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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Drying laundry

39 replies

AdamRyan · 11/01/2022 11:01

I am really struggling to dry my laundry
I have a lakeland 3 tier heated airer but I think it's caused some clothes to shrink Sad
If I hang stuff on it and don't turn it on, stuff takes ages to dry and smells mildewy
I don't have another airer at the moment and I'm not sure what if anything to buy. I have a townhouse with a big high hallway ceiling so was wondering if an overhead airer would work?
Help!!

OP posts:
Original poster
AdamRyan · 11/01/2022 14:38

Bump. I know its dull Grin

OP posts:
Scarby9 · 11/01/2022 14:46

I don't have one myself, but I know people who do.
Overhead airersaregreat if you have the height, which you obviously do.
Heat rises, so you would maximise the benefit of what heat there is. But how warm is your hall? Mine is very definitely the coldest room in tbe house.

Wilma55 · 11/01/2022 14:50

I have a ceiling airer/dolly and recently bought a dehumidifier to help cut condensation.

Gazelda · 11/01/2022 15:01

I use a dehumidifier+airer during the months washing won't dry outside on the line.
But I'm getting worried about the energy price hikes.

I've heard good things about ceiling drying racks.

Cynderella · 11/01/2022 19:00

I had one of the Lakeland driers, and my daughter still uses it. I used to use in combo with ironing and radiators. Hang clothes over airer and cover with duvet cover or sheet. When damp/dry, iron what can be ironed and lay over shelves of airer. Cover again. Towels, jeans and the like - when almost dry, finish drying on radiator.

Redlorryyellowduck · 11/01/2022 19:09

Definitely a dehumidifier, it socks the water out of clothes and also helps with keeping keeping the house dry, so therefore warm.
Mine wasn't particularly expensive but I wouldn't be without it now

MrsKDB · 11/01/2022 19:18

Why aren’t you switching it on? Lie clothes flat in layers, thin to thick, then cover with the zipped cover or a sheet / duvet. I dry a load overnight like this. Put in a room with the door closed and window open a crack.

mayblossominapril · 11/01/2022 19:26

If you work from home it’s worth pegging washing on the line from 10-2 on fine days.
A spin drier is another good option if you have the storage, as they spin at 2800rpm. Twice the speed of most washers.
If you iron the clothes after they come in from the washing line and then put them on the clothes horse ( either turn it on or put it near and heat source) they should dry overnight.
Laundry is a ball ache in winter.

Jenjenn · 11/01/2022 19:37

We have a condenser dryer in the spare bedroom to cope with laundry in winter. I peg out whenever I can but winter is hopeless without a dryer. When the dryer is on it will heat the room its in too.
Wash less if you can.
Collect bedding and towels over a couple of weeks and take to laundry service. Once bedding and towels are put of the way, volume of washing is much less.

Original poster
AdamRyan · 11/01/2022 21:45

Why aren’t you switching it on? I think it shrank some things. I've been hanging stuff out on it and using a cover

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 11/01/2022 21:57

We have a big overhead airer in the bathroom where there is lots of ventilation. I can fit 2 loads of washing on it and they dry in about 24 hours.

HPD76 · 11/01/2022 21:59

I put all the wet tops on hangers and hang them on a sturdy curtain pole above a chunky radiator, even when it’s not on the tops are usually dry within 12 hours, but I usually air them there for 24 hours and then put them away. If it’s nice I will open the window for an hour to let some fresh air in too.

I have underfloor heating in the bathroom, so the airer with trousers and underwear goes in there overnight and that usually does the trick,

I hate leaving damp clothes to fester, so I’m very on it with drying things quickly, even though I am fairly tight with the heating.

TheElvesHaveGoneTooFar · 11/01/2022 22:03

Can you place the airer in front of a radiator and then cover the whole thing with a sheet or duvet cover, making sure to tuck it behind the radiator? It creates a heated tent and dries clothes quicker. I've done this for years and not had any problems with clothes shrinking.

camelfinger · 11/01/2022 22:07

Does the washing machine definitely go on the fastest spin? Mine goes up to 1400 but only on the cottons 60 setting. So I turn the spin off, but then go and do it to spin only on the cottons programme.

LeQuern · 11/01/2022 22:08

I’ve used a Lakeland Heated Drier for years and no clothes have been shrunk.

I put the clothes on (hung over the bars, with socks and underwear on a soctopus). Cover with an old sheet, put the dehumidifier on and open a window. Got a load dry in 4 hours today.

DSGR · 11/01/2022 22:09

Can you fit a dryer anywhere?
I used to dry indoors and it just caused condensation and mould, even with the window ajar.

Woulditbeworth · 11/01/2022 22:16

We had this issue a few years ago, clothes taking so long to dry that I was running out of space and they often ended up smelling damp. The following helped…

  • I would second a dehumidifier, I am always surprised by the amount of water it collects. This has made the biggest difference.
  • I would also suggest an additional spin on your washing machine (I have to do this on a middle speed as I can’t wash it on max spin as it shakes the kitchen too much).
  • I hang as much on hangers as possible and place these on the curtain rails in from of back windows, esp bathroom windows which is often open to air the room.
PinkDaydreams · 12/01/2022 09:09

Just a warning on the washing machine spin. I was spinning everything on 1400 and noticed holes in my clothes. After doing some googling, it came up on a Mumsnet thread that the spin could be causing the holes. Dropped the spin down to 1000 and no more holes! Only towels and bedding get a 1400. Sadly had to throw away alot of clothes due to the damage(luckily DH hasn't realised a couple of his expensive tops have been binned!)

Bloodybridget · 13/01/2022 03:27

We have a new regime this winter of drying laundry on two airers (so well spaced out) on the top floor of the house, one in the bathroom, which is quite a warm room (we usually open the window for the first few hours), the other on the landing. All dry by next morning at the latest. But there are only two of us so we don't need to do multiple loads a day.

ouch321 · 13/01/2022 03:41

When the programme (inc spin cycle) has finished I always put it for a spin only cycle, sometimes in cold weather like this I do 2 additional spin cycles so it will have been spun 3 times. It really makes a difference.

Then I put the clothes on a 4 tier airer with my dehumidifier next to it on laundry mode. Live in a flat with no garden and been drying laundry like this for years. Works well. Plus the dehumidifier warns up the flat hence can get away with less or lower use of central heating.

sillyrubberduck · 13/01/2022 07:10

I take mine to local laundrette to dry in winter. £3 for two loads and takes 10 min but my house is prone to condensation.

whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy · 13/01/2022 07:15

How could the airer cause your clothes to shrink? Is that a thing? Is it the same for people who dry things on radiators?

Nothing has shrunk on my airer for the best part of 10 years if that is any help

crazyjinglist · 13/01/2022 07:50

Seems extremely unlikely a heated airer would shrink your clothes! I use a tumble dryer but I use the Lakeland airer for the things that can't be tumble dried. Nothing has ever shrunk.

LemonMuffins · 13/01/2022 07:56

We surrendered and bought a dryer. It's completely in the way but a god send.

Original poster
AdamRyan · 13/01/2022 09:05

@crazyjinglist

Seems extremely unlikely a heated airer would shrink your clothes! I use a tumble dryer but I use the Lakeland airer for the things that can't be tumble dried. Nothing has ever shrunk.
I'm actually wondering if I did something stupid and put a dishwasher capsule in my machine Blush Basically a couple of more delicate items shrank even though it was a cool machine wash and I can't figure out why - was looking for sources of heat. I suck at laundry.
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