I just had a similar situation in Greece. Unusually cold and wet and took forever to dry my only heavy sweatshirt. We are kind of spoiled in the states. Oh, no TV or microwave in a small fishing village but that I knew ahead of time.
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See we crossed posts there re the airing cupboard 
.
Totally agree it is manageable if the heating is set at a decent level (and with space for the multiple airers) but knowing how a lot of my Scottish family have their homes like fridges in the winter (I have to put my thermals on just to visit and definitely will not stay over 
) and some struggling with the outrageous costs of fuel now you can appreciate how the damp/mold issues in many UK homes occur.
An Aga with the airer above is always a great replacement for a tumble dryer 
.
@Maggie8K …would a trip to a laundrette be worthwhile?
Thank you, @Pips and @Shannon.
There isn’t space to hang dry things as you mentioned (too cramped) and the warmest room is where I’m spending my time when awake, so I’ve got the laundry rack in there with me.
It’s a lovely home, but the way it’s laid out, I’m avoiding heating other rooms unnecessarily.
It’s a minor inconvenience since I don’t do long sits. I figure if absolutely necessary I’ll iron clothes dry.
I don’t go out most days on sits or see anyone in person, other than to walk dogs I’m sitting, because I telecommute. I can wear clothes longer if I have to, because no one smells me, LOL.
The welcome guide suggested using the drying rack or hanging laundry on the radiators.
It’s a beautiful, updated home, with the sweetest dog. And the host is kind. Overall, I feel quite lucky to be here. I’ve fallen in love with Scotland — I was in Edinburgh sightseeing for a week and I’ve also gotten to see enough of Glasgow to love it.
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Thanks for the suggestion. If I did long sits, that’s probably what I’d do. But because I don’t usually sit for more than two weeks, I can make do. I know where the iron is in a pinch, LOL.
LOL. I’m wearing my puffy coat right now, indoors. My host wasn’t stingy about heat or such, but I also want to be thoughtful. If I can warm up, like say after coming in from a dog walk in the rain, just by wearing my coat a bit longer, I try to not turn the heat up.
My host also left me an electric blanket, in case I need.
I’m actually used to this sort of rain, because I spent nearly a decade in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. I’ve been spoiled by central air and dryers at home, though.
@Maggie8K this sounds like the sit I had in Glasgow a few weeks ago. There was a washer but no dryer, an indoor foldable drying rack, no refrigerator just a small dorm size freezer in the closet. Nice family and pet but very uncomfortable home/living situation because of the lack of amenities. Thankfully it was a short sit.
@kimshady, I hope you enjoyed your visit overall, despite the inconveniences.
I lucked out with the fridge, because my host has two — a dorm-size one and a larger one. The home is equipped for a chef, though I don’t cook. Happily, Waitrose, a Co-op and other food are within easy walks. And my host kindly drove me to Waitrose on my first day and showed me spots where I’d walk the dog or otherwise visit. She also encouraged me to go to the Kelvingrove museum while we overlapped a couple of days. I loved it and appreciate her various kindnesses. Even now, she’s asking whether I’m warm enough when we chat via WhatsApp.
I had a sit with dorm-size fridge and no dryer before, in London. But that was easier, because it wasn’t raining constantly and food was everywhere, even just downstairs.
One of the benefits of sitting is getting to experience different ways of life, even when inconvenient. I say that, because as much as I enjoy sitting, I LOVE going home. It helps me feel grateful for the many conveniences that otherwise would be easy to take for granted. And I’m sure if any of my hosts came to stay with me, they’d find some things odd or inconvenient as well. Lifestyles are just different.
I grew up mostly in the tropics, where few folks owned dryers. As kids, it was among my chores to hang laundry out and take it in. There was nothing like the smell of sun-dried clothing and linens. By contrast, I find that tumbled-dry laundry smells and feels better than laundry hung to dry in cooler or damper climates. The dampness is off to me. I also have lived in Vegas before, where if you hung something up even dripping wet, it would end up bone dry within a short time, LOL.
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Oh, I totally feel your pain with house sitters! I had one who left my place a mess, and it was so disheartening. After that, I started being super clear with my expectations.
Hello @AndyCary and welcome.
If this experience was prior to the blind reviews…I hope that going forward you will leave factual objective reviews of THsitters reflecting your experience.
I also think discussing things with the sitters after the sit and prior to posting the review may help in posting a balanced yet accurate review.
You may be able to say something like “after talking with blah sitter, they were receptive to having a more tidy home upon their departure when I express concern ……”
If the sitter doesn’t engage post sit…then a factual objective review of all good and not good is best.
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On my most recent sit I asked where the cleaning kit was kept, and was told not to worry because the cleaner would be in the day I leave. However, I still left the place cleaner than I found it. Imagine my surprise at being given only 4 stars for cleanliness - thankfully 5 overall and she’d like me back. So i am taking this as finger error.
@DianeS did you inquire as to why 4? Especially if you are asked back then you’ll want to know from the HO what would receive 5 stars?
@Maggie8K We have done several sits in Scotland. They have all had tumble dryers, although one was the dehydrated type with the water tray which had to be emptied. At this point, we do not accept sits without a dryer. I’m not willing to spend days with laundry hanging on every heater and in every doorway. We just spent 2 months in the UK where it rained most every day, making it impossible to hang clothes out to dry. Now we are in France, but it’s still raining and I’m still using the dryer! We always ask when the lower rates are on and do our laundry during those hours.
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@Mary.Willmon, sounds good.
I had a terrific sit in Glasgow and am really happy I didn’t miss it, even without a dryer. I don’t do long sits, though. I usually sit for a week or two. If it were much longer, I’d take your approach.
Yeah, I agree with all you. I now have a checklist for sitters that includes cleaning up before they leave. It sounds a bit much, but it works. Most people actually seem to appreciate knowing exactly what to do.
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Before a sit we receive numerous reminders on what to do and how to prepare the house. From the cleaning, to provision of utilities, rooms areas. Also reminders about the pets etc.
But do the sitters get as much contact during and towards the end of the sit to remind them of their responsibilities etc?
I think this is a valid point having just had a bad experience with the condition of my home and the pups living/sleeping area when we came home from our holiday.
Sure. We get for example this:
And this:
And reminders about passport and visa (which would be hard to fix within a few days).
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We’re supposed to get reminders to clean but have never had one in 30 or so sits. We always leave the house clean. Always. We have arrived to plenty of houses where they’ve clearly read very little of your cleaning checklist as HOs. I think it’s worth you telling your sitters @EJPullen66 that you’d like the house back as they found it and put that in the WG and on notes at the house as THS reminders are hit & miss and then expectations are clear from the off 
What I love (not) about this travel checklist is that they send it 2 days before your sit starts It’s ZERO use at that point @pietkuip and have told HQ the same
Hello, @EJPullen66 sitters should get a reminder email and checklist 2 days before the end of their sit.
@Cuttlefish I’m not sure why you are not receiving them, if you want them Membership Services should be able to help. I’m sure with your experience you might not need it! 
See checklist details here
@Cuttlefish & @pietkuip I will mention that feedback again for you both. If they update the timeline of the send then I will let you know 
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