View Full Version : How to wash/dry clothes when drying outside isn't an option?
I am struggling to have any clothes clean. Aside from the fact that I often have to wash everything more than once, and often go through 2 or 3 pairs of trousers per day, I am struggling to get any washing done due to the fact that the stereotype of England being miserable and rainy is true, so drying clothes outside is not an option most days (even when it is sunny it's a problem, but that's a whole different issue altogether).
I do have an indoor airer but it doesn't hold a full wash very well and it creates an awful smell. There's also the problem that the only space to dry the clothes is also where I sleep which isn't very healthy, and the clothes take more than a day to dry so it's all too easy to fall behind again. And no, I don't have a tumble drier.
I kind of feel that I have exhausted all options, so if anyone can suggest anything then I'd be very grateful. It's really, really getting me down and causing an incredible amount of stress.
nomorepanic
12-06-19, 22:09
You maybe need to go to a launderette and get them dried there if this is so distressing for you
A laundromat as you can wash and dry large loads but you'd be running there several days a week and spending money needlessly. 2-3 pairs of pants a day is beyond excessive I'm sure you know. Are you getting professional help with your OCD?
Positive thoughts
You maybe need to go to a launderette and get them dried there if this is so distressing for you
Not an option. As I always do, I've read far too much into bacteria left in washing machines/clothing so I'll never be able to use a laundrette :/.
A laundromat as you can wash and dry large loads but you'd be running there several days a week and spending money needlessly. 2-3 pairs of pants a day is beyond excessive I'm sure you know. Are you getting professional help with your OCD?
Positive thoughts
Yes I know it is excessive and to be honest that's another reason it gets me down so much. Being aware that my behaviour is not normal but also being unable to change it is tough to take :(.
Not getting professional help YET, but after 5+ months of battling it out with the NHS, I finally have an appointment to begin therapy/CBT next week, in addition to a referral to a specialist hospital.
Not getting professional help YET, but after 5+ months of battling it out with the NHS, I finally have an appointment to begin therapy/CBT next week, in addition to a referral to a specialist hospital.
That's a positive step. In the mean time, perhaps you can limit the pant changes to once a day.
Positive thoughts
It’s great that you have help starting soon.
I have 2 airers in my living room. They don’t smell, so I’m not sure why yours are smelling? Do you mean the sort of damp smell? Are you keeping a window open to circulate the air?
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nomorepanic
13-06-19, 11:57
Not an option. As I always do, I've read far too much into bacteria left in washing machines/clothing so I'll never be able to use a laundrette :/.
Not sure that is true - they would be killed by the heat surely.
You will just have to leave them on a drier then - put them in the bathroom to dry.
That's a positive step. In the mean time, perhaps you can limit the pant changes to once a day.
Positive thoughts
I do try to but right now all I have to do is even brush against something I don't like and that's it - off they come!
It’s great that you have help starting soon.
I have 2 airers in my living room. They don’t smell, so I’m not sure why yours are smelling? Do you mean the sort of damp smell? Are you keeping a window open to circulate the air?
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I always keep the windows open when drying indoors, yes, and yes I mean that horrible damp smell. It's really unpleasant.
Not sure that is true - they would be killed by the heat surely.
You will just have to leave them on a drier then - put them in the bathroom to dry.
Washing under 60 never kills off all the bacteria.
No room in the bathroom for an airer. I feel kind of stuck.
I can appreciate that you need to have the control over washing your clothes in "perfect" conditions to eliminate all risk of bacteria. My daughter has the same worries as you so I am constantly washing stuff and I also worry about not keeping up with the supply and I don't have a tumble drier either. Are you washing by hand or do you have a machine?
I start really early in the morning and at the moment am putting the heating on for an hour or so when the washing is done so that i can put it on the radiators/airer. It helps but getting clothes dry at the moment is really hard in this weather.
I'm glad that you are getting professional help. It's awful being in the grips of this especially when it feels as if there is no escape.
nomorepanic
13-06-19, 14:04
I was talking about the driers though, not washing them
I do try to but right now all I have to do is even brush against something I don't like and that's it - off they come!
I always keep the windows open when drying indoors, yes, and yes I mean that horrible damp smell. It's really unpleasant.
Washing under 60 never kills off all the bacteria.
No room in the bathroom for an airer. I feel kind of stuck.
Do laundrettes not wash at 60 and above though? I always do service washes, I love a service wash - it’s a proper treat!
