Clothes airers

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Clothes airers

milo · Guru

dad bought a mini clothes line thingy that goes across the van (inside) when he wants to dry if its wet or what ever..

valnrob · Guru

Personally, i wouldn't wash the towels unless absolutely necessary if the weather wasn't good enough to hang them on a line strung between two tree, or one tree and the van. They are so thick, and hard to get dry in wet weather. Another trick i have been told by people that travel overseas etc, and i have done it too is too use hand towels instead of bath towels to pat yourself dry, saves on having huge towels to wash and hand wring out !!! Cheers biggrin

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Sorry Valnrob, I meant after daily wash/shower, when they are a bit damp. Yes Laundry only gets done when it can be dried!
I've seen "camping towels" made from microfibre, they would dry in a flash, and very small. Has anybody tried these?

Beth54 · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:

Sorry Valnrob, I meant after daily wash/shower, when they are a bit damp. Yes Laundry only gets done when it can be dried!
I've seen "camping towels" made from microfibre, they would dry in a flash, and very small. Has anybody tried these?

Yes Gerty, I tried them years ago. I didn't like it personally. It just felt weird. hmm

I use thinner towels when camping. They don't take so long to dry.

And while we're on the subject...my sister taught me this one...when using your own shower tent, just take a queen size towel, and wrap it around you after showering to go back into your home on wheels or tent and dry yourself in comfort. That way you don't have to take your clothes in and risk dropping them in the slosh! biggrin

She told me this AFTER I'd dropped nickers into the slosh then proceeded to nearly topple the shower tent over!

Dunmowin · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:

I'm sorry, this is a most mundane boring subject compared with exciting things like the Nullabor being GREEN!

But I would like to know the best way to hang ones towels out to dry? I've seen towels hanging on awnings, bits of rope, folding clothes airers, over chair-backs. There doesnt seem to be a suitable spot to put a towel rail inside our caravan.

Ideas anybody???

Not a silly question / posting at all Gerty, in fact, maybe Webmaster could have a folder especially for the questions that the "fairer sex" might be asking because they are all relevant, and we don't all the "technical" problems.

I will be taking with me, my clothes airer, which folds down flat, my brother GN has a double towel rack attached to the outside of his van - under the awning. Also recently had the opportunity to meet with "Andrea" and she hangs her towels from somewhere in the cavity where the "all seasons" sits in the roof, so they dry as they are travelling.

Nicholstones · Guru

We have a clothes horse (aka clothes airer?) that folds flat and lives under the bed, towels and bathmats go on this after our showers in the morning. Once they are dry, or when we are travelling, they hang on towel rails that we have stuck to the inside of the loo door in the van. These are suction cup ones from Bunnings, and do very occasionally fall off when travelling, but generally do a good job.

We sandwich the clothes horse between the outside chairs when in use, as there have been occasions when it blew or fell over.

jimricho · Guru

Dunmowin wrote:

Not a silly question / posting at all Gerty, in fact, maybe Webmaster could have a folder especially for the questions that the "fairer sex" might be asking because they are all relevant, and we don't all the "technical" problems.

As Dunmowin says definitely not a silly question and the informative answers above proves that.

I don't see the point of a sepatate folder for so called "fairer sex" questions as these are usually relevant to most of us (this one certainly is), especially as we already have a forum for "technical" posts.

signwilson · Senior Member

Have a look on ebay at clothes dryers we bought one for $60.00 that folds up and puts away because if you wait for a sunny day in victoria it won't happen, It takes a little longer than a normal dryer but does not wreck the elastic in knickers etc.

baz104 · Newbie

I have put 2 rails in side the 4 seasons hatch over the bed. They are out of the way and dry quite quickly. Baz

Happywanderer · The Master

I love the idea of hand towels instead of large towels, hadn't thought of that.
Also a large bath sheet/towel to wrap around you to get back into your van would be a fantastic idea, no carrying clothes about with you.
Gosh, the ideas keep on coming on here don't they, All good ones too.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Welcome to the forum Baz!
Thank you everybody for your replies!
The strategy of the shower tent also applies to some of the more primitive showers in caravan parks. Its not possible to get dressed in those cubicles where the whole floor gets wet/ muddy so a quick wipe then wrap a beach towel around and run for it! Then finish off back at tent/trailer/caravan. (Home) In those kinds of places nobody worries too much.

tiger5 · Senior Member

Hi All,
As we stay mostly in parks I bought a electic towel rail.Great when the weather is not the best.SWMBO just loves it & I love a warm towel on a cold night.

Dawn · Senior Member

Hi Gert, my handy hubby has put a long aluminium towel rack on the outside of our van bought two ends like curtain rod holders/ aluminium to match, looks great and is under the awning so always dry. We hang our towels here every day.
We travelled for a year in 2003-2004 and did same, are just about ready to head off again with our new Grandcruiser Ritz, 24ft. He did the same to this one and looks neat tidy and great. Just a towel rack, buy all from bunnings for about $20 and screw on to van yourselves.
Cheers Dawn

-- Edited by Dawn on Monday 4th of October 2010 11:57:39 PM

Ma · Guru

tiger5 wrote:

Hi All,
As we stay mostly in parks I bought a electic towel rail.Great when the weather is not the best.SWMBO just loves it & I love a warm towel on a cold night.

Pure decadence Tige..............half your luck............

