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Original poster

Washing at night!

212 replies

fandjango · 04/04/2025 21:17

Controversial I know but is hanging your washing out at night a really bad thing?

I know I know, Spider Penises and Bugs etc but don’t these things also happen during the day?

We are a Family with small people with lots of washing and our tumble drier has recently broken down, plus cost of living and all that plus the sunshine early morning.

Husband is horrified i’ve hung some washing out on the line and also hung two clothes horses worth of clothes under our canopy this evening.

I just want to get the washing done!

Surely it’s not just me!?

OP posts:
Hoardasauruskaren · 04/04/2025 22:33

fandjango · 04/04/2025 21:17

Controversial I know but is hanging your washing out at night a really bad thing?

I know I know, Spider Penises and Bugs etc but don’t these things also happen during the day?

We are a Family with small people with lots of washing and our tumble drier has recently broken down, plus cost of living and all that plus the sunshine early morning.

Husband is horrified i’ve hung some washing out on the line and also hung two clothes horses worth of clothes under our canopy this evening.

I just want to get the washing done!

Surely it’s not just me!?

Ive just hung a load outside in preparation for a nice day tomorrow! I’m off out early & have another load on now which will go out first thing! I do this whenever the weather is nice !

Putthekettleon73 · 04/04/2025 22:31

If it's dry I always hang out washing in the evening. No time in morning before work/school. Then it dries all the next day and take it in that evening.
Hanging out washing is the "chore" I enjoy most!

RentalWoesNotFun · 04/04/2025 22:30

My thick towels tend to smell if I don’t get then dry within a few hours. So I wouldn’t risk hanging then overnight as the dampness in the air at night won’t dry them.

I also don’t fancy sharing them with spiders or creepy crawlies that could lay microscopic eggs on them and then I use the towel to say dry my face or lips or whatever.

No I don’t fancy it. If it were just a sock wash or something I wouldn’t mind so much! But I usually have towels in all my washes so I don’t want them smelling.

Headabovetheparapets · 04/04/2025 22:30

I do this in the summer regularly🤗 & 50/50 it works or it get wetter but I think those odds are ok for dry washing by lunchtime 🤣 less in winter obviously.
I’d say go for it xx

QueenOfThorns · 04/04/2025 22:30

StartAnew · 04/04/2025 21:58

Only problem is that it can be damp overnight even without raining. Other than that, why not? Great to catch the early morning sun.

But it’s already damp, that’s why I hung it out to dry!

Beeloux · 04/04/2025 22:29

I always hang my washing out all year long on an evening once dc have went to bed (young so cant leave them unsupervised). The only time I won’t is when it’s forecast rain overnight.
Always smells fresh and clean when dry.

AcquadiP · 04/04/2025 22:28

I dry my washing overnight in the bathroom using a dehumidifier. I hang tops and jeans on hangers from the shower rail and the rest on an airer or on the radiator. It costs 7p an hour to run my 20 litre dehumidifier and even thick jeans and hoodies are dry within 5 or 6 hours. It also dries out the bathroom and prevents mould. I bought my first dehumidifier when my tumble drier packed up many years ago and I haven't looked back.
I'm a fan of outdoor airing but not at night!

FrazzledHippy · 04/04/2025 22:28

I don't, I can't deal with the idea of Sidney Spider sliding his schlong all along my socks

LozzaCh0ps · 04/04/2025 22:27

I used to, until the foxes ran riot with my knickers.

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/04/2025 22:27

My mother says it "common" but cant really say why. Suspect its from my grandma as it suggested that you hadnt been bothered/organised/hard working enough to get your housework done in time to get it hung out in the day.

Or something!

Perfectly fine to do it imo.

gillefc82 · 04/04/2025 22:26

AffableApple · 04/04/2025 21:47

Perhaps you're new to Mumsnet washing threads... You have nothing to worry about. (Unlike the OP, whose laundry will get darked on, and covered in spiders wiping their willies everywhere.)

Show quote history

And there was me thinking they were ‘snail trails’ all these years….I’ve been laying blame at the door of the wrong garden critter! You live and learn 😂

Fromage · 04/04/2025 22:23

@EBearhug "Spiders have pedipalps rather than penises"

WOAH

So the penis rubbing is just an incy wincy strap on? We need not fear arachnijizz?

Frontroomroomjungle · 04/04/2025 22:20

Another who puts washing out the evening before to dry the next day - I've been doing it this week as it's been so nice, but definitely do it in proper Summer. Darked on and spider penises be damned.

tachetastic · 04/04/2025 22:18

I frequently leave laundry outside for two or three days before I have time/incentive to bring it in. Never encountered a bug or spider penis on my lovely dry, clean laundry.

Eldermilleniallyogii · 04/04/2025 22:18

I have a heater airer I use overnight

I'm not sure why leaving washing out all night just doesn't feel right!

Ihateslugs · 04/04/2025 22:18

I remember my next door neighbour leaving her washing out the night of the hurricane in the SE, I lived near Reading at the time. Her very large old lady knickers blew away and were never seen again! She was mortified at the thought of neighbours finding them!

adagio · 04/04/2025 22:17

As well as getting darked on and spiders rubbing their willies on it, it also smells wrong.

MinnieCoops · 04/04/2025 22:17

LeaveTaking · 04/04/2025 21:28

I have to ask… spider penises? Is this a known issue?

If you ask the spiders they’ll say it’s a MASSIVE one

tachetastic · 04/04/2025 22:16

fandjango · 04/04/2025 21:17

Controversial I know but is hanging your washing out at night a really bad thing?

I know I know, Spider Penises and Bugs etc but don’t these things also happen during the day?

We are a Family with small people with lots of washing and our tumble drier has recently broken down, plus cost of living and all that plus the sunshine early morning.

Husband is horrified i’ve hung some washing out on the line and also hung two clothes horses worth of clothes under our canopy this evening.

I just want to get the washing done!

Surely it’s not just me!?

Spider penises??? 😱😱😱

MooFroo · 04/04/2025 22:16

I’ve got a wash on now
Severely tempted to hang it out but far too lazy to actually do it.
It may well stay in the washing machine over the weekend if I forget in the morning and will have to rewash it in the week

Hey Ho

MrsSunshine2b · 04/04/2025 22:15

Like everyone else, I'm only here because I want to know more about the dangers of spider penises.

EasterOnTheHorizon · 04/04/2025 22:14

Winter2020 · 04/04/2025 21:19

I'm going to put mine out in a minute. I wear a headtorch to do it!

Oh, why didn’t I think of this?

Smart move!👍

I put mine out overnight when it’s especially warm, high summer, I guess. It’s dry by mid morning. It all helps, and nothing bad has happened to it.

MummaMummaMumma · 04/04/2025 22:14

I do this in the height of summer.
If I leave it too late to bring my washing in of an evening now it's damp again, so I wouldn't do it unless really hot.

SlightlyJaded · 04/04/2025 22:13

MN has gone to the dogs.
5 years ago, the OP would have been told categorically not to be insane because spider-willies and getting darked on

All this 'laissez faire' thinking is making me have palpitations.

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 04/04/2025 22:13

If it’s essential that it dries I keep it indoors. If it’s just towels or whatever I leave it out as I’ve got spares. I’ve put stuff out at the end of a warm day before, only to find it pouring with rain the following morning.

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