Sheilamaid/ceiling airer

[Trufflepuffpuff]

Our dryer has packed up and instead of replacing it I'm thinking of getting a Sheila/Pulleymaid ceiling airer to fit above the stairs up to our loft.

Does anyone have one of these and have any advice? I'm somewhat paranoid about it being too heavy for the ceiling - I spoke to a handyman who said it's just a case of fitting it into the beams.

Any tips welcome before I order! I'm thinking of going for the larger version with six bars.

I love an airer. I miss my old one!

My only advice is make sure you get a waxed cotton/jute cord, not an unwaxed rope (will just snap) or a nylon one (burn your hand).

I miss my old one too. It had 9 pieces of wood from memory which was ideal.

Make sure you have the height to walk underneath when clothes are hanging!

I have one and love it but have very high ceilings so no issue with height. Definitely no issue with weight if fixed into the joists as I hang huge amounts on it as I hang all the clothes on coat hangers on it. I have mine by washing machine/ironing board - is it convenient enroute to loft?

We have a 4 bar airer over the bath. Absolutely wonderful - I wouldn’t be without it.

I'm not sure having an airer above your stairs would be a good idea, surely all that escaping water vapour surely needs to be in a highly ventilated space? I'm not a fan of hanging damp washing on radiators or around the house, there are literally litres of water trapped in wet washing that could your house damp. In addition having an airer above the stairs draped with washing isn't a great look.

We had a wooden one. It was really heavy with a lot of cast iron and we needed a lot of strong screws to secure it. It was hell heavy to pull it and I kept getting the clothes over my head as I was hanging them. I was also very careful not to overload it. I loved the way it looked but it wasn't very practical.

Totally disagree with PP. Love mine and would always have one, if we move. So practical (& environmentally sound).

We have one and have every high ceilings. It is great in winter for drying things that can’t go in the tumble dryer. I suspect that it is very bad for your house to have damp washing hanging around though!

We have one, and no tumble dryer. And run a holiday cottage, so it's very well used! Our one is over the aga in our kitchen with a vaulted ceiling with veluxes which we leave slightly ajar all year to allow the water vapour to escape. Like others have mentioned, I'd be concerned if there wasn't ventilation. The weight is not an issue, as long as it is screwed into a joist. The pulley cord eventually will fray, but you can buy a replacement one easily. We love ours! Washing put out at 8 pm is dry by morning.

I was bought one as a birthday present it looks beautiful but I have no idea how to find the joist to attach it to so not put it up.

I have mine in the utility room , don't have a particularly high ceiling ( just normal ) and don't have any problems. Dh put into the joists and you can put a full load into it. Love mine .

We have one above the Aga. Excellent throughout the winter for drying things you can’t tumble.

Have one in my utility room. I only use it for things that go on hangers though then haul it up. High ceilings here. Dries very quickly even without rads on.

Brilliant thing, love mine.

When we had the utility room extension built I specified that I wanted the roof high enough for a pulley airer.
It's great. My husband sometimes complains he has to walk through my long dresses to get to the fridge but as he never does the laundry he can suck it up 😁. I do try not to have long things over the doorway though.

I am about to order one to go next to our loft hatch.
I am goign to leave the loft hatch open a touch so any damp air can go up there (old house so there is plenty of ventilation in the loft!).
They seem a great way of drying laundry without havign it draped over radiators/banisters etc.
Perhaps do an extra spin so the laundry isnt too damp when hanging it out?

Can you add an extraction unit in the ceiling above it?

They are brilliant. Make sure you do have access to it when lowered for loading/unloading and a strong point to anchor the rope. if you are worried about ventilation fit a small ceiling extractor fan with a humidistat and vent it out of the roof with a tile vent. Damp washing is only a problem in unventilated spaces, most hallways are quite draughty and heat rises towards ceilings.. It will soon become obvious if washing either dries overnight or hangs around for 3 days getting musty.

The ceiling will hold it fine, but i'd 100% still replace your dryer.

They are fine for things that can't go in the tumble dryer, but having to hang everything up is a huge downgrade, particularly over winter, & will get old really fast.

For BlodywynBludd
www.castinstyle.co.uk/product.php/285/pulley-clothes-airer
There is a good video here on how to find the joists. I am going to get a handy person to fix mine (I dont have a decent drill).

You can buy a gadget from amazon which allows you to locate joists, pipes and wires in the walls and ceiling of your house - really useful.

"Having to hang everything up is a huge downgrade "

Absolutely. Throw your machine into landfill, spend a few hundred on a new one that will both charge you money, burn energy and even directly heat the atmosphere every time you want to dry something. It will wear out and shrink your clothes as a bonus.

I'm all for a tumble dryer as a handy backup but honestly, when did we all become too precious to hang washing up? Washing dries better indoors in winter if you have central heating.

OP you might want to check if your tumble drier can be repaired by the way.

Thanks all! Some great feedback and tips. We may eventually replace the dryer but it's part of a washer dryer and the washer part still works so I'm reluctant to for now. Plus the environmental issues that PPs have raised mean that I'd prefer to use it for essential items rather than everyday. I'm not too concerned about ventilation as it's a draughty Victorian house and the ceiling in the stairs up to the loft conversion gets warm but still has a bit of air. The access May be more of an issue but unsure where else it would go. Also it should be reasonably hidden there. I think I'm convincing myself! Any brand recommendations?

it sounds like a good spot OP.
I am looking at Cast in Style, loads of info on their site as well as extras such as grippers to stop the slats slipping, double pulleys, loads of size options and even a cast iron winch!

I had a Sheila Maid and no complaints. I don't think they can go wrong really. They are just wooden slats in an iron frame. Just buy whichever you like the look of.

I've never had a tumble dryer, but I have an Aga and dry above it or on a clothes rack round it too if there is a lot of washing. A full load dries overnight.

Yes, it takes a bit longer to hang things up than shoving in tumble dryer. Is that why some people still use the tumbler in summer rather than hang them out in the garden? Seems a shame when you can have fresh smelling clothes.