Attitudes to line drying clothes in the UK

[Notcontent]

But of a boring topic but…. I have been thinking about this because I grew up in a country where everyone line dries their clothes whenever possible. The climate makes it easier to do this than in the UK but I think there is more to it than that. Where I live in London very few people seem to dry their clothes outside even on hot days. I almost feel like maybe it’s seen as being inappropriate and unsightly…

Is it a London thing? A class thing? In any case, I have decided to put my clothes drying racks outside whenever it’s not raining even if it offends my neighbours’ eyes!

Line dry, things can go out for most of the year.

Especially for the environment. Smells nicer

I wouldn’t hang clothes out in London. They’d either get stolen or stink of pollution.

Given the climate change issue I think all local restrictions about line drying outside should be overturned - no exception.

@RampantIvy

Also I never iron, I have better things to do

Bingo.
I do iron. I don't like looking like a crumpled mess.

People who don't iron don't look like a crumpled mess. Once the clothes have been worn for a few minutes, they look the same whether or not they've been ironed.

This business of people not being allowed to hang out washing in certain apartment blocks is probably unlawful, being against your right for quiet enjoyment of the property. It affects absolutely no-one and if you're one of the minority who thinks that 'it not looking very nice' trumps the environmental benefit then you could always just not look at it.

@purplesequins I will be doing but I have to wait until my neighbour goes... he reports it and I get shitty letters/calls/threats of eviction (that'll be fun given I own and it's not rented...)

Once the clothes have been worn for a few minutes, they look the same whether or not they've been ironed.

T-shirts and stretchy fabrics I would agree, but I have clothes that need ironing otherwise they do look like a crumpled mess. I don't avoid buying these fabrics because I quite enjoy ironing while watching an old episode of Bad Girls

and if you're one of the minority who thinks that 'it not looking very nice' trumps the environmental benefit then you could always just not look at it.

Well said.

I live in Wales. We line dry, even when it snows.

I’ve never had/needed a tumble dryer, either line dry or on an airer next to a radiator. Although I can see that wouldn’t work for big families or other areas.

There was a definite reluctance though, years ago, to hang out women’s underwear - either from coyness or in case it was stolen. Apparently stealing knickers off clothing lines was a thing. Maybe closet trannies who couldn’t go and buy their own?

@DominickTheItalianXmasDonkey

I wouldn’t hang clothes out in London. They’d either get stolen or stink of pollution.

What does pollution smell like? And if there is a pollution smell how do you suppose tumble dried clothes escape the smell given that houses aren’t airtight and that polluted air gets into the wardrobe etc?

@L1ttleSeahorse - it's not ok everywhere in the U.K. Definitely a class thing.

Everything in the UK is a class thing.

@VanishingAct

Everything in the UK is a class thing.

Well seeing as there's no consistent definition of class, it really isn't.

Are the people who line dry the lentil weaving eco MC or the lower working classes who can't afford a tumble dryer or the electricity to run it?

We've just been away - first night in accompanying with washing machine, I wash and then find no dryer. Okay - hang out clothes, still damp the next morning, turn them round and finally dry that evening. Repeat......

We're now back from holiday - 5 washes of laundry later, I'm half way through - not sure that would work on a line.
I suspect it's worse as there are 6 of us and 3 are 6'4' and over.

I have my washing on airers in the conservatory just now. If it is dry tomorrow it will go out on the line.

TBH I can't understand why some people hate the smell of line dried washing. It just smells of fresh air.

When you iron line dried washing you get the smell again - lovely.

@RampantIvy

Also I never iron, I have better things to do

Bingo.
I do iron. I don't like looking like a crumpled mess.

I think MN is bizarre for this one. You get people who seem to spend half their lives cleaning and tidying (and the other half complaining about it) but ironing is a no-no.

I gave up on ironing years ago !
Lots of folding is the answer

I don't do a lot of ironing Teeth, because I have a lot of clothes that don't require it, but I have some clothes that look terrible if I don't.

I find it helps to dry clothes that are still slightly damp, and I quite enjoy it anyway. It isn't the chore to me that it is to most mumsnetters. All of my friends iron as well.

@Seeleyboo

I live in Wales. We line dry, even when it snows.

I love frost blown clothes! It's amazing how well they'll dry on a really cold morning!

I actually dislike the smell of line dried stuff, but unless it's bedding I can't really smell it when I'm wearing it.

I would line dry more bit I live in the northwest which is typically wetter then the rest of England and often found I'd put it out on a morning and when I returned from work it was wet from rain, I got sick of.it. now I only line dry if I'm home all day, which is rare.

I've got a washer/dryer but I really only use the dryer bit in the Winter when it's cold and the clothes have been hanging around too long in the utility! I washed some sheets the other day it was quite warm outside so I hung them out and they were dry within minutes, I actually find hanging out clothes on the line very satisfying.

How can you dislike the smell of fresh air?

I put clothes out to dry when it's going to be dry all day - if I'm at work and not there if it rains. I will risk it on more showery days if I'm home. Otherwise its tumble dryer for the items that are suitable and airers for the rest. Prefer line drying as first choice.

I line dry when possible, got three loads done yesterday, but towels and bedding go in the drier. I have two straight lines, not a rotary, so it's easier for those things to be dried. In the winter, I have an airer next to the bathroom radiator, which is the heatsink for the range, so always warm, and anything put on there gets try quickly. Jeans go over heated towel rails, and will dry overnight.

I used to live in Belgium and putting washing out on Sunday wasn't allowed. It disturbed the racing pigeons.

How can you dislike the smell of fresh air?
I think we’re conditioned to believe clean = fragranced which is why they sell fabric conditioners with strong fragrances. (It’s also the reason they sell scented tampons and “intimate” washes )

@Divebar2021

How can you dislike the smell of fresh air? I think we’re conditioned to believe clean = fragranced which is why they sell fabric conditioners with strong fragrances. (It’s also the reason they sell scented tampons and “intimate” washes )

Yes! I can't stand the smell of heavily-fragranced washing, but love the outdoors-dried smell.