Electricity only rent - drying clothes

Karloh

Hi all,

I viewed an apartment yesterday and loved it, and have now put a deposit down to move in at the end of the month.

One thing that's concerning me though is that it's electricity only so I can't do my usual thing of drying clothes on radiators, and no garden so can't hang them out on the line.

How do people work with this in electricity only homes whilst keeping costs down ? There's heaters around the property though are fairly small.

I noticed the previous tenant had clothes hanging on rails near the heaters, but i imagine this takes a long time to dry them and costs an awful lot in heating being electric.

Thanks for any help & advice!

Karl

squeeks

Get a condensing dryer, they can be put anywhere you have a socket.

AlexMac

Quite surprisingly, people used to wash and dry clothes before the invention of Gas Central heating. For example, in my parents' small upper storey Council flat in the 1950's and 60's where only one room was heated... by a coal fire.
Ventilation is the key; the landlord won't thank you for damp, mouldy growth on walls, round windows or in cold corners caused by excess humidity, even if you don't mind breathing mould spores!

You'll have to lash out a tenner to buy something like this - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8505239.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:17436843153|tsid:59157|cid:199888833|lid:92279846433|nw:g|crid:67934020113|rnd:13768195548784402728|dvc:c|adp:1o3|bku:1 but it'll work if you keep some windows open whenever you're home.

Or go to the laundrette.

Now, do any grannies out there need advice on egg sucking?

libf

I'm in an electricity only flat currently. There was a washer/dyer when I moved in but it was rubbish so I never used it, and replaced it with a normal washing machine when it died.

I just put my clothes out on an airer overnight and then they're dry in the morning. In the winter I put them in front of the storage radiators to help. In the summer I sometimes put the airer on the balcony during the day if I'm confident it won't rain! I also put up shelves in the airing cupboard that I use for drying towels.

Is the place you're looking at on an Economy 7 tariff with storage heaters?

My flat was a new build when I moved in 4.5 years ago, and is Economy 7 with night heating and an immersion heater warming a hot water cylinder. I'm reasonably careful about turning things off instead of putting them on standby, try to set the washing machine to run at night on a timer, and never use my heating or heat water during the day, and my electricity bill is £30/month.

HappyMJ

Clothes will air dry in any temperature. They just need an airflow so open a window and they'll dry.

marleyboy

As above, ventilation is the key NOT heating. Clothes will dry on an airer quickly so long as there is a flow of air.

m0bov

I use a dehumidifier, put the clothes on an airer in the bathroom, put the leccy towel heater on and the humidifer and they dryer quickly.

In the summer, just open the bathroom window but dont dry the clothes in your living room or bedroom!

Red-Squirrel_2

A clothes horse next to an open window/door.

theartfullodger

Buy cheapest new from Primark & throw away when dirty...

jamei305

As a landlord of two electric only flats, I make sure both are fitted with a premium washer/dryer as I wouldn't want my tenants to have to cause damp problems by hanging wet clothes everywhere.

From what I have seen of property adverts, washer/dryers are becoming more common. Does the flat have a washing machine? Might be worth asking if it can be replaced with a washer/dryer before you move in.

Heliflyguy

As said air flow is key so fit one of these...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRxXmgUe6VI