Sheba · Guru

I bought a folding one on special at Crazy Clarks for $9.99 a few months ago.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Allara · Senior Member

I have the micro towel in my 'bathroom bag', and find it very good. I got used to one with all the lightweight camping I have done with the Girl Guides and the Scouts.
It will dry your hair fairly well also. Very good if you are travelling and don't have time to hang towels up to dry, just hang it on one of the cupboard handles while you drive along, dries by morning tea time.

Wear the old mu-mu or(moo-moo) over, carry the bathroom bag, and wear the mu-mu back....works a treat.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I have a shower "shirt" which is a very long T shirt, and I use a small bath towel. The hand towel has been used before.
I have a small clip on line fitted on the van, and I have a close airer which folds down flat but can take a double sheet when opened out fully. Light and compact and I bought it a Homestead Hardware in Broome. I haven't seen it at Bunnings, but check these things out.
There are the pseudo-hills hoists which seem to breed at the back of every van during tourist season. I find them cumbersome and messy.
Most van parks don't want strings tied between trees and vans. It's very dangerous.
A line or 2 under the awning will also help you out in the wet weather.
In the tropics I use a fan to dry the clothes in the annexe when it's damp and humid with no breeze.
In the cold and wet weather down south a fan would still help with drying.
I hang my towel from curtain cable in the shower cubicle, when I'm on the road.
The previous owners installed a towel rail across the door inside the screen. It serves as a great handle to pull the door shut, so you don't have to stand on your head to grab the door handle. It doubles as a towel rail.
So many ideas. I love checking out the other campers' set ups. Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets.

Dunmowin · Guru

All good and really usefull comments. I can only add that as we will be living in our van full time, we don't see why we should compromise on quality just because we have traded one home for another on wheels, i.e. will be bringing with us our fluffiest of towels - eventually these will thin down - and then we will think about replacing them... eventually

Have had our days camping with the shower tent, solar bladder and old thin towels. The small microfibre towels are fine if you are weight poor (i.e. hiking) but not for me, sorry

Beth54 · Guru

Dunmowin wrote:

All good and really usefull comments. I can only add that as we will be living in our van full time, we don't see why we should compromise on quality just because we have traded one home for another on wheels, i.e. will be bringing with us our fluffiest of towels - eventually these will thin down - and then we will think about replacing them... eventually

Have had our days camping with the shower tent, solar bladder and old thin towels. The small microfibre towels are fine if you are weight poor (i.e. hiking) but not for me, sorry

Yes, if I was in your position, I'd be doing it comfortably too.

My sister and hubby bought their own little washer for the caravan too. They mostly don't stay in caravan parks, and had had enough of paying for laundromats.

Dunmowin · Guru

thanks Beth, yes there are a few creature comforts we are taking with us, and our caravan does have a 3kg front loader washing machine - mind you we will be doing as much free camping as possible, and dont want to use the genny too much, so don't know how much it will get used.

Cruising Granny · Guru

It's all about compromise. Space for comfort, comfort for space, 2 thick towels or 4 less thick towels. Trading house for caravan means compromise.
You'll work it out.

Happywanderer · The Master

I intend buying one of those buckets with the lid and a stirrer. Let the clothes wash while driving, then maybe a very small clothes rack I can stand somewhere out of the way while clothes dry.

Beth54 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

I intend buying one of those buckets with the lid and a stirrer. Let the clothes wash while driving, then maybe a very small clothes rack I can stand somewhere out of the way while clothes dry.

Hi Marj,

I remember my sister and I doing that in the 70's when the kids were still in nappies..REAL nappies that is! We were tripping through FNQ & NT...towing a trailer, so the buckets got a good bounce around. By the time we pulled up, they were ready to be hung out.

Dunmowin · Guru

Beth54 wrote:

Happywanderer wrote:

I intend buying one of those buckets with the lid and a stirrer. Let the clothes wash while driving, then maybe a very small clothes rack I can stand somewhere out of the way while clothes dry.

Hi Marj,

I remember my sister and I doing that in the 70's when the kids were still in nappies..REAL nappies that is! We were tripping through FNQ & NT...towing a trailer, so the buckets got a good bounce around. By the time we pulled up, they were ready to be hung out.

Yes,those washing buckets are also on my wish list Happywanderer, where did you get yours from?

Happywanderer · The Master

Dunmowin, they have them at the camping shops, we have them here at the port in Echuca. A lot of people just get a white bucket with tight lid that originally held food from delis I think I read.
Either way, will do the same job.

Dunmowin · Guru

I was in Anaconda & BCF (two of my most favourite shops) and did not see in either - but then it was not on the shopping list that day

will have to add to shopping list for next visit

Happywanderer · The Master

Our camping shops are all privately owned here, we don't have any of the chain store types. There are 3 down the port all beside each other. Packed with goodies, its like walking into an Aladdins Cave.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

One idea not mentioned so far are suction towel rails (bought at Bunnings). We have 2 of them stuck in the shower cubicle in the van when traveling(but you can stick them anywhere) & they go on the outside of the van windows to dry stuff in the sun. They are extendable & stay stuck well if you repush the suction button once every few days.

Also sometimes we string a line under the awning plus have a small heated towel rail which we believe is invaluable in winter for drying towels

Ma · Guru

You could have put that reply up a day or so ago Jon. We went to Bunnings today. Now it looks like we will just HAVE TO go back again doesn't it........