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Original poster

When do you stop drying laundry outside?

208 replies

Family1st2020 · 11/10/2020 20:24

I've still put mine out on dry days. Even though it can take near all day to dry but saves using tumble or having it over radiators. My ndn said she stops by mid Sept as not nice enough out.
Today has only been 11 degrees and cloudy but I've dried towels and our bedding. Dh uniform and 1 other load.
I've just seen weather is nice midweek 13. So plan to do kids beds then rather than tomorrow and tumbling? I'm now thinking my neighbours think I'm odd 😂

OP posts:
firstimemamma · 17/10/2020 22:38

All year round (unless it's raining obviously).

YourWinter · 17/10/2020 22:59

If the patio is dry the washing goes out, all year round. If the concrete stays wet the air is too wet for laundry to dry, but it still gets an hour or so on the line. I got rid of my dryer and will never have another, I have pulley-maid airers in the kitchen, radiator and over-door airers, clothes horses, and curtain rails which are perfect for hangers by an open window - but I always prefer to hang things outside to start, and bring them in to finish drying.

tempnamechange98765 · 18/10/2020 07:41

I open the windows in my house a lot, even in the full winter most windows will be open for at least a couple of hours in the morning.

It drives my DH mad and it does seem counterproductive when the heating is on too sometimes, but I really believe the house will get damp and moulds otherwise. Plus apparently it's all the rage in Germany now for preventing Covid so now there's another reason!

showgirl · 18/10/2020 07:44

If the ground dries the washing dries.

speakout · 18/10/2020 08:22

How do people stop their houses getting too humid and damp drying indoors in winter?*

Dry outdoors.
Even if laundry gets 50% dry out side it is wrth doing. Laundry will start drying outdoors in the coldest of weather, even if there is ice and snow on the ground. If there is s breeze or sun then it will dry.
Not completely like a hot summers day, but enough to significantly reduce the amount of time it needs to hang indoors.

I got rid of my tumble drier, for lots of reasons.

Whe drying indoors I make sure windows are open, I dry clothes eithe un the conservatory with doors fully open or in the hallway- I have a toilet in the corner of my hallway with an extractor fan, so I sometimes leave that running whan I have wet washing.

BathPearlsAndABritneyCD · 18/10/2020 08:31

I am such a drying-washing-outside bore! I love it. I stick it out unless it’s actively raining or if it’s very damp in the air. We’re moving house shortly and annoyingly it doesn’t look like there’s a line up in the new garden, so that’s one of the first jobs on my list to get sorted. We have a tumble drier but I always feel a bit disappointed if I have to use it Grin

speakout · 18/10/2020 08:38

BathPearlsAndABritneyCD

Not a bore at all- I call it laundry magic. So many good things about drying outside.

  1. It helps the planet by cutting electricity usage.
  2. It helps the wallet by not having to pay for tumble drier electricity
  3. It protects clothes, tumble driers wear out fabric.
  4. It kills germs- including viruses.
  5. It softens clothes.
  6. It makes clothes smell amazing
  7. It reduces drying time indoors if you are drying on a rack.
  8. It removes stains, UV light will bleach out marks.
  9. It imparts magical energy and vibrancy ( feel free to ignore this one- I am a practicing witch)

I find laundry magic an enjoyable activity.

QueenofLouisiana · 18/10/2020 08:48

It’s rained every day here for weeks, so have had to dry everything indoors. Normally, I try to use outdoor drying as much as possible- I’d never thought about using the patio as a guideline to dampness so that was a good tip.
I’ve bought moisture collectors this year to dry and stop the house getting damp, I’m so fed up with the rain!

user1471538283 · 18/10/2020 08:54

I try and dry outside any day the ground is not wet or it's not raining. I can remember my DGM pegging laundry out with her coat on! We have so much laundry I cant have it all tumbled or hanging up inside. Let your neighbour think you are odd. Mine used a tumble dryer over the summer!

butterpuffed · 18/10/2020 08:58

The only problem I find in putting washing outside this time of year is that when I go to collect am never sure if it's still damp or just cold until I get inside. Annoying !!

ventanaperrito · 18/10/2020 08:59

When it is raining. Other then that we dry laundry outside all year.

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/10/2020 09:03

All year round. If the path is dry the washing will dry is my rule of thumb. You still get dry, windy days in winter.

