Cheapest way to dry laundry?

Rolandtheroadie

There's 6 of us, the tumble drier and washing machine are on twice a day at this time of year.
Necessary evil, least amount of hassle.

HappyMJ

Rolandtheroadie wrote: »

There's 6 of us, the tumble drier and washing machine are on twice a day at this time of year.
Necessary evil, least amount of hassle.

Get a bigger machine?

There's two of us so by that maths our machine should have a full load every 1.5 days. We have a full load around once a week. We put a load on every 5 days only really as we are getting short on socks and underwear and need them to be clean again in a day or two.

YORKSHIRELASS

VoucherMan wrote: »

I just put mine on a maiden, in the unheated spare room. 24 hours later it's dry, cost 0p.

I see comments like this and it always surprises me because my washing takes far longer than 24 hours to dry on an unheated airer. Not sure if there is a reason for this?

If I had the space I would use an unheated airer and dehumidifier but we dont have a spare room.

Always gets a debate going but I am not a believer in washing everything after just one wear either, with the exception of undies and socks of course.

sillygoose

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

I see comments like this and it always surprises me because my washing takes far longer than 24 hours to dry on an unheated airer. Not sure if there is a reason for this?

If I had the space I would use an unheated airer and dehumidifier but we dont have a spare room.

Always gets a debate going but I am not a believer in washing everything after just one wear either, with the exception of undies and socks of course.

Perhaps down to the initial spin dry. Depending on the machines ability, the level of loading put in and so on... dryer it comes out the quicker it air dries.

Norman_Castle

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

I see comments like this and it always surprises me because my washing takes far longer than 24 hours to dry on an unheated airer. Not sure if there is a reason for this?

I've recently started using an electric fan to speed up drying. Much quicker than not using one. Mine uses about 30 watts which from memory costs a penny for about 2 1/2 hours. Leaving a window also obviously helps which is easier to do for a shorter amount of time.

SailorSam

I leave everything on a rack in the bathroom.
The central heating maybe on, maybe it's not.

Biggles

SailorSam wrote: »

I leave everything on a rack in the bathroom.

That's what I do. It's dry in 24 hours, which is enough for me.

paddyrg

The most effective thing is airflow, even on a wet day, airflow from outside is likely drier air than in an occupied room, so get a fan swirling air (fans are cheap to run, too).

GwylimT

Our washing always smells horrible if we air it in the flat, we use a tumbler or the washing line depending on the weather. We can't use the washing line during hayfever season.

YORKSHIRELASS

Norman_Castle wrote: »

I've recently started using an electric fan to speed up drying. Much quicker than not using one. Mine uses about 30 watts which from memory costs a penny for about 2 1/2 hours. Leaving a window also obviously helps which is easier to do for a shorter amount of time.

Interesting, not come across this idea before, thank you.

I do know that hanging washing in such a way so that air can get around the clothes dries them much faster. So a shirt hung on a coathanger on the shower rail will always dry faster than one crammed on to the airer. Makes sense.