Have you tried that dettol anti viral washing additive? You can use that at under 60. I’m not sure if it’s anti bacterial or not though.
Do you use fabric softener & get stuff out of the washing machine straight away? I always think that damp smell is worse if there’s no air in the room.
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I can appreciate that you need to have the control over washing your clothes in "perfect" conditions to eliminate all risk of bacteria. My daughter has the same worries as you so I am constantly washing stuff and I also worry about not keeping up with the supply and I don't have a tumble drier either. Are you washing by hand or do you have a machine?
I start really early in the morning and at the moment am putting the heating on for an hour or so when the washing is done so that i can put it on the radiators/airer. It helps but getting clothes dry at the moment is really hard in this weather.
I'm glad that you are getting professional help. It's awful being in the grips of this especially when it feels as if there is no escape.
Washing machine. I don't think I could cope with hand washing.
Funny you say about starting early, because I often do that, especially with bedding. I have tried using the radiators to aid drying but sometimes it gets unbearably hot so I have to concede defeat!
I was talking about the driers though, not washing them
Oh! My apologies. I don't know then. I just don't feel comfortable drying my clothes in something which may have been used by someone who has washed their underwear (or something similar) on a low temperature prior.
Do laundrettes not wash at 60 and above though? I always do service washes, I love a service wash - it’s a proper treat!
Have you tried that dettol anti viral washing additive? You can use that at under 60. I’m not sure if it’s anti bacterial or not though.
Do you use fabric softener & get stuff out of the washing machine straight away? I always think that damp smell is worse if there’s no air in the room.
Yeah I believe so but it's not automatic is it? I mean, people can wash at a lower temperature if they wish to, no?
I don't use fabric softener, no, and yes I always remove the clothes straight away. In fact, as I am right now, I check on the wash (far too) frequently and even watch it for periods of time to make sure everything is 'perfect'!
I did buy that Dettol stuff but it says to put 2 caps' worth of liquid in which seems excessive, and it has so many warnings on the back that I have become too anxious about the solution not washing out properly - or evening simply getting on my skin - and consequently harming me, that I am too frightened to use it :/
MyNameIsTerry
13-06-19, 22:17
I can appreciate that you need to have the control over washing your clothes in "perfect" conditions to eliminate all risk of bacteria. My daughter has the same worries as you so I am constantly washing stuff and I also worry about not keeping up with the supply and I don't have a tumble drier either. Are you washing by hand or do you have a machine?
I start really early in the morning and at the moment am putting the heating on for an hour or so when the washing is done so that i can put it on the radiators/airer. It helps but getting clothes dry at the moment is really hard in this weather.
I'm glad that you are getting professional help. It's awful being in the grips of this especially when it feels as if there is no escape.
Now you've done it, pulisa. I've heard Emma Thompson is boarding a plane back to the UK (business class, of course :whistles:) as we speak to protest outside your house about this excessive carbon footprint! :winks:
******** to her! Needs must!:D
Anything to do with communal washing ie launderettes would be "out" for my daughter too. I do live in dread of the machine breaking down..We have a policy but it takes at least a week for the engineer to come round. I know I've got a "problem" with the washing too, Mr X so I do understand your dilemma. Maybe you are being oversensitive to any smell from the clothes? I know that towels can smell "musty" if not fully dry but routine stuff should be fine to dry without smell on an airer.
I have a dehumidifier. They're pretty good at drying washing indoors. Stops the house getting damp. An electric one not those little things you put a tablet type thing in
Ultimately, the solution is treating the OCD which the OP will be getting. Sure, there are quick fixes and such, but pacifying the illness isn't a solution. It needs to be treated and challenged with exercises and techniques to help eliminate the compulsions and subsequent actions associated with it.
In my observations in this sub-forum, my take on it is OCD is like a gambling addiction. Every time you give in to a compulsion you're digging yourself a deeper hole. You're like a gambler who keeps putting their money in the slot machine, thinking the next time you'll finally win, except in the gamblers case there is at least a remote chance that will happen. With OCD there is basically no chance that will happen, with OCD the slot machine is rigged. The only way to win is to STOP PLAYING THE GAME.
Positive thoughts
Easier said than done though. It's a complex old business. I'm glad Mr X will be getting specialised help from experts in the OCD field. It can be such a lottery in mainstream practice.
Easier said than done though. It's a complex old business. I'm glad Mr X will be getting specialised help from experts in the OCD field. It can be such a lottery in mainstream practice.
