Clothes Drying Advice please ?

As a flat dweller I have no garden and no spare space for a tumble drier. This has never been a problem! A friend rigged up a pulley system next to the window on my hallway landing, which also has high ceilings. I can rack up umpteen garments on coat hangers as well as rugs, sheets directly onto the pole. Winter and summer my laundry dries quickly, and creates a 'fresh linen' fragrance up and down the stairs!!

I've been looking at the airers too, from Lakeland!

I haven't had a drier for 20 plus years. When the adult children grew I refused to get a néw one.

Because whilst they were still at home what would happen when our backs were turned, so I wasn't paying the cost of a dtier and how they would use it

The line in summer: radiators and hanging clothes on hangers over night works/ed and it's what still do. Bedding goes over the bedroom doors and dries overnight.

Underwear goes on one of those small hanging airers you can use on the line too. In the winter you can hook the small airers over something in the house, instead of the outside line

I also read if you put the clothes on a normal clothes airer, put it in front of the radiator and throw a large sheet/quilt cover or the like over it, it traps the heat within.

The washing dries on the radiator in 20 minutes that way. I have yet to try it however I will be doing that first to see the costs of before buying one from Lakeland

My neighbour dries all her washing under the old carport janipans so i think it would have worked for you to be honest. My line is in a sheltered spot - close to the house but with no roof - and dries over (maximum) 48 hours even when very cold. I don't bring it in for light showers but do if its actually raining. My mother would be horrified that I wkll leave it out overnight! ?

Like pascal I finish it off over the bannisters or hang on costhangers overnight in doorways.
I have never had problems with damp and don't have z tumble dryer as I've never needed one.
Even with nappies and 5 children I have always managed to line dry things.

It was obvious more difficult when I was out at work full time!

Although I have a dryer possibility in my washing machine, I use it only for pillows. I do this, and it works, very very well.
My washer has a 1400 spin, I suggest this speed as a minimum more if you can.
Empty the machine, get an ordinary non heated but biggest for space you have clothes horse, or air dryer. Important it be fairly tall to accommodate long and drapy things euch as sheets and blankets etc.
Each item must be thoroughly shaken and flicked back into shape. Hang all tops on hangers, hang these on clothes dryer. Start with small stuff on the bottom, give em all a good shake and flick, pull into shape drape, not peg, on bars. Work your way up. When all smallish is done, hang sheets over the top. They dry completely in about 2 days. Relatively crease free. Fold and put away. For trousers I hang these on trouser hangers. Works for me, costs nothing. And no I don't iron a thing but I could I ago e hubby's shirts still need s going over.

Been thinking perhaps I wash my clothes too often. Of course pants must be washed after each wearing but I’m having an experiment with other clothes and I’m going to wash them less frequently. This will reduce the time of my washing machine and the amount of water used. I have found a cycle on my machine that washes for 15 mins and most of my clothes only need this ‘Sapple’ I remember my granny saying she was going to sapple some clothes, meaning a quick wash. Of course she only washed by hand.

I’d heard that too from my daughter. Her friend has a heated dryer. I use our conservatory in the summer if I can’t hang out but it’s very cold in the winter. I’m thinking of investing in one.

I usually rely heavily on my tumble dryer in winter - and sometimes in summer). But I have an old fashioned wooden clothes horse which I found on eBay. I shall use it in my conservatory. The plants will enjoy the added humidity.

I also found that its more cost effective to take them to the laundrette to dry in their dryers if you have loads to dry

I think I’d try this in wet weather, Nannan2, if we had a laundrette anywhere near us. For a very short while the service station just down the road had a massive outdoor dryer next to the entrance - it looked a bit odd and obviously didn’t take off as it was soon taken down. It would have easily fitted the two loads I do weekly (one whites) together.

I hang mine outside when I can...even in Winter. I live on a narrow boat and have the old fashioned pulley airer (minus pulley) fixed to ceiling near my multifuel burner. I used to have it fixed to a beam at my previous home. If I can't hang washing out I use it. I don't use fabric softener (cutting down on plastic) so I soften towels and clothes by rubbing the fabric. This is how it used to be done and it really does work. It loosens the threads in the same way a tumble drier does.

I had a pod but didn't like it. Clothes had to be on hangers and the air circulation wasn't evenly distributed. I have a clothes horse and will use tumble dryer sparingly.

I actually bought a heated airier from Robert dyer’s online it cost me about £30 last year and it costs me 3p an hour to use and it heats up my living room loving while drying my clothes. In the colder weather. I was looking at the Lakeland one but I thought over a £100 was a lot of money and on QVC ppl weren’t given it good feedback at the time. But mine is brilliant and over £60 quid cheaper lol

I would be interested in how people dry their towels, without being hard, I use the tumbler for this at moment but it’s costly.

I've seen people hang duvet covers and sheets over the doors. I'd suggest making sure they've been dusted first though.

My towels are never hard but then my granny taught me to drop a bit of white vinegar keeps them nice and fluffy and no conditioner lol

Leavesden When dry from the wash line or drying indoors pop into the drier and run on cool to soften up.

I typed my message then realised there were others with same drying method, clothes drier in spare and takes only overnight to dry.

I found that my Meaco dehumidifier dries my washing quicker than heat. It pulls the moisture out, I purchased the ECO model and it doesn’t light up the ‘orange’ light on the smart meter. I had the dehumidifier because we moved near the sea and naturally there is more moisture in the air, by chance I left it on in a room along with the airer and voila- dry washing. I did turn it and check the tank more often as it fills quicker. I think it kinder to the fabrics too.

I have two lines in the utility room, which is also where the boiler is.I put everything on hangers, pegging the underwear.
Clothes brought in from outside, that are not quite dry, will dry overnight.
In the winter, wet stuff gets the dehumidifier treatment for an hour or so first, then just left overnight. Works well.

I only ever use my airer above the stairs though having a 1400 spin is a great help. I prefer to dry outside and plan washing to coincide with dry days with anything below 90% humidity. I very seldom have to bring anything in to finish on the airer at the end of the day. Washing smells so nice when dried outside.

An interesting read, some are very fortunate to have gardens with greenhouses, garages and utility rooms!

LovelyLady
I’ve been doing that for a long time. It’s easier on your clothes as well.
When I first started only using the 15 min wash I was concerned about my whites as I’m very fussy: but no, there was no difference.

I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on having one to run in the room I work from during the day drying washing and keeping me warm so I don’t need to have the heating on? do you think it would help warm a room too?

My daughter has had a Lakeland heated airer since she had her first child eight years ago and it has been a godsend. It’s very economical to run and she wouldn’t be without it.

if it is a nice day will empty washing basket. Also use heated radiator in bathroom.

Many years ago when we were five and no problems with money, washing got dried in the tumble dryer and clothes on the balcony. Nowadays, one of the bedrooms is use to dry the washing but I am by myself. Before the bathroom was redecorated I had a line high over the bath. I cannot bring myself to hang things out on the balcony because in the last 10 years I seem to have been invaded by brown furry eight-legged …