Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Drying clothes

109 replies

ReginaFilange001 · 08/03/2022 12:52

So today is a beautiful sunny and breezy day - cold but warm in the sun. I've literally has all the bedding washed and on the line, blankets from the sofa and a load of clothes.
I'm as concerned as anyone about fuel price increases so waited for today to get it dry for free instead of using the heated airer which would have been on all week to dry what I've washed today.
We live in a residential area ( I can see other gardens from my bedroom windows) and literally noone else has hung out washing. I know there are loads of parents at home ( I work from home so the washing is a perk!!)
I slightly puzzled that all my neighbours must be very well off/hands in the sand/ or maybe just plain lazy about staying clothes and like their dryers! I mean who doesn't love a line dried sheet!
I realise there are more important things in the world right now - are you line drying where you are?

OP posts:
Narutocrazyfox · 08/03/2022 14:50

I only tumble dry. I've never in my life dried anything outside - who on earth has the time? I couldn't handle anything that couldn't dry in 30 minutes!

The only exception is silks and coats, which I dry on an airer inside the house.

ittakes2 · 08/03/2022 14:51

I dry my clothes in our conservatory every day of the year - no need for the extra hassell of sorting an outside line!

AchillesPoirot · 08/03/2022 14:51

Honestly though how difficult is it to peg out some washing and why would you care if your nghbr thinks it's pegged wrong.

Just on this point. I’m disabled. It’s very difficult for me to do the action to open spring pegs and I don’t have the strength to push down dolly pegs. Or carry out the washing to put it out. My dd does it when she’s here but I don’t.

Washing isn’t in the drier though. It’s on a ceiling airer coz I don’t have to peg it out and worry about bringing it in.

I can’t imagine caring or judging neighbours for not putting washing out.

Original poster
ReginaFilange001 · 08/03/2022 14:52

@FourTeaFallOut

I think you are being a bit of a dick at this point.
Maybe I am! Confused

But come on how flipping hard is sorting laundry - places to out it. Piles etc who is making this job harder than it needs to be?

Empty laundry basket- sort out some colours/whites. Wash. Hang. Put next load on and hang. Repeat as necessary. Bring back in and leave on kitchen/dining table until ready to sort/iron.

OP posts:
AchillesPoirot · 08/03/2022 14:53

But come on how flipping hard is sorting laundry - places to out it. Piles etc who is making this job harder than it needs to be?

Empty laundry basket- sort out some colours/whites. Wash. Hang. Put next load on and hang. Repeat as necessary. Bring back in and leave on kitchen/dining table until ready to sort/iron.

It’s hard for some of us.

You are being incredibly judgmental.

FourTeaFallOut · 08/03/2022 14:54

But come on how flipping hard is sorting laundry - places to out it. Piles etc who is making this job harder than it needs to be?
The three children under six, at a guess?

70kid · 08/03/2022 14:58

I use the radiators in the house to dry my stuff if I can’t put it outside so I’m warm and my clothes are drying at the same time

bigbluebus · 08/03/2022 15:00

I put a towels wash on first thing this morning so that I could hang it on the line instead of tumble drying. I do actually dry a lot of clothes on airers next to the radiator in the utility room but bedding and towels are usually tumble dried unless it's good drying weather.
My neighbour across the road has been using her washing line frequently (I can see it from my bedroom window). My NDN's never put washing out at any time of year. Maybe this year will be the year they change that!
People will moan like mad about the rising costs of their energy bills but I suspect that only those who are severely financially impacted will bother to change their behaviours.

simbobs · 08/03/2022 15:00

Mine is out but only for the second time this year. Our garden is shady most of the day at this time of year, but the wind is doing a good job. I use, a tumble dryer for most things otherwise, but have a drying rack in the laundry niche near the machines for woollens, delicates and smalls.
I dry my winter superking size duvet cover at the laundrette as it takes too long in a domestic dryer.

AchillesPoirot · 08/03/2022 15:01

It’s also not recommended to dry outside if you have hayfever.

Madre123 · 08/03/2022 15:03

It's far too cold here.....I dry my clothes over an airier with a dehumidifier.....dry overnight and the humidifier is switched off.....don't own a tumble dryer...once had an electric bill for 385 pound and put the dryer in the boot and over to the dump! Never again....

