Drying advice (1 Viewer)

Gayle99

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Jul 22, 2015
7
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Swift Bolero 684
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I'm a newbie
Hi, Mick and Gayle from Scotland
We have spent months researching choosing and buying a motorhome and have finally taken the plunge. We have just bought a two year old Swift Bolero and think its fantastic. But obviously at this time of year the weather isn't great and I'm having trouble drying towels between showers. Also anticipating lots of wet doggie towels too. Has anyone got any advice on the best way to dry wet towels, coats etc. I've been looking for an airer that would fit in the washroom but can't find anything that might fit. Is this the best solution anyway?
 

ludo

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Jul 12, 2011
724
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Hello,

@jezport sells a brilliant dryer with 6 arms that has a very strong sucker that sticks to the cab window. You fix it by turning a lever and it really does hold fast to the glass.

Also, have you thought of getting microfibre towels. They come in all sizes and dry extremely quickly
 

CWH

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Jan 29, 2014
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Use microfibre towels - they dry incredibly quickly - eg Lifeventure are brilliant - loads of different sizes & take up very little space. They're nice & soft, but don't expect warm & fluffy!
http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/departments/CleaningAndWashing/Towels.aspx
(other suppliers are available - we buy from Cotswold Outdoors for ease)

http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/blog/lifeventure-travel-towel-review/

We go for Lifeventure Softfibre - lifetime antibacterial something or other keeps them remarkably fresh all things considered, hang them outside whenever possible they only need 5 minutes or so to dry. If we're moving on they just hang up either on the coathooks or in the shower.
We found the Lifeventure Microfibre quickly got a bit whiffy so that one got relegated to the bin.

Sometimes we hang things in the shower room & put the heating on full blast, but close off all the vents except the one in the shower room - works quite quickly too! (not sure I'd want to do this with doggy towels though ....)

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sallylillian

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Oct 29, 2011
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Fit a 12 volt towel rad?
Or a simple rad with a low watt (200) electric element and run it off an inverter. Very low draw.
 

DBK

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Jan 9, 2013
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I sometimes use a flannel or a J Cloth to give myself a "pre-dry". You can just ring it out when it gets wet. Once you have removed the surface water, so to speak, the towel can be used to finish off and it won't get very wet.
 

TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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I sometimes use a flannel or a J Cloth to give myself a "pre-dry". You can just ring it out when it gets wet. Once you have removed the surface water, so to speak, the towel can be used to finish off and it won't get very wet.
as done on boats/submarines, same as the water saving shower so less to dry

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
Pretty much as DBK says, easier to use a flannel/small hand towel to dry off first and then a final 'buffing' with a full size one if needs be. The flannel will be wetter but as it's small it's much easier to hang up somewhere out of the way to dry and the larger towel won't take long as it's only just got a little bit damp. An alternative is a microfibre mit to dry off, either the ones for kiddies or for cars!

As for the dogs we use kiddies towels - the ones that are usually square with a 'hood' bit on the corner, they are lightweight and you can just hang them on the door mirrors with the 'hood' bit whenever you stop, that way they are soon dry and usable again. Below is Lily with her 'favourite' kiddy towel being dried off ... she LOVES being dried off!

Lily being dried (2).jpg
 
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Gayle99

Free Member
Jul 22, 2015
7
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Stranraer
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37,249
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Swift Bolero 684
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I'm a newbie
Thanks everyone..... sounds like it's the shower that needs reinventing. We've a lot to learn!
 

jonandshell

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Dec 12, 2010
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We just hang our towels on the rail in the shower.
We leave the rooflight in the shower slightly open. The updraught of warm air from the heating dries the towels whilst ensuring the wet air is expelled through the roof light.
Wet ski gear goes into the heated and vented wardrobe. It comes out bone dry and toasty warm every morning.

