What is an Airing Cupboard?
An airing cupboard is a small room or closet which is designed to house the core elements of a heating system, such as a boiler or hot water heater. This term is more widely used in Britain; the phrase “hot press” is also used. The “airing” in airing cupboard comes from the common practice of hanging slightly damp clothing and linens inside this generally warm room, allowing them to thoroughly dry. Airing cupboards are also used for the storage of linens. The size of an airing cupboard varies. It is typically located near a stairway landing or along a hall, and it is often close to a location where hot water is used, such a bathroom or kitchen. Depending on the heating and cooling system involved, the airing cupboard may hold a hot water heater, a boiler for hot water and steam heat, or some other form of heater. The space is designed to be large enough to allow relatively easy servicing of the devices it holds, and in some cases the airing cupboard is deliberately built with room for
Jenny – I don’t know what you would call them but an airing cupboard is a built in cupboard that contains a hot water tank where you store all the household linens to keep them dry and ‘aired’ or fresh. Zillah – the part of Wales where we are is pretty remote or at least we don’t have anything like ‘specialist’ shops or chain stores here. We just have small, mostly family owned shops. Most of our linen is Irish, sent over by my lovely MIL. I have to admit that I haven’t even heard of Cologne and Cotton – I lead such a sheltered life!