ThisBloodyNoiseInMyHead · 08/03/2022 15:05

I've got 2 loads of washing out. I've got a dryer and a clothes horse, but when the weather is lovely like today, I like to see the washing blowing about on the line

RB68 · 08/03/2022 15:06

I have an inside my head competition with my neighbour with the washing. She has never had a drier I had one for a bit but now have an Everhot oven and its great for drying although struggles with more than one load a day and of course the damp is exacebated with indoor drying.

SO the competition is to get my washing out before her on blowy overcast or not quite raining days. I avidly follow weather forecasts and like to get the washing out before 10 (we work from home for ourselves). She is way more organised than me but then is also retired but I love it when my little rotary is full and her line has only a few items on it. Makes my day - how sad is that

RB68 · 08/03/2022 15:07

washing will dry in the cold if its blowy enough and out early enough

hoorayandupsherises · 08/03/2022 15:07

We don't have a tumble dryer, so the clothes horse moves around the house to the warmest room and I wash the sheets when it's a good drying day forecast. We have a few sets for that reason! Our next-door neighbour always has the washing out, but no one else does. They must have dryers. I try not to judge. I do, I absolutely do judge

RB68 · 08/03/2022 15:08

regarding hayfever - needs to be pollen time for that to be an issue. Also would be possible to finish in a dryer to help remove anything from things like towels which are in less close/none constant contact etc.

RB68 · 08/03/2022 15:10

I only manage to stay on top of laundry by washing and drying every single day, just one load a day - anything more than that becomes overwhelming and I don't even iron anything

teatime9999 · 08/03/2022 15:14

Since you seem genuinely curious, I'll tell you why I don't line dry.

Nobody in my family ever has (I'm not originally from the UK). I don't even think my grandmother ever did. My great-grandmother must have though. We've all used tumble dryers. I'm very happy that people are line drying, but with my routine, laundry is barely even a chore to worry about. I also never have to iron (last time I pulled it out was summer 2019...the last time I chose to wear linen).

nearlyspringyay · 08/03/2022 15:15

My pet hate it putting stuff out on a day like today and bringing it in wet, to rehang it all again. Towels and bedding washed here, goes to the laundrette around the corner for £6 in one big machine.

Woollystockings · 08/03/2022 15:25

I don’t know anyone personally who even has a tumble dryer. If you live in a flat, I can see they might be useful.

Clarabe1 · 08/03/2022 15:26

Obviously some people find doing the laundry a massive chore. I am not judging because people might work long hours etc. However if you are not working it’s not really hard is it. I am remembering my mum with 4 kids, a twin tub, no tumble dryer, nappies in a bucket soaking and she would sprint outside like Linford Christie to get washing on the line when the weather permitted. I bet a lot of people on this thread have similar memories.

deadlanguage · 08/03/2022 15:28

I’m not because my washing line was attached to a fence panel which came down in the storms and we haven’t fixed it yet. But I have stuff on airers. We don’t have a tumble dryer.

Avocadobacardi · 08/03/2022 15:31

I don’t know anyone personally who even has a tumble dryer. If you live in a flat, I can see they might be useful.

I'm not sure I know anyone who doesn't. OP in answer to your question I have zero interest in drying outdoors. Most things go in the drier and I hang anything which can't go in there on a rail in my utility room. I've never dried outside and don't plan to start

deadlanguage · 08/03/2022 15:31

@Narutocrazyfox

I only tumble dry. I've never in my life dried anything outside - who on earth has the time? I couldn't handle anything that couldn't dry in 30 minutes!

The only exception is silks and coats, which I dry on an airer inside the house.

Do you only wash your clothes immediately before you want to wear them? Confused
Sirzy · 08/03/2022 15:32

I am lucky to be able to make the most of this weather. I can’t dry things in the house (Ds and damp don’t mix!) so use the tumble dryer normally but having worked out the cost of each running of that I need to cut down!

It is an extra faff to put things out though without a doubt and I am fit and healthy (but a full time carer to child and parents at the moment so time matters!)

People will do what works for them and I really couldn’t care less how my neighbours dry their washing!