Any suggestions for drying washing indoors

myteeduck

Hi,

Hoping someone can please help.
I live in a tiny flat. I dont have room for a tumble dryer. The guy who lived here before me had one in the cupboard under the stairs and due to it not being vented correctly has left me with silverfish (another problem).
As a condesing tumble dryer is toooo expensive, its not an option.
I do 2 washes per week to avoid having tooo much in one load, so I was Wednesday nights and Saturdays.
Last weekend I washed on the saturday, but by the time the load had washed, rinsed and spun - it was raining outside quite heavily.
I put my clothes on a maiden in the bathroom with the heating turned up full for an hour to give a boost (doing that made it very hot as the radiators dont normally come on, house is usually warm) But even by Sunday evening my clothes were still damp.
They finally dried but when I came to put a t shirt on today and I've got to work, I've realised like I smell like wet dog!
Ive sprayed and sprayed and smell a little better, but I cant be smelling like this every day.
Can anyone give me advice on how to dry my clothes quicker when its raining and cant use my line.

Thanks in advance x

patchwork_cat

What about this http://www.lakeland.co.uk/22932/Dry-Soon-Drying-Pod;jsessionid=5EAB1F250A1E9C2B9393B3CE8B1600B4.app1 or a second hand condenser dryer?

squeakysue

I never used to have a tumble dryer and relied on airers/radiators etc and never had a problem with smell. Firstly could your machine be making the clothes smell? Are you using enough detergent? Are you taking the clothes out of the machine straight away? Are you giving them enough space to dry ie not hanging over each other, if the air can't get to them properly they will start to smell damp. my SIL folds her washing wet when it comes out of the machine while waiting to dry and their washing does have a musty damp smell.

I am thinking of getting a few of these for around the house, lots more drying space for the winter and can be used outdoors over the fence.

http://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/3107-radiator-airer.aspx

One last idea, use a scented fabric softener to make your clothes smell fresher. Good luck

squeakysue

Also ask on freecycle for a tumble dryer, it doesn't have to be a condenser you can get an attachment for vented ones to collect the water so you don't need a vent

Eliza_2

patchwork_cat wrote: »

What about this http://www.lakeland.co.uk/22932/Dry-Soon-Drying-Pod;jsessionid=5EAB1F250A1E9C2B9393B3CE8B1600B4.app1 or a second hand condenser dryer?

I always wonder where the water goes with these? Is there a container that collects it?

I bought a separate condenser for my cheap little tumble dryer, it worked really well..this sort of thing: http://www.mirrorreaderoffers.co.uk/item-ee-2481/tumble-dryer-condenser/. It sat next to it in a kitchen cupboard and was good.

The dryer has since died - as has my washer. I've found that putting things on the line till they stop dripping (not a problem if you've got a washer)then onto a concertina airer thingie works fine - use plenty of fabric conditioner maybe, I used to get odd smells when I used to use vinegar as a softener. I also found things smelled odd when dried in the bathroom as there's not much ventilation there - I take the airer outside or put it by a window whenever poss.

I will replace the washer some time but won't bother with the dryer - they're so ridiculously expensive to run. Doing without it for a while makes me realise I don't actually need it!

Liz

Pooky

Try hanging as much on hangers as possible when it comes out of the machine and hang on curtain rails with a window slightly open for airflow (don't let the wet clothes hang against the curtains though). If your curtain rails won't take the weight then hang on door frames leaving space between items. Air flows the key to stopping the smell.

jayII

The best solution would be a dehumidifier, we are four adults in a tiny house that is prone to damp. A dehumidifier has solved all the clothes drying and damp problems. I do have a condenser tumble drier but hate using it due to cost, plus it makes the air quite damp. I'm also reluctant to use the heating in Spring/Summer.

We have this it's cheap to run and makes a huge difference. It's also light enough to move around the house so can be used to dry out problem areas (like your cupboard with silverfish in) by putting it on high for a day or two.

Usagi_2

I second the dehumidifier - not sure how we ever managed without it. We have this one.

We hang everything in the bathroom, shut the door and then let it run. Clothes dry the same day as washing - what a novelty.

Still use the line outside when we can, but if still damp can finish it off this way and it is invaluable in the winter. Flat is drier too so need less heating on to feel cosy so saving money on heating.

Also, would suggest running a second spin on your washing if your washing machine isn't very efficient. Open the door, rearrange the clothes then spin again. This used to help with our old washing machine, but now we have a better one it isn't so much of a problem.

BitterAndTwisted

I don't have any outside drying space so put washing on an airer in the kitchen with the window wide open.

Even in the middle of winter, although things do take longer to dry, they never smell musty, so I suspect the real problem is not where you think it is. I'd be having a think about what's going on in the machine. Perhaps it needs a good clean or you need to give your laundry extra rinses? Vinegar in the final rinse could be all you need to do as that's really good for neutralising odours.

bupster

It sounds like the washing machine to me as well. I've lived in my small flat for eight years and never had an outside line or a tumble dryer - hanging clothes on the radiators works fine even when they're not turned on. Unless your flat suffers badly with damp, which can transfer the smell of damp to your clothes, they're either coming out of the washing machine so wet that they're not getting a chance to dry, or your bathroom is too small and damp for them to air.

Try hanging them on the radiators or on the backs of chairs as an experiment, or put the maiden in a bigger room. If they're still taking three days to dry, it's the washing machine. Try spinning the wash twice and seeing if that takes more water out of the clothes.

Hope this helps!