drying clothes

dieselhead

Is there any way you could put your clothes outside, I don't have a very big garden but I do have a balcony I put the clothes airer on that, even a couple of hours outside make the clothes smell lovely!

Op I'm really feeling for you with the shear volume of washing you are having to do, and the electricity bill for the tumble dryer and water bill for the washing machine, I know it dosen't answer your question but I wondered if there was any way that you could cut down on the washing?

donquine

vodooelephant wrote: »

We are in small rented flat where both bedroom ( boys in one girls in other) have a damp issue which i am just managing to keep a lid on so didnt want to put washing in there and not in bathroom as no window - we sleep in living room - so i guess that leaves the kitchen.

I tried having washing in living room but the following morning me and DH were freezing as left window open there was condensation everywhere - giant patio doors and windows and we had sore throats and hubby had breathing issue he's asmatic so thats a no.

Will be having a hunt around on freecycle etc and through the local ads for a tuble dryer i guess.
xx

Your problems are in red. Condensation/damp is caused by people just breathing and as there are multiple people sleeping in each main room, you're going to struggle to dry clothes in any of those rooms. I empathise with you - we live in a small rented flat too and my OH is also asthmatic. Mould is not helpful for asthmatics, so I've spent most of this winter trying to get a handle on our condensation problem as that can lead to mould (and has previously done so).

I've found I can manage the condensation problem and dry clothes indoors, but I do have to put the heating on more than I would like and the windows do have to be opened.

Would it be possible to dry clothes in one of the bedrooms, heating it thoroughly and opening the window for a few hours in the day? Or do any of your children also have asthma?

I'm guessing there's no way to rejig the sleeping arrangements to free up the smallest room or you'd already have tried that.

HappyLottie

I have read many of these articles with interest because even though I do not have children I find it difficult to get everything dry sometimes so I dread to think how you must manage!
I have no space for a tumble drier (kitchen is tiny). When it comes to a dehumidifier do you find they are worth the cost?
Lottie x

BitterAndTwisted

Running a dehumidifier is a lot cheaper than you would think. Probably a lot less than a tumble-dryer. In this sort of weather when opening windows feels like a suicidal death-wish, I'd rent one and see how I got on with that and drying indoors. HSS is one company I can think of where you could hire one from

*Louise*

HappyLottie wrote: »

When it comes to a dehumidifier do you find they are worth the cost?
Lottie x

We had one at our first flat where there was a damp problem

It was cheaper to run than a tumble dryer, we set washing in front of it at night when we went to bed, but it all honesty, it never driedit any faster than if it had been in front of a radiator.

We paid over £100 for ours (actually I should sell it, we have moved house since) I would try one if you can get it cheaper second hand, better than forking out for the full price one.

sammyw

DO you have a re-use centre near you? Our one sells unwanted white goods at very reasonable prices, and usually gauranteed for 6 months too. You could ask your local council if there's a centre in your area.

vodooelephant

I will check for a re-use centre.


My DD had a persisant cough which i eventually took her to dr. about and have now been advised she is asmatic and is on ventalin puffer thingy.

I hate to think that has to do with me drting clothes int eh house..

I would normally put airer in garden but we have around 6-7 inchs of snow at them moment

I dont want to put damp clothes in bedroom as i have to 'do' the black mould every few days already (i use mould and mildrew sparay with bleech then make sure area is really dry and leve window wide open) both riin have HUGE old window one has a bay window the whole lenght if the room and are very draffty.

We would love to move and are on council list but i dont think we could scrape together enogh money for rent and deposit on a new place the council told us to move here when we were evicted (not our fault) as the family homeless shelter was full. they paid our deposit £900

rent for 3 bed house is around 1000+ a month

We had a wasger dryer at our first flat but my LL owns the washing machine her and although is old wont let me change it (i have offered to pay the extra)

BitterAndTwisted

vodooelephant wrote: »

My DD had a persistent cough which i eventually took her to Dr. about and have now been advised she is asthmatic and is on ventalin puffer thingy.

I hate to think that has to do with me drying clothes in the house..

I dont want to put damp clothes in bedroom as i have to 'do' the black mould every few days already (i use mould and mildrew sparay with bleech then make sure area is really dry and leve window wide open)

The black mould will almost certainly be having an effect even if it's not the cause of your child's asthma. If you're getting mould either the property isn't ventilated properly or there's insufficient heating combined with too much moisture in the air coming into contact with very cold walls.

Poor you and your poor kids.

Plus, it sounds to me like you're paying much too much rent

JBD

OP if you do manage to get a new tumble dryer you will still have to deal with the problem of condensation. Personally I found my house was much damper when I had a dryer, as the water from the clothes goes straight into the air. As it is now broken I am having to dry all my washing on airers but I am turning my heating up higher than normal and keeping the windows open a crack. That is keeping the condensation at bay. Another thing you might find useful is a spin dryer as these tend to spin at a much faster speed than an auto washing machine. My old one used to spin at 2200 [I think] so the washing does come out quite a lot drier. I got mine at a 2nd hand shop for a tenner but youmight even be able to get one for nothing. If the washing machine you have is quite old it probably won't spin as well as it should and another spin in a spin dryer would get a lot more water out.

never_enough

Hard to put in a rented property but those ceiling airers are brilliant. I can't think where you can get them from (I've moved mine with me for years) cast in style had them at one point as I bought new lathes for mine. Just checked & they still do

http://www.castinstyle.co.uk

Hadn't realised they were quite so expensive, although at least they're not using electricity. Does need to go into ceiling joists though & your LL may not be very happy.

Also, by the sound of it you need more ventilation/heat so maybe it's better to dry the clothes at the launderette. They often have a spinner to use too & you don't need to dry everything, just biggies like towels, bedding, jeans. A sock airer (one of those things already with pegs)can be used for kids small clothes & hung in the window. Shirts & t shirts on hangers hung in doorways will dry overnight.