any tips for drying clothes without using a tumble

whiteguineapig

i go to the laundry, that way i pay for it as i do it . i wash it at home the night before and nip down in the morning to dry it. i dry on the line all summer and put away a couple of pound in a jar each week so the cost is spread

vanoonoo

I hang stuff on clothes hangers and then hang those at the windows from the curtain pole (I dont have net curtains, just the heavy ones) and let them dry in the daylight - even if it's a miserable day, generally something not too heavy like a tshirt or blouse would dry at the window in the course or a morning or afternoon or quicker if its a sunny day. added bonus is that they generally dont need ironing after this approach

helzbelz_57

ok these are my drying methods

when dry out i hang on the whirly (rotary) line. my garden is a small square so an ordinary line wouldn't give me anywhere near enough space for a full 8k load.

if it's wet outside but not cold enough to have the heating on (my house is so warm even without the heating on except on very cold days, i am very lucky) i hang clothes in the hot press on http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8500368/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/2%7C14418476%7CLaundry+and+cleaning%7C14418551/c_3/3%7Ccat_14418551%7CIndoor+airers%7C14418554.htm this airer with the dehumidifier on in the hotpress (i am also lucky with the size of my hotpress).

if the heating is on i always use the radiators.

i have a tumble drier but the element broke a few months ago and i am holding off on replacing it unless i really need it.

Justamum

Justamum wrote: »

I'm going to buy one of these on payday http://www.rotaire.com/

I might not now. I was reading a few reviews, and it appears that clothes stay damp for days and start smelling.

I was looking at our boiler room - I can probably squeeze in an airer then leave the door ajar for the air to circulate if it's raining. I'm not sure though - I just went in their to have a recce and the oil smell from the boiler might end up on the clothes. We have a lean-to attached to the back of the house, but that leaks like a sieve, so I'm not sure what to do.

cherie1122

I bought a clothes rack from argos for £8.99 and hang shirts, tops, trousers etc on it using hangers. I leave this near the radiator and the stuff dries quite quickly.

I also use a heated airer sometimes. I rarely put the laundry on our rotary line this time of year

YORKSHIRELASS

Oh having 5 and nappies sounds a nightmare! My tips would be:

Only wash what you need to wash. During the winter a lot of stuff doesnt need to be washed after one wear. I have been known to take kids stuff out of the wash basket!

Get washing outside when you can. Even on days when its not sunny you can often get washing part dried outside. Do you have room for two rotary dryers in the garden?

The more air you can get around clothes hung up to dry indoors the better. Clothes hung on hangers over the shower rail or curtain rails often dry quicker.

Try and plan bigger wash loads like sheets and bedding for when you get a dry day if you can.

I am at home a lot so can run in and out with the washing between showers but if all else fails I will use the tumbler if I have to. I rarely dry anything straight out of the washing machine though.

joolsybools

I bought an extra load of radiator airers to hang over the tops of my doors, then hang stuff on coat-hangers on them. You can get 2 airers over the door (one each side) then fit 2 items on each airer. As a previous poster said, this eliminates the need for a lot of ironing too, especially if you hang stuff up as soon as the machine has finished it's cycle.

SpikyHedgehog

Make sure you're using fast spin on anything that can take it (and nappies certainly can) - I'm starting to add an extra fast spin at the end of the washing cycle. My mum has a spin dryer, but she uses it and I haven't really got room for it (unless I do get rid of the tumble dryer...) so I only get to borrow it if the washing machine is out of commission. But spinning stuff really makes a difference to how wet it is to start with.

MaddyWaddy

I use an airer (well 2) whether the heating is on or off ... Can't leave it outside as I am at work and British weather isn't predictable. I leave it in the sunniest room over night / 24 hours and it dries easily enough.

Does get more creases though but my gas and electric bills are lower!:T

luxor4t

I used to dry DS1's terry nappies overnight by the radiator (heating was off from 9pm till 7am) and finish them off in the airing cupboard.
I used the extra spin too.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/mounted-washing-clothes-laundry-retractable/dp/B009LT1STS/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1350335696&sr=8-11
We had a set of lines over the bath for underwear etc. Like this