What is the secret to actually getting your washing DRIED on the washing line?

[JuanSheetIsPlenty]

Because it’s never dry when I bring it in. Except for maybe one day in July.

It’s always damp meaning I have to put it in the tumble drier for at least half an hour which shrinks it or I have to hang it on airers and turn the dehumidifier on which I might as well just do in the first place and leave it on longer to save hanging twice.

So what it is the secret?

Put it on an extra spin once the wash has ended , before hanging it out?

Wind. I lived down south and my drying never dried because there was no wind. Grew up in the far north and a good flap would dry the washing in a couple of hours.

Bring it in sooner. I had washing that felt dry at 3 pm but was damp again by 4.30. I’m cross with myself because I knew that would happen. It’s stuff that can’t go in the drier.

Yep, windy day and don’t leave it out too late!

Hot breezy days and bringing it in before the temperature outside cools down.

Like a pp says, this happens about once or twice a year. (North of England, shady garden, hate laundry with a deep seated passion)

Get a washer with a good spinner. Wind and sun.

I've got loads of washing dry on the line over the last few days.

I had washing that felt dry at 3 pm but was damp again by 4.30.

Ahh I think this is it!

I leave it out as long as it’s light out to try and get as much drying as possible. Brought it in at half 4 today. I should have gone sooner.

My mum is always chastising me for not having a wash out. I tell her there’s no point as it doesn’t bloody dry. Then she brags about having two loads dried by lunchtime! she has loads of wind where she is. I don’t.

Run an extra spin cycle and bring it in at least an hour and a half before dusk because the dew is already settling then. In summer this works in the UK. Outside of high summer during weekdays for anyone with normal working hours this doesn't work in the UK.

I got bedding and towels dry today. Brought the last lot in at 3pm. It definitely dries and then gets damp again if you don't bring it in soon enough.

Sunny here but no wind really which makes a change. I do use the 1400 spin though so it's not that wet when hung out

Outside of high summer during weekdays for anyone with normal working hours this doesn't work in the UK.

Yep.

My machine only goes up to 1200 spin. I’ll try the extra spin. Can’t buy a new machine.

This time of year I'd have mine in by 3pm latest or it just gets damp again. My mum drilled this into me growing up!

Yep - agree with others, bring it in earlier in the afternoon. Then hang it on a clothes airer for a few hours. If it's still not quite dry enough, then either leave it on the airer a bit longer, ideally near a radiator, or iron it.

Yeah I know. Really we all need tumble dryers. We live on a damp little island that doesn't get a lot of sun for most of the year. If you do have a tumble dryer though "finishing off" in it doesn't take very long, certainly not as long as tumbling from the outset, if you grab your stuff when you get in from work and put it in straight away. So there's that.

Don't overcrowd the line.

I have a wirlygig and only put washing on every other line. And get it in before it starts to it starts to cool down and damp.

Put it out as early as possible in the morning and never when it's raining.
It gets wet if you leave it out overnight because spiders wee on it.

It's probably not damp. Just cold. I have had washing out every day this week, bedding and all sorts and it's dried fine. Does feel chilly when you bring it in off the line though - and we're in Scotland so it's hardly tropical.

Live east of the Pennines, have no fence or building to the south and west, never let the sun go down on it. At the time of year, the clothes get so cold after dusk they absorb moisture when brought in to a warm house*.

Peg trousers by the waistband, fly towards the wind. Hanging sheets or duvets? Upside iyswim, fold downwards, this stops flapover and winding up. Shirts by the bottom hem, sleeves downwind.

*Also spider willies.

They absorb spider willies?!

OP the trick is in that extra spin.

Mine spins at 1200 and I still have to put it in a spin cycle to get the excess water out. It's makes a big difference.

Extra spin
Wind

Don't overcrowd the line.

I have a wirlygig and only put washing on every other line. And get it in before it starts to it starts to cool down and damp.

Yep, the more spaced out the better & in before it cools too much. OP is you line in a spot that actually gets full sun or is it in a shady spot? as that will affect it also

I have a German friend who lived in Ireland for a few years. Her solution for getting washing dried on the line here in our wet climate was to leave it out there for a whole week, 'because after a week, it's dry'

I got mine in at 4pm today and it was all dried lovely. My garden is in full sun though.

Definitely bring it in earlier