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photo credit: pikaluk
One of the main problems I have during the winter is getting our washing dry. We don’t have a tumble dryer or an airing cupboard, so I hang the clothes inside on airers.
I use two airers placed in front of a large radiator and my brightest window. Each side of the airers will take a wash load and I find it takes four days for most of the clothes to dry. I rotate the airers all the time and remove the dry clothes daily, replacing with a new load of wet items. The house often looks like a launderette, but that’s better for us than paying to run a tumble dryer.
If we have a good drying day outside and I’m at home I try to make good use of it by washing bedlinen, towels etc. I do have two sets of bedlinen for each bed, as I found it impossible to dry them and get them back on the beds in a day.
How do you dry your clothes during the winter months?
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, no dryer, I’m impressed. How much does it cost to run a dryer? I feel spoiled. I run my dryer even when it is 100F outside (it gets the cat hair off my clothes). Are the dryers too expensive to buy? I found one for $25 at a neighbors garage sale. It came with a matching washing machine for $25 too. That was my best garage sale deal ever I think. I should hang my clothes until they are almost dry and then just tumble them for a few minutes to get the hair off. That would be more economical for me but I’m too lazy! If you did buy a dryer, you could hang your clothes until they are mostly dry and then tumble them to finish off the drying.
But anyway..I applaud your efforts! 4 days to dry is way beyond my patience limit.
“Four days for most of the clothes to dry!” – It must be very awkward situation. Here, being a rather dry winter, we do not have much problem at least in this regard. It takes hardly 3-4 hours to get things dried up completely during winter.
Hi there-just as well my kitchen is too small for a dryer, I don’t think I would want the expenses anyway! I use 2 airers too and also use the clothes line outside when we get windy dry weather!
I put my clothes (esp woollens etc that take ages) directly on the radiators, when they’re on as that dries stuff pretty quick smart. I guess that only works if you haven’t got much every week.
Love the new pic thing btw! Very cheerful!
x
I have an airer standing permenantly in the living room too. Mine’s right in front of the window (and a radiator) so blocks the view out and a good deal of light in but rather that than use the tumble dryer (although I do have one – just never bothered to get it fixed when it broke down 2 winters ago). About two days is the usual for drying here. Wonder why yours takes twice as long?
I have the same problem! Our kitchen is too small for a tumble dryer, but we live in North Yorkshire so the winters are cold and the clothes take AGES to dry. We tend to requisition the guest room for airing purposes, but I’d be interested to hear if anyone has any good tips for those of us in this predicament…
I have a drying rack and hubby installed a bar in my laundry room. It’s a cold room so I run a fan to dry my clothes. Probably not very economical but they dry in about a day.
Kristina
Hi Laura
Very pretty and understated new title! I dont often comment becasue your posts arrive by email and I dont know how too ( I know, I am useless).
I have dryer now, first time in my life. I only use it as a last resort because it uses my power than the rest of the house togther and anyway mu conscience cant handle it as I try to be a bit green.
x
Lizzie
Drying rack – sometimes it takes a day or two, I’m learning to be patient
I dry most of our things on the banisters, did have some German students staying last month who obviously thought it was a strange English custom. Course we do use the washing line when clothes will dry. Can highly recommend drying time on banisters though – just a day!
daizy..100F and the tumble driers on..you’re naughty..lol
nilz..it takes four days because my kids buy the thickest clothing they can..on purpose I think!
sharon-rose..just like me
thanks Jade…i do seem to have lots of washing
sharon, i didn’t mention the radiator is only on for an hour..lol, gotta reduce those fuel bills
miss thrifty..they do seem to take ages to dry to me too
kristina..i have thought of a drying rack however not sure where it would go
lizzie, you and daizy on to the naughty step..:) x
ft..drying racks are good
tatty..i never thought of bannisters before..might give it a try with the thinner items
i know my place….
Ah, that would explain it then. I have to have the house warm because of my thin blood – it feels like living in a fridge otherwise.