Airing Cupboards

[Daisy]

The recent chat about heated clothes airers has got me thinking about airing cupboards.

Do you have an airing cupboard? If so, what do you use it for?

I can remember my mother used to put newly ironed and folded household linen, undies and blouses/shirts etc in there to "air". In those days of course there was no central heating and I can imagine damp clothes etc lying about would lead to mould. But now we probably all live in well insulated, heated homes so perhaps we don't need an airing cupboard in the same way.

We are lucky to have an enormous airing cupboard on the landing, with the hot water tank (well insulated) in one side, with shelving above it, and all shelves on the other side. I use ours mainly for storage, especially for bedding, towels, out of season duvets and spare pillows. I've recently had a big clear out and now have plenty of space I'm not really using, but at least I can find what's in there!

[Lizzie48]

Daisy, growing up we had an airing cupboard, 2 layers, my mum would put clothes in the lower area to air, we always knew where our clean clothes would be, then she used the top layer for storing blankets etc.

No airing cupboards here in the Netherlands!

[Oma]

I have one with the hot water tank ,
I have hooks and the shelves and I hang up things that can't be tumble dried ,
Like some of Bs jumpers my blouses and trousers I put them on hangers and they don't need ironing when they are dry or just a light going over,
A few years ago when my tumble drier broke and I was waiting for delivery I even hung Jeans in there,
Left them overnight and nice and dry the next morning,

When I lived at home we had. A huge one where my mother kept bedding , towels, underwear etc but it wasn't heated.

[Nanto2girls]

We used to have an airing cupboard with a hot water tank. It was very handy for drying things.
Since we changed the heating system we don't have a hot water tank anymore.
I use it for storing the bath sheets now and some oher bits.

[Daisy]

It's funny, but although I don't use the airing cupboard to actually air clothes, I like having it. Apart from being very good storage, towels and bedding always feel warm but fresh.

Lizzie, I'm surprised airing cupboards aren't a thing in the Netherlands.

Oma, in the house before this one our central heating boiler was in the corner of the garage, and we made a little boiler room round it with a door into the house. That was great for drying things you couldn't put in the tumble dryer.

Nanto, do you miss having a hot water tank?

[Gemini]

I envy the airing cupboards. They must be very useful.

Our boiler is up in the loft.
The nearest we have is a shelved cupboard in the spare bedroom. The previous owners installed a small radiator on the back wall of the cupboard and that's where our towels and bedding are kept.

[Daisy]

Gem, I must admit, I value the airing cupboard but the small radiator in your spare bedroom cupboard is a great idea and probably does a better job than our well-lagged hot water tank.

[Oma]

I thought that too Daisy ,
It's a brilliant idea .

[Sum1Ls]

Yes. It’s in the bathroom over the hot water tank, and guess who can be found there, curled up at the back on the clean towels where I can’t reach.

Mind you, I can’t reach anything now since breaking so many bones 18 months ago. It’s hard to realise that since my 20s I’ve lost five inches. Two with osteoporosis and three in July 24 when I broke my neck and crushed my spine.

So, whatever else is lurking in the cupboard remains a mystery.

[Daisy]

Sum1, now let me see, who could possibly be curled up in the warmth on lovely soft, clean towels <thinking!>

It's frustrating when you can't reach up for something, especially when it's the result of such an awful accident.

[Oma]

Sum1
After what you went through , I'm not surprised,
That was horrendous,
I'm surprised your walking really ,

I think I would like to curl up on a warm pile of towels also 😄