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TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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Thanks everyone..... sounds like it's the shower that needs reinventing. We've a lot to learn!
not reinventing, just relearning
get wet----water off
soap & shampoo-----water on
rinse and water off

there is only a limited amount of water in the van, even less is hot. done right and you can shower a couple 3 or 4 times(days) from a tankful. saves having to refill daily plus less wasted water to dry up. and you get just as clean
 

Eeyore

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Oct 28, 2010
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We learned this trick from full timers: when you shower stand in a washing up bowl. The water left in the bowl can be used to finish off those bits you missed while standing under the shower and do a more thorough foot wash. When you've done most of the water can be poured neatly down the drain instead of, if you are on a slope especially, flooding all the shower compartment. If you've got a handy drain close to the van you can even pour it away there later.

We have a Brabantia extending clothes line in the shower room. Came as standard with the van and very handy indeed as it has 4 lines that stretch the length of the area. As said above, hang towels etc on that, turn on the heating and open the top roof vent and things dry very quickly. On sunny days. if we are going out, I also hang the towels from the hooks over the cab doors and peg one end together in the centre. They then prevent anyone seeing into through the windscreen and dry in the sun.
See:

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jollyrodger

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Oct 1, 2012
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Ideal I find is a bar towel (Poachers ale :)) to pre dry ,also have 12 stitched together since 198? For use as a beach towel (y)
 

Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
I have a length of washing line with hooks on the end (they are off snapped bungee cords) which I hook over of the handles over the cab doors which creates a hanging area, I also have a travel washing line, like 2 pieces of elasticated cord with hooks on either end which I use as well as the benefit of this is that the 'twist' enables items to be slotted in between and holds them as you would if you used pegs. The one I have is the same as the white one below but there's on in the link I've given which is identical just a different colour and you can't argue at the price!

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The beauty of the latter is that it we have it in the cab and want to set off but the stuff isn't dry, I can just remove it with all the stuff on and hook it in the rear over the bed whilst we travel!
 

Shrimp

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May 27, 2015
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Bedfordshire, UK
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Hymer B584
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Wet coats and boots/shoes go in the shower, an expanding rail in the shower does the trick for wet coats.
I made a liner out of plastic covered thick cardboard for the shower floor (to protect it) and the boots /shoes go on that in the shower.
Normal towels went out the door and we use Microfibre towels from Mountain Wharehouse(or elsewhere) they are good, we hang them on the back of the swivel driver & passenger chairs. We don't shower everyday probably only every 3 or 4 days in between times we strip wash with a flannel or two, less drying!
The dog has two Microfibre towels!
We use a small oil-filled radiator when on hookup and this gets pressed into action for drying, we have a place we can hang a multi peg dryer and get the heater underneath it, or even put it in the shower with all the wet stuff!

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TerryL

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Mar 5, 2010
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We do much as stated above. But in an "emergency" I fit the awning stretcher pole across the cab, it sits nicely on the two storage pockets, and use the lightweight clothes hangers. It's okay for overnight when we're not using that space.
 

Welsh girl

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I sometimes use a flannel or a J Cloth to give myself a "pre-dry". You can just ring it out when it gets wet. Once you have removed the surface water, so to speak, the towel can be used to finish off and it won't get very wet.
I wish hubby would think like you. It's the full works every morning, big towel, lots of water and a super wet bathroom.
 

TheBig1

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the more water running down the walls in the bathroom and soaking wet towels inside, the greater the risk of a damp motorhome

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Allanm

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Jun 30, 2013
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I use a large bath towel, Mrs A uses a towelling dressing gown. We put them under the bed next to the Truma heater and they are dry in a couple of hours if we have hot water or heating on. We also put damp clothes after washing them in there to dry them.
If they aren't too wet we put them over the heated towel rail in the bathroom if we have the heating on.
 

Cal54

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I'm a firm believer in the 'small facecloth first' routine. With this method the main towel is never really wet.

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sdc77

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Jan 28, 2013
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Also... you could consider an ecocamel shower head. Save water and works well for us and a fair few others. (Make sure you get the correct model if you do get one)
 

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