Karwomannghia · 18/10/2020 09:03

About 12 years ago

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/10/2020 09:57

I once (stupidly) dud one of those click bait Facebook quizzes on 'how many of these things from the 50s and 60s can you identify' . I got as far as clothes pegs, with the explanation of what these antique items were used for, then I gave up.

I can't believe people think it's OK to use electricity for drying clothes when fresh air and sunshine will do it. Climate change anyone? I will make exceptions for people in balconiless flats or with large numbers of children (but only when it's raining in this case).

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/10/2020 09:59

I agree with everything @speakout said except possibly, the witchy bit.

BathPearlsAndABritneyCD · 18/10/2020 10:02

@speakout

BathPearlsAndABritneyCD

Not a bore at all- I call it laundry magic. So many good things about drying outside.

  1. It helps the planet by cutting electricity usage.
  2. It helps the wallet by not having to pay for tumble drier electricity
  3. It protects clothes, tumble driers wear out fabric.
  4. It kills germs- including viruses.
  5. It softens clothes.
  6. It makes clothes smell amazing
  7. It reduces drying time indoors if you are drying on a rack.
  8. It removes stains, UV light will bleach out marks.
  9. It imparts magical energy and vibrancy ( feel free to ignore this one- I am a practicing witch)

I find laundry magic an enjoyable activity.

You’re so right! It’s the only thing I’ve found that will remove some food stains (specifically stains from things like spag bol where tomatoes have been with something fatty) and I get a real buzz from the smell of it when it comes in. Didn’t know about the killing of viruses though, that’s amazing!

We currently have two retractable lines that attach to hooks at the other end of the garden, and our family-of-4-sized daily load fits nicely on those - I’m hoping I can arrange something similar in the new house.

Karwomannghia · 18/10/2020 10:09

As a household we don’t use a huge of electricity and we all 5 walk to work/ school each day. I will dry clothes outside in guaranteed sun but so often I end up bringing in wet things. We have a busy life with 2 teens a preschooler and don’t have time or inclination to hang out washing everyday.

Zaphodsotherhead · 18/10/2020 11:52

In some places (my DD is in Oz) you aren't ALLOWED to hang washing up outside.

I always wonder if these places pay you a premium to help cover electricity costs from the tumble drier going. When I was out visiting my DD (who has a very respectable back yard, not overlooked, in Melbourne) it was 30 degrees and the tumble drier was going constantly, drying swimming towels!

firesong · 18/10/2020 12:02

Mine has been taking too long outside and still not dry at the end! So unless it is actually warm out, I have been back to indoor drying

speakout · 18/10/2020 12:10

firesong laundry will rarely dry to completion during the winter months, and hardly dry at all on damp days.
I line dry all year, but only on dry days.

dementedpixie · 18/10/2020 12:57

Even if only some of the moisture is removed outside its good to do as it means less moisture in your house.

MeadowHay · 18/10/2020 13:23

I'm still drying outside when I can but I've usually stopped by the end of October. Incidentally I was thinking about this the other week and wondering why I don't just do it all year round to save on tumble drying/heating costs a bit. So I will trial it this year! Having said that though, I'm in the NW in a city where we get v little sun throughout the winter months and endless endless weeks of rain usually in winter and spring so there's not usually that many dry days anyway.

ShatnersBaboon · 18/10/2020 15:19

I have two loads out today, though I don't think it will all dry fully in spite of being out since 8am and it being fairly bright and breezy here. It will finish overnight on the airers near a window open a crack. I have a tumble dryer, but it feels like such a waste of energy and money to use it regularly (plus tumbled washing never has that lovely outside smell and feel).

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 18/10/2020 15:58

If it’s blowy and dry I put it out. Dried towels outside today in SE London. I don’t tumble dry....

SewingBeeAddict · 18/10/2020 16:05

@Phrowzunn

Out of interest why is everyone so against tumble dryers? Is it an environmental thing? We recently got a washer dryer and it has absolutely changed my life - I love it!! Put the dirty washing in and 3 hours later it is clean and dry. No clothes horses everywhere, no running outside if it starts to rain etc. And if you take it out while it’s still hot and shake it out and fold it there’s no need to iron either. I’ve never had a drier before but I’m a total convert! Blush
Same here. All the lugging in and out. I dont understand the smell either. Smell of clothes dried outside if its cold makes me heave, horrible. They are never completly dry so the go in the dryer anyway so its just pointless work. Then it needs ironing Tumble, fold , put away.Done