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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

For those that don’t own a tumble dryer...

99 replies

Justgonamless · 23/06/2021 11:45

Mine has just broke- can not afford a new one at the moment.

So how do you all keep on top of drying laundry?
We don’t have a washing line either!

Do you do a load of laundry every day?

Am I mad? Can you live without a tumble dryer?

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 23/06/2021 11:46

I’ve not had a tumble dryer for about two decades. Even when I did I didn’t use it. For me I put airers in the spare room, a d hang clothes there with a dehumidifier on.

hamstersarse · 23/06/2021 11:47

If you definitely can't get a washing line, you'll have to do with a maiden!

I don't have a tumble drier but I get intense pleasure from hanging my washing out. Dries within the hour at the moment

Notstrongandstable · 23/06/2021 11:48

I don't have one on environmental grounds. They are a waste of energy.
I wash every day, twice often. Use the washing line when I can.
We have two clothes Sierra for inside but at this time of year only use one as can hang washing out most of the time

BastardMonkfish · 23/06/2021 11:48

I've got a pulley on the ceiling of the utility room, a washing line and one of those pop up airers. In my old house though we didn't have any room so I just made do with two pop up airers. Washing line is the best though, the clothes smell so fresh when they come in.

Persipan · 23/06/2021 11:48

I have an airer - and actually I do have a second heated one that I can bring into play at cooler times if year if needed, but it's unusual that I use it. I probably do a load of laundry every two days.

itsmeagainagain · 23/06/2021 11:50

I have a Lakeland airer for it about 10 years ago still brilliant and I wouldn’t be without it. Having said that it’s permanently up as I have the room to do that. It rarely gets plugged in
www.lakeland.co.uk/21736/Dry:Soon-3-Tier-Heated-Airer
Might not be the exact model think I paid £99 love it

Crowsaregreat · 23/06/2021 11:51

We don't have one. We have a washing line thing that's like a rotary dryer but fixes to the wall as our garden is super tiny. Then we also have airers and a dehumidifier for winter. I'm hoping to invest in a heated airer for this year as I've read they're quicker and more efficient.

If you buy a couple of airers, you can always put them outside in place of a washing line.

Crowsaregreat · 23/06/2021 11:52

We're in a small terrace and do 1-2 loads a day on average so our washing needs are quite serious!

HannaHat · 23/06/2021 11:52

I use a maiden or the washing line. I haven’t had a dryer since my last one set on fire in the cellar 😐

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 23/06/2021 11:53

I've never had one, I don't have the space for one. I hang all my clothes on hangers from door frames upstairs.
Its actually really annoying but they do dry overnight like that.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 23/06/2021 11:55

We do the uniforms every day and dry them on radiators, or outside if hot. I'm not sure how we'd get them dry on hot days if we didn't have a line though.

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 23/06/2021 12:01

We don't have a dryer. however we do have two washing lines. do you have any outside space at all? if you do, put up a washing line no matter how small or get an airer to chuck outside, they need very little space.

We have radiator airers for winter when things wont dry outside - i knoooow youre not supposed to put stuff on rads but i crack open the windows and we dont have any damp issues.

Longestfewdaysupcoming · 23/06/2021 12:04

I have a pulley that goes to the ceiling (and a washer dryer but I rarely use the dryer bit)

BertieBotts · 23/06/2021 12:07

I have two tower type airers. I find these the most efficient. Clothing isn't draped over each other and gets proper air flow.

I can fit two loads of washing onto one, so with two I can dry up to 4 loads of washing at once although I rarely do - the second one gets used when I can't be arsed to put a load away first :o

My little routine is to wash twice a week. I put a load on in the morning when I first get up. (Takes a couple of mins). Sometimes I even do this the night before, on a timer. Length of cycle doesn't matter, so if I want to wash something that needs more soaking I'll try and include it in this one, or just pick an eco cycle for less water/electricity use.

There will already be two loads on the airer from the previous wash day.

When I feel ready to start the "drying routine" I pick a podcast which lasts about an hour or 2x 30ish minute ones. I take a fresh laundry basket of dirty washing to the machine, empty it onto the floor, put the wet washing in that basket, the dirty washing into the machine, wash it on a cycle which is about an hour long.

