Hand Wash, Lay Flat To Dry (DIY) Questions

I keep an old window screen (holes in it, no good for mosquitoes) that I hosed off last summer. It sides behind the couch and disappears when not in use. Can put across the backs of two chairs at bedtime, then all is ready to put away n the morning.

I always dry my "lay flat to dry" items in the dryer on the "air dry only" setting. It doesn't use any heat and I've never had any problems with the clothing I've dried this way.

Deanna I have even put down a couple towels on a spare bed and did the lay flat to dry thing on it. You may have to rotate the clothes but the will dry fine this way,

That's when I miss my waterbed. When

I washed sheets would lay sweaters flat on mattress and they were dry by the time sheets washed/dried.

Look in Walmart. They have over-the-door drying racks and others that would probably work well for you.

Use a clothes line or a clothes drying rack and place a terry towel over line or rack. Place the items over the towel shaping the garments. I fold any long sleeves back over the line and over the garment. I have done this for thousands of years with no problems with any misshaped clothes.

I find that the delicates setting is good enough for the items labeled "hand wash only" and that my wire dryer is good for the dry flat items if i hang them over a few of the wires (like 4 wires) instead of just 1. Also you can put this thing outside your mobile home if its small.

I always use baby shampoo for very delicate things. Works well for me.

I do what others suggest...roll up in a towel then lay flat on a dry towel. I just use the top of my washer and dryer.

I wrap my 'lay flat to dry' items in a towel, put them through a spin cycle in my washer, and then lay them flat to dry. That cuts the drying big time.

I rarely hand wash anything. I place delicate items in a mesh laundry bag, you can find those in most discount stores and some grocery stores, zip the bag and toss in the washer with like colors, I use my regular detergent just be careful to use the correct amount for the load. When in doubt, use a little less than you think it should be.

I'm trying to find a suitable replacement for my sweater drying rack, I broke one of the legs off, (plastic) so it's more of a challenge to make it stand up but I'm still using it until I find what I want! I recommend some sort of folding rack to hold wet clothes and allows the air to circulate all around the items. Laying them on a towel works but takes longer without the air circulation. The no heat setting on your dryer is usually safe.

Please take warning: laying wet laundry on a mattress is not a good idea! My apologies to those who use their beds as drying racks but the moisture from the laundry will soak into the mattress, whether you can detect the dampness or not, creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew growth that can be very dangerous to the users of that bed and will damage your mattress and void the warrenty.

I drape them over the back of a chair or a behind the door hanging rack. Have never had any problems. I do the same with some dry clean only items.

I put a screen across the bathtub and let it dry.

You could purchase a window screen or drying screen and place between 2 chairs. Lay your items flat on the screen. If needed, you could add a second layer by putting a towel over the lower item and flipping the order of them as necessary to dry. When not in use the screen would tuck away nicely behind a sofa or loveseat. Good luck!

I hang them carefully on a flocked hanger and air dry. Just shape the garment carefully.

I use plastic baby gates laid flat on the washer or what ever is available.

Oh Thank You all for so many great ideas! If it were just one or two items being washed and to lay flat to dry I'd have no problem...ie: hang it here or there etc....but I've been ill a long time and gained weight with no clothing that fits..... so that is why its full outfits. I need a smart tiny living sort of drying idea. I love the photo of the drying rack stand and later I may get one.------OK, here is an idea that's been floating in my head. I have a couple of tall laundry baskets, about thigh-hip high with a pre- cut, handle cut outs and the oval body of basket has good sized circles all the way down until the base ,solid. If I could cut it out right I'm thinking it could lay out across tub even if there's an arch from the shape of the basket......? Has anyone ever done this before? I have seen where you use the baskets holes as a perfect stencil to paint the repeating design on walls or where ever you like. I like that Idea too although I'd have to choose one over the other I suppose huh??!! LOL Thanks Everyone.

p.s. The clothing line I'm in Love with right now is called ""Original Slinky Brand sold on HSN.com"" I'm telling you one day I was watching and they had a "" 2 pack pairs of pants, one was solid color,one was print"" I got Black and Animal Print. I've basically emptied my closet of all the old clothing.... I've gained quite a bit of weight but just by wearing different clothing that feels better, more comfortable, it also must look better because I've been getting compliments of You look so good, looks like you have been loosing weight. ??? All that while wearing a $29.95 top and pant of the Original Slinky brand.

sorry I've gone on and on. Thanks for listening though:)))))

Living in small apartments you learn these things :-) https://www.amazon.com/CRESNEL-Heavy-Stainless-Clothes-Drying/dp/B00KQU1C60

That would be good to have right now but I see where your going with your ideas............I do have a Door way decoration : Rows of plastic beads and tiny hearts etc.......You tack it up in the doorway then you have a curtain of beads to walk through. uuuuummmm I can see using it length-wise on the tub. Clothes wouldn't fall through. I guess I'm just tired tonight. I'll start tomorrow. ::))

I've always used my beach towels across my bed for 'flat dry' ... they're usually thicker than bath towels (or stack 2-3 as needed), and large enough for two or three sweaters. Sometimes the comforter gets a little damp, but dries quickly and never soaks through to mattress...

How about one of those wooden clothes racks they sell...I have 2 of them you hang your top or pants or sweater over them & they dry fine. My daughter doesn't put anything in the dryer but towels, sheets, under garments. Everything else drapes over these clothes dryers made of wood. She has about 6 of them down in her basement (which is a finished basement).

Carol~ Yes I've decided that later when I can I want to get one of the wooden ones and in the nice weather I can put things outside to dry....I love the fresh smell of things dried outside just like my Grandmothers sheets and towels! Thanks for your comment::)))

I always had one of these wood dryers when my children were little but moved to a home there was no place to put them. Work great, better than taking frozen diapers off the clothesline.