Help me with my ceiling clothes maiden!

[millefeuille2]

I am getting a ceiling clothes maiden, pulley maid, whatever you want to call it, in the utility room. I'm very excited. However, I'm very new to this and need some guidance please. Please could someone who's got one help me out?

1. What's the ideal length? Utility is 2.2m x 1.7m. Will 1.2m be enough?

1. We've decided to go for a wooden one rather than the ubiquitous Lakeland extendable metal one (which apparently bows easily). Good choice?

1. Anything else?

Thank you in advance!

Yes, that's right , if that gives you enough drying length, brilliant. We probably have a lot more washing as we don't often tumble dry things. All the same they are great airers.

I have a 6 bar 180 cm one which easily takes a large load of washing. I imagine it would be a pain getting sheets into a shorter one, probably about 80cm width so a fair bit of folding.
I have an extra pulley on mine which halves the amount of force required to raise it up.

Does an extra pulley really make it easier to pull up?

I’ve had mine about 25 years. I wish I’d thought to varnish the rails since they have gone grey and spotty in places

The extra pulley means it needs half as much force (though you need to pull the rope twice as far).

I would get the biggest one you can.

The extra pulley really makes a difference (am a weakling!)

We've had ours for 35 years. It's in use everyday. We had to replace the metal things at the ends (that the slats slot in to) as one snapped in two, but apart from that, no other maintenance. I'd advise getting the biggest you can afford, and avoid hanging in the kitchen (you'll get cooking smells on your clothes).

We're getting the 1.5m 😊 the price difference is minimal, it's more an issue of space. I'm worried it's going to bump into shelves. But 1.5m should be just about ok, and gives us 30cm more than the next size down.

When I was a child there was one in the kitchen of our house. It was massive, width of the room.
I had fond memories of lying in bed on a Saturday morning hearing the squeak of the pulleys as mum pulled the washing up.

As you were 😳

Aww thats really sweet. I hope my daughters have similar memories when they're older ❤️ the older one (4) says I sure do a lot of laundry, so the addition of this clothes maiden will really cement this opinion in her mind!

I love ours. So handy. I use it every day. You get good at loading it up a certain way too so fit as much on as possible

Our utility room doesn’t have particularly high ceilings but I can walk underneath it as long as it’s not too big items (like bed sheets or 6ft4 DH trousers). I don’t spend a lot of time at my utility room sink though so It’s worth it for me! I’m sure I’d be annoyed if I had to duck under it several times a day. DH complains about the socktopus as he seems to walk into it all the time to get to our spare freezer.

My mum has a much bigger one much higher up and it’s amazing!

I would definitely go as long as you can and double-definitely get 6 bars not four-even if you’ve a small load, you can put a duvet cover over two slats and dry double quick (and you’ll probably find you use it for all your washing and won’t need a floor airer.) Creels /ceiling airers are fabulous.

Can I ask another question to those who have them - should I get the 10m or 15m rope if our ceiling (Edwardian house) is about 3m tall? And should I bother with rubber grippers (for securing the laths to the metal bits)?

I'm leaning towards not getting a third pulley. The shop told me it doesn't make it easier to pull, it's just to keep the rope out of your way...

The company I'm getting the airer from also sells bells. Would it be crazy to buy one to ring for when dinner is ready??

I have one at the back door for when the DC were younger and playing in the fields at the back of the house. An internal bell system would be so cool though. And far more reliable than an Amazon echo dot

Final hopeful bump to see if anyone can help me decide re pulley and rope length!

I would get the longer rope and if it's too long you can tie the extra length off. If it's too short then you're stuck with it or will need to replace.

Get the longer rope. You can cut it.

Thank you 😊 it's £5 extra but maybe that's worthwhile!

I've had my wooden Sheila Maid for about 35 years, and the four wooden slats haven't bowed at all. It was in the kitchen in my last flat and is now above the bath. I hang all types of washing on it (including on coathangers) and it dries quickly despite being in rooms with water vapour.
Pulley driers are marvellous. Effective, green, cheap and out of the way.
Mine is about 1.4m, which was the longest that would fit easily. I'd get the longest you can without it banging into anything and where you'll be able to reach the cleat easily.
Visitors often comment 'my nan had one of those' and one young visitor (early 20s) had never seen one before.

I have a six rung one , it's brilliant and used every day. Keep the room well aired and make sure you knot it firmly at the height you want it lowered to , then another knot where you pull it before you start trimming it , obvious but people don't
I have a butler's bell in my house to signal food