Clothes Drying

Floss

Katiehound said:

Worth an extra spin in the washing machine as the lower temperature washes also use the shorter/ slower spins so clothes are still quite wet when the programme has finished.
 If I use the 30 minute wash programme things get spun again on a longer, faster programme.

Mine doesn't  - both the short & economy washes use full 1400rpm spin, it is only delicates / woollen washes that have a lower spin speed.

Teapot55

Keep an eye on the weather forecast
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcmzggpxq#?date=2023-02-24 
The forecast for Liverpool, for example for this afternoon says 
61% humidity at 3pm
65% humidity at 4pm
63% humidity at 5pm
64% humidity at 6pm
63% humidity at 7pm
with a good breeze gusting to force 4 or 5. 

Only 5% chance of rain. Seems odd leaving your washing out till after dark but as long as you’re not going to break your neck getting it in it’ll work because humidity in the 60s or less is enough. We dried a line full of washing yesterday in those weather conditions. Then all the shirts etc onto coat hangers on the landing and other stuff onto radiator racks. 

Brie

I have found that doing smaller loads helps as there's less damp to get rid of.  There's only the two of us so if I do 2 loads a week that usually keeps things ticking along until there's the bed linen (1 load and takes forever to dry) or towels (again - forever).  But obviously this won't work if you've got a large family that needs clean clothes!  

Another thing to consider is - is the washing being done too often?  I have a friend who washes her jeans after ever time they are worn.  Frankly this is completely unnecessary (she's not filthy by any definition), it wears out the material of the jeans and wastes a lot of water.  And she always complains that her flat is overly damp - so this is one of the reasons why.  Clothes don't need to be washed after every single use.  A good airing will freshen and they can be worn again, some of them many times.  

Rosa_Damascena

Teapot55 said:

Keep an eye on the weather forecast
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcmzggpxq#?date=2023-02-24 
The forecast for Liverpool, for example for this afternoon says 
61% humidity at 3pm
65% humidity at 4pm
63% humidity at 5pm
64% humidity at 6pm
63% humidity at 7pm
with a good breeze gusting to force 4 or 5. 

Only 5% chance of rain. Seems odd leaving your washing out till after dark but as long as you’re not going to break your neck getting it in it’ll work because humidity in the 60s or less is enough. We dried a line full of washing yesterday in those weather conditions. Then all the shirts etc onto coat hangers on the landing and other stuff onto radiator racks. 

I don't like my washing getting "darked on" (Mumsnet phrase) though. As long as its dry outside and there is a bit of a breeze I leave them out for as long as it is light, and then finish them off in the Dri Buddy if I need to. 

HampshireH

Rosa_Damascena said:

Teapot55 said:

Keep an eye on the weather forecast
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcmzggpxq#?date=2023-02-24 
The forecast for Liverpool, for example for this afternoon says 
61% humidity at 3pm
65% humidity at 4pm
63% humidity at 5pm
64% humidity at 6pm
63% humidity at 7pm
with a good breeze gusting to force 4 or 5. 

Only 5% chance of rain. Seems odd leaving your washing out till after dark but as long as you’re not going to break your neck getting it in it’ll work because humidity in the 60s or less is enough. We dried a line full of washing yesterday in those weather conditions. Then all the shirts etc onto coat hangers on the landing and other stuff onto radiator racks. 

I don't like my washing getting "darked on" (Mumsnet phrase) though. As long as its dry outside and there is a bit of a breeze I leave them out for as long as it is light, and then finish them off in the Dri Buddy if I need to. 

Our washing goes out all year round and all day if needed, but it also comes in before dark. Some people leave their washing out all night, for me that's mini spider heaven🤣.

jason2468_2

Install continuous trickle extractor fan in the area that you are going to dry the clothes, this will prevent condensation and mould. When it’s really cold I dry the clothes with the underfloor heating on, which drys the clothes 3 times as quick. You can also use a ThermoPro humidity/thermometer display to make sure the room doesn’t go over 60%
https://www.greenwood.co.uk/product/153/unity-cv2gip

Nelliegrace

Firstly, wash clothes less often, change socks and underwear daily, but the next layers can each last a day or so longer. 
We check the Met Office local weather forecast for the best days to do laundry. 

The washing gets done late in the evening so it can have a fast spin and go out on the line first thing. The days are getting longer at last.

I am trying to get DH to put the peg on a single layer of sock and peg items separately, there are plenty of pegs, it is vexing to find damp corners and wet clumps of fabric. I turn things round on the line to get them dry all over.

The washing goes on the clothes airier in front of the radiator in the hall to warm up and finish drying by the next day.

jenniewb

I don't think there's an easy answer for this, it really depends on the set up of your home. If you're happy to make sure the room is well ventilated you're probably OK, but if your whacking on the temperature, or worse; getting ill because the window is open (the cold wont make you ill but may make it harder for your body to fight all sorts of illnesses) then leave the window open and let everything dry in the air. But for me (for example) if I leave the windows open it just seems to increase the humidity and things take days to as much as a week to fully dry. I iron everything bar towels so it means a wall of washing pretty much the entire week which in a one room flat is really depressing to be looking at pretty much constantly. 

If you like the softer feel that a tumble dryer gives, try waiting for the last 5-10 minutes of the drying to be done in a machine to take the brittle feel out of some fabrics.

Mostly at this time of the year, it can get so cold you get a frost overnight. This can mean things don't dry fully if you leave them outside. For me I tend to tumble dry in bulk (maybe two washes at once if they fit in the machine then tumble dry, but once the outside temperature sits above 10-ish degrees I'll leave outside overnight. I'm in a flat with an over-shadowed balcony area so unless it's warm things don't dry very easily at all. Tumble drying seems to be the only reliable way to get my washing done without causing me damp, ill health or leaving me with clothing that feels so harsh on my skin that I end up not wearing it. 

MrsStepford

We have never had a tumble dryer, by choice. I didn't like the way that my sweatshirts became hard, when I lived at home.

Ceiling hung airer with clothes on hangers and bedding on clothes horse, in small room with radiator and tiny window open. Always dry within 24 hrs. In summer, goes out on a retractable washing line across width of garden. Have used radiator airers on trellis in summer for small stuff. Also used a caravan adjustable airer out bedroom window at back for teatowels.

kittieviolet

Hi, for bedding and big loads I run a dehumidifier on the economy 7 tariff times, this takes most of the moisture out and often dries the clothes themselves and stops damp.
Otherwise I dry outside or on racks