Then I go to the bedroom with my wet washing. Start my podcast. Get all (or at least half) the dry washing down and into various piles on the bed. Hang up the wet washing, and then start sorting/folding the piles properly. Put DH/my clothing away or DH's stuff into a pile for him. Pair all the socks. Put DS1's clothing into a pile for him to put away. Carry the tea towels/bedding/muslins/DS2's clothing to their respective homes and put away. By now the second wash load is done or nearly done, so I grab that and hang it up as well. If there's a few mins' gap then that's my downfall as I often get distracted - must think of a better solution for that gap! Unfortunately the 1 hour cycle is the shortest one apart from the quick wash which is only designed for a half load.

I tend to do Tues/Thurs as works for me but you can choose any days of the week you like. In winter, subsequent days won't work as 24 hours is not long enough for thick things like jeans and hoodies to dry.

RitaTheGreeter · 23/06/2021 12:08

Why don't you have a washing line? Is it because you don't have space? If so, maybe a rotary line or a retractable line would work. When it's too wet to dry outside, just use a clothes horse. We hardly ever use of tumble dryer unless the weather is terrible. I don't think I could justify using it regularly on environmental or energy cost grounds.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 23/06/2021 12:09

I’ve never had a tumble drier. I just hang things on airers inside. It’s not perfect, but it works fine. It’s easier when ds1 is away at uni as I can use his now empty bedroom as a laundry room, otherwise I just deal with them being a bit of an eyesore in the living room, and hide them when we have guests. I do try to keep on top of the laundry through the week though, as it does mean I can’t do multiple loads on the same day.

BertieBotts · 23/06/2021 12:10

I will say: I notice a lot of the heated airers are the tower type/shape. I think the heating probably does dry stuff a bit quicker but the real game changer is the shape. You can get a non-heated tower airer for £30. I don't think you necessarily need the heating bit.

Changedmyname1357 · 23/06/2021 12:11

I've never owned a tumble dryer, they're expensive and I don't like that my clothes come out feeling like someone has already worn them!

I use airers and a washing line in the summer. I have a heated Lakeland airer, like PP, which is especially useful when cooler weather means washing takes forever to dry but it's not so cold that the heating is on.

Biggest downside is the constant presence of laundry - I just tidy it all away if we have guests round!

RaspberryCoulis · 23/06/2021 12:11

Never had one.

Dry outside when it's dry, over screens in the house when it's not.

ChickenSchnitzel · 23/06/2021 12:13

Never had one. Love my Lakeland heated airer but previously have used a non heated one and a dehumidifier or put clothes on radiators (not ideal).

RubyGoat · 23/06/2021 12:18

We had a washer dryer for a while, but the drying cycle was crap & expensive. And then it broke anyway. So now we just have a washer again. Have always had a line, but it's no use in winter/wet weather. 2 maidens, next to an open door (in damp but warm weather) or just keep a couple of windows open nearby. We have one on the upstairs landing, & front & back bedroom windows open for good airflow. One downstairs by the back door, door or window open. It's fine. Jackets etc I tend to put on a coat hanger & hang on the curtain rail by the open window.

We do have a heated airer but haven't used it in years TBH. Not sure where it is! Maybe I'll dig it out for winter.

Lemonlemon88 · 23/06/2021 12:21

We use the washing line and airers with a dehumidifier when its too cold to go outside.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 23/06/2021 12:21

I've never had a tumble drier as I've never had space for a separate one. When DS was a baby and in reusable nappies, I had washer/driers but they tended to break down sooner than just a washing machine and the drying bit was never very effective.
Now I dry outside as much as possible and I've also got a smaller Lakeland heated airer which I love. I just wish I'd got the bigger size as it'll only hold one load (max) at a time. Overflow goes on an ordinary airer.
I do on average one load a day (three of us in the house) and that seems to keep us on top of things, without mountains of laundry hanging around.

massiveportion · 23/06/2021 12:22

Use a clotheshorse.

Veterinari · 23/06/2021 12:22

Washing line
Ceiling mounted clothes airer