Any suggestions for drying washing indoors

C4Tim

Hi MoneySavers!

My wife and I live in a small, one-bedroom flat that happily (depending on which way you look at it), comes with white goods as part of the rent.

However, as is commonplace with all the flats in our apartment block, we have a washer-dryer combo. This is a problem for us because the quality of the dryer is poor.

As we cannot put a washing line up in the open-plan lounge/kitchen, we use a standard airing rack. Due to the nature of the windows in the flat, we cannot filter any meaningful breeze through with which to dry the clothes on said rack. This means that we regularly will end up with clothes smelling of damp. :doh: We cannot hang clothes outside either.

We have spotted heated 3-tier airing racks, and even an 'enclosed drying pod' that looks good. These appear to be the answer that we are looking for as they're cheap to run and will do everything that we need of them.

As they're generally expensive in the first instance, I wanted to know if anybody has experience with these items and what they thought. Also, if anybody has tips on how to dry clothes quickly via any other method; it would be much appreciated.

Thank you all for reading:)

VRose

No experience with a 'drying pod' though plenty experience with drying clothes. Autumn is the thoughest as the heating isn't on and clothes can stay damp for over 24hr!

I would recommend distilled vinegar in place of fabric softerner. I use it and we have young kids one with very bad skin whom this has not been any problem for.

About a 1/2 cup per full load. It acts as a softener and is good for the machine. It also stops the mildew smell on clothes. By the time the clothes are finished washing you can't smell the vinegar.

What is the problem with the dryer? Is it that it is expensive to run or is it not doing the job? You might consider running clothes in the tumble dryer for 10 min and then putting clothes onto the airers, often eliminates the need to iron too (not that I ever iron!).

Friends of ours with a bedsit and no windows in the bathroom use the over the radiator like theses ones; http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8504405.htm

Hope that helps.

ragecake

I've no experience with them myself though I've read mixed reviews. With Winter coming up I have a 3 tier airer I put next to a radiator when it's on, and rotate it after about 3 hours, Makes the house smell nice as well.

C4Tim

Hi Vrose,

Thanks for the response. We already use distilled vinegar, but not to the amount that you have specified. We'll up the dose and see if that works! :T

With the dryer, its a mix of both. We're on a cheap electricity tariff, and ensure that everything is turned off when not in use. Somehow, we still manage to rack up a bill of £40 in electric each month. That may sound cheap, but when you rarely use anything electrical in the flat (which is tough when the heating, boiler and appliances run on electric) it seems as if you're being charged for the privilege of being connected. :rotfl:

Minihauk

When I dry clothes indoors on a clothes horse, I put them over two rails, so the air can circulate. They dry quicker and therefore don't smell.
I also use clothes hangers to hang tops, etc in doorways and on the shower rail to dry. Towels go over the top of an open door. I suppose it depends on how quickly you want to dry things, or if you mind your house looking like a chinese laundry for a day or so!

cyclingyorkie

I have one of the pods - JML Dri buddi. It dries okay but I can't get a full load in it, and it can take a while for heavy items such as jeans. My aim for this autumn is to wash in an evening, hang stuff on hangers overnight and then put in the buddi to finish off.

I'm on my second dri buddi and this one is SO much quieter than the first one - I keep mine in the garage, but it does give off some heat - might keep you nice and toasty in your flat?

SmallL

I tend to stick my clothes horse in fron't of the radiator when the central heating is on,

-taff

I would do a few large loads then take them to a laundrette and dry them all at once.

Damp is really not good for your lungs. I slept in an old monastery in Holland once overnight, it was really really damp and quite cold, ended up with a chest infection that lasted weeks.

mioliere

Take a look at this thread about drying clothes using various methods, including a dehumidifier which might be the answer for you: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/566913

notanewuser

My sister lives in a flat with no tumble drier. She has the heated clothes horse from Lakeland and absolutely raves about it. She can get 2 loads of washing on it at once, including bedding etc and it dries overnight for a few pence of electricity.

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/21736/Dry-Soon-3-Tier-Heated-Tower-Airer