at the end of a tiresome day.

Dp isn't keen on those heated maidens Lakeland sell, as they're expensive and take up space. We can't afford a decent drier and I feel hesitant as our current one is such a waste, and it's not actually broke? What can I do to get out of this position where my clothes don't stink and there isn't constantly clothes all over the house looking messy. I feel like everyone else's drier is ok why isn't mine!!

Have you checked your washing machine for mold in the dispenser draw. That can give you a smell. I think you really need to use an airer not the radiators. You can get them on castors so at least you can move it around is space is tight.Have you tried not totally drying thing in the tumble dryer but using a low heat to get them partially dry. This would hopefully avoid shrinkage. It might also be worth doing an extra or higher spin. I think if anything takes more than 24 hours to dry the get smelly.

Do a maintenance wash for your machine. Clothes really shouldn't smell after a few hours.

I think you need to plan better so you can line dry. I do it throughout the year, even in winter.

Agree with PPs about cleaning your washing machine if it hasn’t been done for a while. I try and remember to do it every three months or so. put the contents of a whole bottle of distilled white vinegar into the drum and wash at 60C or 90C with an extra rinse.

I also put the wash on an extra spin as soon as it’s finished if drying inside, it definitely speeds up drying time (although does make the clothes more creased)

I know you said you didn't want one, but my dri buddi is the best thing I've bought. Had mine for 3 plus years now, chuck all the clothes on hangers and zip it up, dry within the hour! Never had any issues with mould with it unlike my tumble dryer. They are only about £60ish in argos now aswell

Have you got room for one of these old style ceiling airers? Dries quicker than a normal airer too
www.ironmongeryworld.com/vintage-clothes-airer-dryer.html

The ceiling airers are fantastic, you can get a full load on and it dries in no time.

you could stand a clothes airer in the bath when everyone not needing it.

I don't have a tumble dryer. I hang up all the clothes on coat hangers and hang from curtain poles and shower rail in the bathroom - with the windows open. Drys pretty quickly.

Op if your wash machine has a plug (as I know some are built into the wall). Buy a cheap timer plug and your problem is solved

Imstickingwiththisone what kind of detergent do you use?

I only ask because we found that with gels/pods/powders etc that unless you removed them from the machine pretty quickly they don't smell brilliant but switching to powder detergents made the world of difference. I can leave clean washing in there all day and it still smells clean and fresh when I take it out.

Also for indoor drying a dehumidifier is amazing. Pop things on the clothes horse in the same room as the dehumidifier and they'll dry really quickly with the added bonus of no extra moisture in the air to encourage damp.

I've never had a dryer. In the colder months I use a heated airer from Lakeland with the cover - it is rather cumbersome but gets clothes dry very quickly. I use a regular clothes horse in warmer months which I put out on the patio (or inside when raining). I don't like having clothes on radiators all over the house, far too messy for someone like me!

Oh and I wash at night and hang in the morning, nothing ever gets smelly.

Thanks everyone, I've found the rinse hold button on my washer I hadn't even heard of it so didn't look for it before. I've got it on a hot empty wash now, I've cleaned out the detergent drawer and I'm going back to powder. I'm going to look at fabrics more and size of loads and try to use dryer for suitable items. In the past I've just thrown a whole load in and turned the dial until everything is dry which is too long for some items! Then I blame the dryer and refuse to use it!

Will be getting better habits of hanging out in the morning and will be bringing my small airer in and seeing how much quicker it will dry in my room near the window as opposed to the radiators. If it's much better then I'll invest in a bigger and better one. I like the sound of the dehumidifier but our house is new and we've never had damp problems so far, so it's perhaps an investment for another day rather than right now.

OP there was a great thread on the AMA board a few weeks ago from someone who'd worked in the laundry detergent industry and she had loads of great advice (it was really interesting!!)

thanks private, I'll go and have a look. Definitely feeling middle aged right now

you need a proper clothes horse/airer. heat and ventilation.
the heated airers are good, but any that allows good circulation to get stuff dry quickly will do.

they do take up space, but what does your dp thinks you should do? suck socks dry?

OP I hear you. If my teenage self had known I'd be "interested" in detergent-based chats she'd have been absolutely disgusted!! But in the end, clean, nice-smelling clothes are v important to quality of life aren't they?!

It's just the heated ones blue he knows I'm not a miracle worker!

Private when I visit my mum and her laundry comes out warm, soft, wrinkle free and smells amazing I get envy mine is crunchy and smelly!!

I was just going to start a thread about this myself and came across this.
I’ve always used my tumble dryer but am trying to cut down because of shrinkage, damage and cost.
It’s been great in the good weather but am struggling a bit at the moment and getting fed up with all the wet washing hanging around in my living room (small house) and nowhere else for it to go

Best airer I have ever found size wise. £21 from B&Q. (Just don't let DH decide to put a heavy rug over it to beat the dust out 🙄)

Get a big airer and do laundry daily. Get it on to the airer first thing in the morning. It should be dry by the next morning when the next load is ready. When I can't hang laundry out I hang tops and trousers by hangers from doorways on days we're out.

I’ve got a big airer but don’t do the laundry daily, I tend to save it up and do it in one day so that’s a good idea . Thanks

My living room currently resembles a launderette and it’s mak me want to bing everything in the tumble dryer.

The dehumidifier isn’t just for if your house is damp. If you shut it in the room with your washing in an airer it will dry the washing much quicker.

Washing machines are the household item most likely to go on fire, according to a firefighter friend. I'll put mine on when I go out but never when we're sleeping.

Clothes airers drive me nuts, they make the place look so messy, but I haven't got a better alternative for winter. I dream of a really good condenser dryer ...