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Why buy a pristine new underwear airer on credit? Read how my 20-year-old peg-and-string 'Trigger's Broom' airer works perfectly and saves cash for Team Me.
I've had this for probably 20 years. It was second-hand when I got it.
Over the years it's been in the conservatory in summer or in front of a radiator in winter. It's got super hot and freezing cold and over time the plastic has gotten brittle so the chain and clips have started to break every so often.
In fact, there is only 1 original peg on it.
I've fixed it with normal pegs, string, clips from old name label clips you get at a conference, or just verious clippy things I've come across on my travels. It's all strung together with the wire lengths you get for freezer bags or around the cable on new items. I've also modified it with wire and added the hooks from multipacks of socks or knickers you get in supermarkets... that's for hanging knickers on. It's now space saving too!!!
I could just buy a new set....?
I will admit, it's not the most attractive thing in my house. But who actually comes to my house other than my immediate family and closest friends? Who is actually looking at stuff like that when they visit someone? Why would I care what you think of my airer?
It's still functional. It's the Trigger's Broom of the airer world :)
I love the challenge of fixing it more than buying a new one... in fact, I have a new one, I just think there is still plenty of life left in this one, so I'm saving the new one for my son for when he moves into his new place and needs one.
Go ahead, laugh at my pegs and string. But while you're busy buying a pristine white plastic replacement on Amazon credit, my airer functions perfectly, and the £5 I saved is sitting in a top savings account compounding for my future life. Who is really winning here?
The Strict Witch says: If you want to see what your own small, daily expenses are costing you over a full year, stop buying replacement plastic on auto-pilot and plug your numbers into the Non-Essential Spending Calculator right now.
What have you got like Triggers Broom at home? What have you made-do-and-mended? Send me your pictures and I'll do a montage of the best ones... ladyfrugal@watchthepennies.co.uk
Behold: The dual-layered, umbrella-pole-modified laundry airer. Ironing board not required.
The Ultimate DIY Laundry Hack
The Ultimate DIY Laundry Hack
You can also see the fantastic clothes airer I use. It's fully portable, and I've even added the bottom half of an old garden umbrella pole across the middle to create a second rung for hanging clothes. If I ever need to dry longer items, I can just adjust the overall height upwards in seconds.
The best part? It drastically reduces my ironing. By hanging clothes directly on hangers, they keep their shape and the wrinkles naturally drop out as they dry. Plus, because it’s on wheels, it can easily be rolled into the conservatory on a sunny winter day instead of cluttering up the house. It's incredibly practical, cost-effective, and can easily hold about two full loads of washing at a push—provided you steal a few extra hangers from the bedroom wardrobes!
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