Heated clothes dryer

Rosiebee

We've been using a dehumidifier to help dry clothes but DH has been looking at heated clothes dryers to speed up during especially in the winter months. I'm looking at some on Lakeland but they do get mixed reviews. They're cheap to run but not to buy. Don't want to end up with a white elephant. Anyone any experiences with them? Thanks

I personally use a drying drum, it's very fast and not that expensive.

We are lucky to live in one of the driest counties so I hang all washing outside. If it’s damp and foggy I get it in and use tumble dryer for towels and sheets. Clothes go on radiator racks on landing and the rest go on a telescopic gadget where clothes go on hangers and therefore hardly crease.

We have a Drysoon - bought it online from Lakeland some years ago and it is brilliant for clothes that can't be tumble dried.
We always have an extractor fan running when it is in use though.

Ziplock I agree. We owned a house that we rented out and had constant complaints from the tenants about “damp” and “mould”. We installed an expensive extractor at great expense.

After a few years we moved into the house ourselves and have never had a problem, because we open windows a crack throughout the house in the mornings once the heating goes off. When the word from OH goes out “That’s enough fresh air” they are closed again. And no it doesn’t make the house cold.

Where does the moisture go? Probably the same place as moisture from pans boiling on the hob, moisture from your shower or bath, moisture from your breath, and so on. If you have good ventilation, then I don’t think you need to worry. I’ve had my heated airer for 8 years now, and had no problems with damp whatsoever from using it.

LeslieL

So where does the water go when you use a heated drier? Surely into the house atmosphere at some point, and that won’t do the house any good.
At least with a dehumidifier you empty the water down the drain. And it’s amazing how much water they suck out of the air.

I save Silica Gel packs from purchases (the small ones) and put them on the windowsill. Or a saucer of salt absorbs the moisture, replace as needed.

Thanks, charley 😀. It does!

Doodledog hello, the dehumidifier is beside the airer and clothes. They live in Scotland, so not many dry sunny days in winter! She places the airer and the dehumidifier on the landing, and there are is no window close by, so a dehumidifier is necessary. But the clothes dry quicker too.
I hope this helps.

I just have a bog-standard clothes airer in the downstairs bathroom. Luckily it has a big window and gets lots of sun, as well as a radiator that keeps the room pretty warm.

So far this winter I have hung clothes out to dry outside and 'finish' them off indoors to get the damp out.

I don't possess a tumble dryer.

When you say your daughter uses a dehumidifier with the airer, charley68, does she put it inside the cover, or just out in the room?

I have never felt the need for a dehumidifier, but if it improves efficiency, maybe I should think about it.

My son had one when he lived in a basement flat, and it did make a difference, but the flat was a bit damp and airless.

I have a Lakeland one I've had for some years, some of the more modern ones seem to be a bit more adaptable for different spaces. I do have a tumble dryer that I mainly use for bedding/towels, or if I need something drying quickly for whatever reason.When you empty the water you realise how much water would have gone into the air. I also have a dehumidifier that even when I don't need washing drying, it's surprising how much water it removes from the air and how much warmer it makes the room it's in, much cheaper than heating it. I used the water for plants or also for flushing the loo this saving on the water bill. I do have a fan in my bathroom but it is a bit of a weak and weedy one, a combo of that and the dehumidifier keeps things dry in winter and in summer lots of fresh air
Is German air in general dryer than air over here, I like to let fresh dry air in to keep the house nice and fresh, but I don't like having lots of damp air coming in, I think that just with the doors opening and shutting throughout the day enough comes in, until we have another day with drier air, along with extractor fans.
So I'm pleased with my Lakeland airer, one of my children has a cheap flat one from b and m I think or suchlike, it works well but takes much less washing, might be ok for one person but it's a bit inadequate for them and partner to be honest.

I use the Lakeland clothes dryer/airer when I cannot dry my washing outside. I have had mine for 11 years or so, perhaps more? I place a large bed sheet over everything, and that helps with any condensation; if rain has stopped I will have the window open a little.
My daughter has one too along with the cover that is designed for it. She also uses a dehumidifier when doing this, and it works wonderfully and very quickly.
My son and his family have a similar arrangement to my daughter.

