How do you air your clothes with no airing cupboard?

valk_scot

If you want clothes to be warm before wearing them then pop them over the radiator for ten minutes. Dry clothes don't need "finished off"...they're either still damp, thus need more drying time, or they're dry and it doesn't matter if they're cold, they're still dry and perfectly fine to wear.

I think as another poster has suggested, that you're worrying about doing something that isn't actually necessary, just because your mother had a habit of doing it. Which is okay because after all we do pick up a lot of housework habits from our mothers, but sometimes it helps to step back and ask exactly why sometimes? I mean, my mother used to place the newspapers under the sofa cushions because my father didn't like reading newspapers with folds across the middle but I've never bothered to mention this one to my other half, lol....

Think it might help to work out a better laundry routine as you say, one that suits your needs rather than your mother's. Either have a couple of days per week when you do multiple loads then aim to get it dried and cleared in 24 hours, or do one load per day, have a clothes airer permenantly somewhere and make a point of moving things along every day without fail. And try to cut down on laundry overall...babies only need to be changed if their clothes get wet, pooey or sicky, for example. There's nothing wrong with sticking the same babygro back on them two or three nights running unless it's soiled. And unless you're doing manual labour or are a particularly messy eater adults don't need a total change of clean everything every day either. Towels will last a few days if hung up after use, bedding only needs changed once a week unless the baby soils it. Etc.

Bronnie

valk_scot wrote: »

If you want clothes to be warm before wearing them then pop them over the radiator for ten minutes. Dry clothes don't need "finished off"...they're either still damp, thus need more drying time, or they're dry and it doesn't matter if they're cold, they're still dry and perfectly fine to wear.

I think as another poster has suggested, that you're worrying about doing something that isn't actually necessary, just because your mother had a habit of doing it. Which is okay because after all we do pick up a lot of housework habits from our mothers, but sometimes it helps to step back and ask exactly why sometimes? I mean, my mother used to place the newspapers under the sofa cushions because my father didn't like reading newspapers with folds across the middle but I've never bothered to mention this one to my other half, lol....


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I do think in our climate especially in autumn and winter, clothes that have been line-dried definitely do need to be aired before wearing. They may feel dry but the moisture in the atmosphere outside means they are not dry enough for wearing, putting back on beds etc without airing at at least room temp for a while. As you say though, a few mins on the rads will suffice.

HaHa! Newspapers under the chair seat cushions. I'd forgotten about that! But my mum did that when I was a child to tidy them up, because we didn't have a coffee table or magazine rack in the living room!!

uropachild

My mum is always talking about airing clothes. Whenever she helps me bring the washing in or is folding my laundry (bless her, yey!) she says that stuff needs airing.

Now i asked her how to do that and she said to tumble dry for a bit or iron instead.

I don't get it. :think:

If something's dried out on the line all day and it's got that "is it cold or is it a bit damp still" feeling and you just put it in your drawer will it hurt anything? I've never fussed about airing stuff before and not noticed any bad odours or anything as a result.

vl2588

I think clothes smell the best by being aired literally, i.e. hung outside to dry. If they are definitely dry that is. If they are definitely damp not cold then it might be worth ironing or something. Can't see the point if not. I press them to my face to see as it's more sensitive than my hands!!

Sambucus_Nigra

uropachild wrote: »

My mum is always talking about airing clothes. Whenever she helps me bring the washing in or is folding my laundry (bless her, yey!) she says that stuff needs airing.

Now i asked her how to do that and she said to tumble dry for a bit or iron instead.

I don't get it. :think:

If something's dried out on the line all day and it's got that "is it cold or is it a bit damp still" feeling and you just put it in your drawer will it hurt anything? I've never fussed about airing stuff before and not noticed any bad odours or anything as a result.

I have to air my clothes - but not by tumble drying or ironing, I just pop them on the rads [on or off] or in the [ahem] airing cupboard overnight. Just for the last moisture to be removed.....I am of the opinion that if it goes in drawers damp then it will smell whiffy after a while.

Sagz_2

If the clothes are bone dry then no, they don't need airing. If they are still a tiny bit damp then I hang them indoors (in doorways where the air flow is) overnight and then put them away in the morning.

As long as your clothes are not musty smelling when you take themfrom the wardrobe or draws then they were dry when you put them away, so no need to air.

sarahsarah

My mum always does this too! She gets washing off the line at say 2pm and then tumbles it for 10 mins or puts it all on the radiators.. I dont see the point myself, i get my washing in as late as possible before it gets dark and fold it, seems alright to me as long as it isnt actually still damp..

Molly41

I have an airing cupboard and use it religiously. In fact nothing goes back into my our drawers and cupboards until its spent a few days in there. Basically its the space around the hot water tank with lots of wooden slat shelving. I love my airing cupboard ! Always loved to get the babygro's out of there and them being lovely and warm for my babies (now 20, 18, 16 and 14) x

[Deleted User]

After I have ironed my clothes I always pop them on the airer overnight before putting away as I suppose to make sure that they are completly dried and errr...aired just something I have always done as my Mum did before me.I suppose in these days of central heating airing isn't necessary but I love the fresh clean smell in the kitchen in the morning when I come down stairs.Cheaper than any chemical aerosol.:):)

mardatha

And it gives time for any wee bugs hiding in it to crawl out !! :eek: