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!

Family of 6, don’t own a tumble drier. As long as the ground is dry, I’ll put a load of washing out. 3rd load of bedding is currently on the line.

Benefit of a husband who works from home and more obsessive than I am about line drying, is that he races out and gets it in if it rains.

Ahhhh...the WFH washing sprint. We've all been there! 🤣🤣

@Peoniesandpeaches I feel your pain! Shared lines / communal gardens are a nightmare

Putting washing out is therapeutic and good exercise

Where I am- middle class suburb of a northern city- almost everyone line dries when they can.

I do know people who tumble dry everything but they admit it’s just laziness

I didn’t even own a tumble dryer until recently.
I find it baffling how, in the US, line drying is not so much a thing. Tumble dryers are horrendously energy intensive! And wear out your clothes. I do use them for towels though.

@HHSchultz

I live in an Apartment that forbids hanging washing out.

Wow. I would be challenging this. Have you tried?

@daisypond

Most people have utility rooms with racks.

I’ve lived in London for 40 years and I don’t know anyone who has a laundry room at all, even those in houses.

I don’t even know what “racks” looks like. I know plenty of people with utility rooms but even they mostly dry outside when weather dry!

@Weepingwillows12

I don't often line dry if I am honest. I have airers in the conservatory which gets massively hot so dries fast (on a sunny day). I have one line near my house I could use (I use it for towels and sheets mainly). I have one I can put in a hole in the lawn but if I do it's in the way for the kids so I don't often bother. And I have a tumble dryer which I do use sometimes.

I think I probably should line dry more. I didn't used to because I left at 6am each morning and got back at 5pm during the work week then was ferrying kids around to clubs at weekends. If the weather changed my laundry never dried as I could never bring it in.

Now I wfh maybe I should.....

Wfh makes a Massive difference to be able to line dry clothes. A good excuse for 5minutes fresh air for starters.

That said nothing wrong environmentally for drying in the conservatory as long as it’s ventilated

Most people have utility rooms with racks.

Not in my part of London. I’d love a utility room but the houses around here were built in the 30s and the kitchens didn’t even have room for washing machines let alone full on utility rooms!

@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 )

I don't think line dried clothes smell of fresh air, I think they smell weird. But I live in a city so it could be pollution. I don't use heavily fragranced detergent and never use fabric softener, so it's definitely not that.

I'll admit I'm not keen on the smell of line dried clothes in Australia because I use unscented eco-friendly laundry powder etc. The smell is like very mild "wet dog" smell, if you know what I mean.

In the UK, where I used my Dad's laundry stuff, the scents are so strong that line-drying really helps to knock some of it out, which is far better.
However, we can still smell it for ages on our clothes when we get back to Australia, if they're not worn/washed again for a while!

I remember being on the East coast of Scotland ( possibly Arbroath?) and seeing washing blowing on long lines on the beach behind tiny cottages. Beautiful sight!

@vulgarlady

ferryden

Ferryden again

I am hugely envious of those lines!

Laurie… thank you for posting that link. Wonderful!

I don't think I'd like to hang the washing out in a city center or by a busy road. The air isn't exactly the freshest there.