Tell that to me too!
I won’t understand how they can do it in winter. Fine in summer, but I can’t bring myself to do it now when it’s sunny and 3°.
I envision my precious central heating wafting out.

I do open the bathroom window for a while after we’ve all showered, or the kitchen window after cooking, but the door is firmly closed.

Evidently it’s written into the contract that you must do Stoßlüften, for some leased properties over there.

Tell that to my husband

He hates having any window open even a crack when the heating is on. There is a war of attrition in our house, with me opening windows to air rooms and him going round after me closing them, or closing the door with the open window so places like landings remain unaired.

Condensation is a problem, but less in Germany, or so I am assured by my German sister-in-law.
She tells me

To help with condensation, airing the room in Germany. or “Stoßlüften” is the way to do it.
Walking around a German cityor town in the dark, freezing depths of winter, you may be surprised to see a house or flat with the window wide open. Stoßlüften, the act of leaving a window wide open for at least five minutes to replace the air in the room with fresh air.^
Or even

Querlüften

Querlüft is to open all of the windows of a house or office for at least five minutes to allow air to flow freely and replace the “stuffy” air or condensation with fresh air several times a day and always after a shower, a bath or other steam causing activities.

Since moving into a bungalow humidity has been a constant battle. Someone told me bungalows are renowned for the problem. Does anyone else in a bungalow suffer from high humidity?
I use a dehumidifier and also have a tumble drier in the garage so do try not to keep wet clothes around. Don’t have the space for a heated rack.

Casdon

The water evaporates into the air, the same as it does when you have a bath or shower, wash up, wash your floors etc., and as long as you have a warm house, and ventilate it, there’s no issue.

I tend to put things on the airer that have come out of the spin dryer, not soaking wet, dripping items. I use the cover, as it keeps the heat in, but have had no issues with condensation.

I've got a pulley clothes rack and a dehumidifier.
It keeps the room dry as the water goes into its tank, and it also takes the chill off the room. It's cheaper to run than a tumble drier.
I've had it for over 30 years and it works as well as ever.

My DS has a heated clothes dryer his first one got damaged when they were moving into their new home, so replaced it with one from Lidl and is really pleased with it. Their 1st one was from Lakeland, he said the Lidl one is just as good. We have a tumble dryer and a dehumidifier for clothes that can’t go in the dryer.

The water evaporates into the air, the same as it does when you have a bath or shower, wash up, wash your floors etc., and as long as you have a warm house, and ventilate it, there’s no issue.

I manage without a tumble dryer or a heated dryer. I put my dryer in front of the radiator in the utility room, get a double sheet, tuck it down the back of the radiator and over the dryer. Hot air it directed over the clothes to dry them. Cheap and it works!

cc

LeslieL

So where does the water go when you use a heated drier? Surely into the house atmosphere at some point, and that won’t do the house any good.
At least with a dehumidifier you empty the water down the drain. And it’s amazing how much water they suck out of the air.

Yes, this is how I feel, it has to go somewhere.

That’s why I have a dehumidifier next to mine.

My Lakeland 'DrySoon' was a really good buy - I thought long and hard before buying it, as in taking about ten years to pay for itself against the costs of using the tumble dryer. However, the great bonus is that you can dry delicate jumpers, lingerie - items that can't be tumble dried. For that alone it is worth having. Towels are put onto the DrySoon at night, when electricity is cheaper, and they are almost dry in the morning. Ten minutes in the tumble dryer and they are perfect.

Have had a Lakeland 3 tier drier for 6 years, use it overnight on cheap electric. I love it! Where does the water go same place as if you have a standard clothes airer and you can’t dry it outside so it needs drying indoors.

LeslieL

So where does the water go when you use a heated drier? Surely into the house atmosphere at some point, and that won’t do the house any good.
At least with a dehumidifier you empty the water down the drain. And it’s amazing how much water they suck out of the air.

Yes, this is how I feel, it has to go somewhere.