Too cold to hang washing on the line?

[Maskedstranger]

It is 4 degrees and sunny here. At what point is it so cold that the washing won't get dry on the line? I know it won't get totally dry out there today, but will it even get dryish? It is my first winter of attempting to line-dry all year round!

It won't get completely dry but the sun will dissipate some water. On days like this we put it out and then onto the heated drier to finish it off.

I’ve put a load of nappies on the line so we’ll see

I’m thoroughly testing the “if the ground is dry, your clothes will dry” theory today though as it’s similar weather here

I put it out so long as there is no chance of rain. Get it as dry as you can and then hang up indoors over night

I love line drying!!!

But I don’t at this time of year, even if sunny. And I live in the mild south east!

I don’t like it because I find that I bring the clothes in, and they feel…. Cold and still damp. So really no value to it.

Whereas spring autumn and summer…. 80% I line dry

If the pavements are dry- that’s the saying.

It will dry a bit. Especially if windy.

I always put it out even on cold days like today if there’s some sun. It will still be damp when I bring it in but will soon finish off on the airier over night and it stops it smelling damp.

Right, I'm heading outside with my washing basket then

@Thegirlhasnamechanged

I’ve put a load of nappies on the line so we’ll see

I’m thoroughly testing the “if the ground is dry, your clothes will dry” theory today though as it’s similar weather here

That’s what I always go with and although I usually need to air things off on the radiators afterwards it’s all so fresh

It will also smell nice from being out.

@WingBingo

If the pavements are dry- that’s the saying.

It will dry a bit. Especially if windy.

This. If the ground is dry and there's a bit of wind it'll dry or will dry enough just to be finished off indoors quite quickly. Nothing like line drying.

Alas it's horrible here so no line for me today.

I don’t hang on the line anymore but if it’s a dry sunny day, especially with a good wind I will peg some clothes on the clothes horse outside for a few hours, then when bringing it from cold to warm house I think it helps with drying.. and smells lovely and fresh.I Find using the clothes horse easy as if it rains then it can just be lifted into the utility space

Yep, put it out for a blow/light sun. If you can get it in while it's still early it'll be almost dry and will finish off overnight on an airer, FAR better than putting it straight on an airer or in a dryer!

I needs a bit of a breeze at this time of year, but it will definitely get "drier"

I've put 2 loads out today. It's sunny and windy and the atmosphere is dry so clothes should dry. I'll just Air for an hour or so insides afterwards

It depends. I don't line dry in winter, unless it's really windy, it just comes in cold and still wet. But my line is in a North facing yard and it is rarely out of shadow of the house. Our neighbours whose house is side on to ours, has a South facing yard often has her washing out in winter and says it does dry, although invariably needs finishing off inside.

I use the met office to see humidity percentage. If around 80 or lower it should dry. I pick windy, predominantly dry days ideally with a bit of sun.

For anyone following my thrilling thread: most things are almost dry - dry enough to finish up by hanging up in the house for an hour or 2. Towels and thick cotton jersey re still quite wet, but smell nice

Glad you got yours mostly dry! I line dry all year round (no tumble dryer and no heated airer either) and cold days are ok for drying if there's a reasonable breeze and the washing goes out earlyish. Towels don't usually dry too well and nor do the school jumpers (cotton knit) but I then hang things over the banister overnight which helps. I also have some little hook things which means I can put clothes on hangers securely on the line, they seem to dry quicker like that

I find the wind helps even on the coldest days. I dry on the line all year round and finish off with a pulley drying rack inside. I don't bother hanging socks and pants outside when it's cold as that's a bit of a faf to peg only to bring it all in again later.

It makes everything smell much nicer, even if it's only been outside for a short while and doesn't dry much.

I dried a duvet cover, and two large bath towels on the line a few days ago. It was a bit sunny, but no real heat from the sun, but there was a fresh wind at some point in the day, no damp atmosphere at all, so got things dried well. Since then, no go, as we had some light snow,and then frozen ground ever since. I am in Hertfordshire.

Mine was out today too! It was 2 degrees. It only took 20 minutes in the dryer to finish off so I’m pleased with that!

Depends who you are. Dm puts washing out when it doesn't dry, merely freezes and then she has to defrost it before she can hang it inside to dry. For me it's too cold when my hands say so.

I just can't face hanging it up twice

As long as the patio is dry the washing will dry. Or almost dry and at least the creases are gone.