I know this is boring but...

[alieh]

I broke down and got a tumble dryer when #2 arrived. We got a normal one and put it in a shed just outside the back door. There was no plumbing required, but we did have to get an external plug put in. Maybe cost ?70 for the electrician to come and do this? I can't quite remember. Then you just need to cut a vent hole in the shed. Changed my life!

[Mellors]

I lasted out until Kid 3. This winter with a house full of wet washing, vomit covered sheets everywhere and millions of wet washable nappies on every radiator, I cracked.

I literally spent one Friday afternoon sobbing on the phone to electrical companies to find out who could bring me one the following morning. Thank you, Man from Coment, you saved me from the nut house!!

(We have one with the tray you just empty after every couple of washes. I shove the water on my tomatoes, so figure that counts a bit towards not killing the planet, or something?)

[Susan]

I have to say I poopooed the drier that my sensible other half had,,we used it about 1 a year over the last 10 years but always kept it just in case. However this past winter with small boy and vomiting bugs it was a life saver esp for drying Grobags and sheets (we had long week/weekends of multiple bed changes).

Ours is a simple plug in one, yes I am sure it eats energy but is used in emergencies only

[jollymummy]

Hi Bluesuperted,

Funnily enough I am just about to buy a new dryer. Can you tell me if the one you recommend is noisy or fairly quiet?

Cheers

[hellosailor]

could not get by without our dryer! we bought a condenser one second hand on here for about ?60 and has been really useful...like Ruth we have no garden and this means the whole flat isn't hung with washing like Fagin's den 24/7!

[duchessofdulwich]

Some people are anti dryers ? Not sure why?

[bluesuperted]

It's pretty quiet - not silent but it never bothers me and is quieter than our washing machine which rocks the whole of our open plan lounge/diner/kitchen!! It's positioned in our hallway which is double height and not quite below where my son sleeps, it's never woken him up. Also has a handy lock thing which means the programme can't be switched by toddling hands while it's spinning.

Hope this helps!

[duchessofdulwich]

Heard they really eat away at the electric? Not sure how much they cost per load. To cut down on cost I stick things on the line and When weve had these bad episodes of weather ive stuck it in the dryer

[Knomester]

We don't have room for a dryer, so we bought one of these last year which dries a large load of washing overnight and doesn't cost much to run: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/21736/Dry-Soon-3-Tier-Heated-Tower-Airer

(We're not particularly enjoying the lack of sunshine this summer either, but I have to say it hasn't kept us indoors - impossible with a 22 month old toddler with seemingly endless energy! Wellies and raincoats and lots of dry clothes have been our saviour...)

[Pickle]

We don't have a drier, but one benefit of an old fashioned, badly insulated hot water cylinder is that it keeps our large bathroom very warm, so washing pretty much dries over night and the associated airing cupboard is excellent too. Such a housewife!

Such is my fascination with the washing I found myself proudly telling the kids that I got washing dry outside today, and had the foresight to bring it in before the rain started. Bless them, they humoured me with enthusiastic "well done Mummy" responses :-)

Aaaaaanyway, wasn't it nice to see the sun today, albeit briefly.

[pebbles]

What a lovely day - most of it. Went for a run, did some gardening and dried some clothes outside - bliss

It really does make such a difference to my mood - i'm noticeably happier when it's dry and just a little bit sunny.

I'm loving that lakeland airer - what a fab idea

[oimissus]

2 sunny mornings on the trot, yay! Though couldn't take advantage washing-wise as have done as the damned washing, hurumph. Bet it won't last, bloody British weather mutter mutter grumble . . .

[Belle]

I have that heated airer, and it is really good, but I don't find i can get stuff dry overnight on it...depends how much I put on. It's great for finishing off stuff that only gets half dry in the washer dry, but am finding particularl where we've moved to that as it's in a cellar stuff isn't drying so fast. I would say I have managed with jsut the airer until now (second son 9 mths) but am admitting defeat: weaning is meaning we are going through too many changes of clothes and I am spending my life doing washing!