Agreed 100%. Recovery from mental illness as with many things in life in general is easier said than done. Yes, real life specialized professional help is the way to go but support seems to be weak and if you do find it, its expensive in the mental healthcare system.
Positive thoughts
Agreed 100%. Recovery from mental illness as with many things in life in general is easier said than done. Yes, real life specialized professional help is the way to go but support seems to be weak and if you do find it, its expensive in the mental healthcare system.
Positive thoughts
It's been an ordeal to get this help and the true specialised help I am waiting for is months away, but the good thing is because I am in England, I have got it given to me on the NHS. I mean, it's not free; it's had a cost on my health trying to get it(!).
Without reading back through this thread I can't remember if I said that I got a portable rotary airer to go outside. Used it today - it's been a lovely day for drying. The airer is rubbish though. Pinned it down as per the instructions and it blew over. So after all that it takes me to do my washing, it ended up on the floor and I've got in a right mess. Instantly had suicidal thoughts. That's how I react to it all.
Anyway I know treatment is the ultimate way forward but just knowing how far away that is, I also know that realistically right now I need some way of at least minimising this stress even if it does mean giving in to the OCD somewhat, because I need clean washing!
I also know that realistically right now I need some way of at least minimising this stress even if it does mean giving in to the OCD somewhat, because I need clean washing!
Ok... realistically, until treatment starts what options do you have that could help with the amount of wash and the issue of drying them. I stand by my suggestion of cutting out one pair of pants. Just ONE pair. That's one less to wash and one less to dry. That goes for whatever else you're changing.... socks, shirts, underwear etc. Just ONE.
You could take out two pair in the morning and lay them out. Choose one to start and the other to change but put a time limit on it. Say no changing until 1pm no matter what. Look, I know your OCD will scream in protest but you have to start somewhere :shrug: As far as drying them? You're doing all you can do under the circumstances so.....
Positive thoughts
Ok... realistically, until treatment starts what options do you have that could help with the amount of wash and the issue of drying them. I stand by my suggestion of cutting out one pair of pants. Just ONE pair. That's one less to wash and one less to dry. That goes for whatever else you're changing.... socks, shirts, underwear etc. Just ONE.
You could take out two pair in the morning and lay them out. Choose one to start and the other to change but put a time limit on it. Say no changing until 1pm no matter what. Look, I know your OCD will scream in protest but you have to start somewhere :shrug:
Ok I know I know. I suppose it's because I always get thoughts like "well if I don't change/wash, then I'll contaminate other things" (like my bedding, for example) and get myself into a state, so I panic and give in very easily but I know you are right. I will definitely try to postpone some of my compulsions at least, and may well even start with the trousers.
As far as drying them? You're doing all you can do under the circumstances so.....
Positive thoughts
Perhaps, but I'd say it's in the top two of my biggest challenges right now so I'm still after that magic solution!
I'm still after that magic solution!
No words on a forum or pill replace real life professional help and hard work :shrug: It comes down to YOU!
Positive thoughts
MyNameIsTerry
15-06-19, 01:43
Have you tried inserting as much as time between the pull to perform the compulsion and the act itself? Adding in distraction activites? Or making the objects hard to access e.g. if you were obsessively checking a phone you could bury in a draw at the other side of the house under a load of stuff and lock it up.
Have you tried inserting as much as time between the pull to perform the compulsion and the act itself? Adding in distraction activites? Or making the objects hard to access e.g. if you were obsessively checking a phone you could bury in a draw at the other side of the house under a load of stuff and lock it up.
It depends on the situation. Sometimes the anxiety is just so powerful that I give in immediately, like 2 days ago when I went through 5 pairs of trousers; other times, the anxiety can be awful but just about tolerable so to put off the immediate need to act out the compulsion - like today; I had a panic and threw out my belt after using the loo (gave in), and I also felt that my hands were not clean unless I cut my nails before I washed my hands (and didn't have any nail clippers!), so had to put it off until I could buy some (which I did, but I didn't do so in a panicked way and I feel okay about not having cleaned them when I wanted to - didn't give in straight away!) so although I may feel horrendous at times, I do/can put it off, but ultimately I almost always give in, in the end.
What I am trying to - as often as possible - is to put myself through that anxiety. I actually feel quite proud of myself today, so I hope that sets a precedent; that if I struggle again or relapse, I can hold onto what I have achieved today.
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