drying clothes

suelizab

ikea have airers that fix to the wall or over windows. they lay flat when not in use. I would be tempted to sleep the children in 1 bedroom for the winter and use the other for drying washing.

anguk

I second the idea of getting a spin dryer, they get so much more water out of clothes than the spin on a washing machine. have a look on Ebay to see if there are any local to you. Even if you do end up buying a tumbler a spin dryer will cut down on the time things take to dry in the tumbler so will save on your electric.

Or what about a Rotaire Dryline? It's a special cover that goes over an outside rotary airer and apparently clothes will still get dry outside even when it's raining.
http://www.rotaire.com/

Firefly

Sounds to me that the dehumidifier would sort out a lot of problems and help towards the mould/asthma issue. Once you've seen how much moisture on of those small machines can suck in per night you'll understand why there's mould on the walls. The bleach in the mould remover won't help the asthma either.

Could you do a freecycle/freegle request for a dehumidifier or ask the white goods recycling? Where abouts in the country are you?

Alternatively it's worth saving up for one.

patchwork_cat

I presume that since you have been to the Homeless unit you have had all the advice about housing association properties in your area. If not then with your overcrowding you might have enough points to get some HA property. Approach them too if you haven't. I would have thought that homeless unit has already looked into this for you, but worth another go, particularly if the twins have been born since you saw them - also do the council know you have twins?

As has already been said the mould will be affecting your daughters asthma as will the overcrowding, again worth telling the council and housing associations as it may give you more points.

As for rent for private tenancies again worth looking at housing benefits and you can get bond assurers who will pay bonds for you (presumably this is similar to existing bond) seriously look into this. My knowledge of housing is a bit out of date as I worked in housing more than 10 years ago, but did you lose your homeless priority by moving into the flat you are in? If so then shame on your homeless unit as it is not suiting your needs.

Try Gumtree, sun local and viva street for a tumble drier. Where do you live, maybe an MSE's can help?

vodooelephant

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

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

This is where the coucnil said we had to kive and they would give us housing allowance although this is at least 50% less than they said... hence alot of our money problems - and we can tafford to move as we have no deposit here and place want at least 1 month rent+deposit some want 2 month rent..

Were totally stuck

All teh council say to me (on the phone only) is that my 'situation' would improve if DH no longer lived with us.....

They would cover ALL RENT AND COUNCIL TAX.... surly cant be right that to be able to affoed to live in teh place they put us - I would have to split up with hubby?

iamana1ias

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

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

Not to mention the regular spraying of bleach :eek:

vodooelephant

It is a mould cleaner spary it says on it woth bleech i do wipe it after and only do it first thing in morning and leave window open until 5pm so it dosnt smell in there - the heating comes on at 530 and the room are frozen and take a couple of hours to heat up when i have closed the windows - and as the kids sleep in there they need at least tepid or the kids wont settle and sleep - they are already in fleece sleepsuits vests and sleeping bags as it gets so cold overnight but we cant afford the heating in all night.

kezlou

I don't have a tumble dryer and my heating rubbish so i face this problem all the time. My house is like yours full of condensation and mould. I have asthma too which doesnt help things. I can't afford to move either so its a case of putting up with it. Nasty i know.

Have you tried a clothes horse they great for drying clothes on and fold away too leaving you with lots more space when you don't need them. I bought mine out of wilkinsons for about £6.99. You can also buy these radiator airers when they like a mini clothes horse but they hang over the top of the heater/radiator.

In poundland their sell mini round shaped dryers, basically a round piece of plastic with pegs on , i have two of these and were amazing for drying vests, and underwear on. I also saw and indoor line in there before you basically drill it into the wall and pull the line out to the attachment on a different wall and hook it. Then when your finished with it just unhook and it goes back inside the attachment.

My friend uses her airer by hanging it out of bedroom and front room windows and saves her a fortune.I hang clothes to dry over doors two, and shirts/blouses etc place on a coat hanger, hang it over a door and it will dry in no time, no need to iron. Everyone says my house looks like a laundrette with clothes hanging everywhere.

iamana1ias

vodooelephant wrote: »

It is a mould cleaner spary it says on it woth bleech i do wipe it after and only do it first thing in morning and leave window open until 5pm so it dosnt smell in there - the heating comes on at 530 and the room are frozen and take a couple of hours to heat up when i have closed the windows - and as the kids sleep in there they need at least tepid or the kids wont settle and sleep - they are already in fleece sleepsuits vests and sleeping bags as it gets so cold overnight but we cant afford the heating in all night.

It still won't be doing them any good.

karen24_2

Hi, I really think a dehumidifier would help you. I have a tumble drier but it's actually easier for me to use a concertina airer with a dehumidifier running in dry clothes mode. The kids small bits dry really quickly so I can get all my washing dried before bedtime if I hang it on in the morning. I used to have to clean the black mould from my bedroom window but since buying the dehumidifier this has completely gone. My house used to smell damp too but this has also gone away. I haven't thought about it until reading this thread, my son hasn't needed his inhaler this winter either. Maybe it's a coincidence, but considering the amount of water I empty out everyday maybe it has helped. Hope you get more suitable accomodation soon.