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Original poster

Drying laundry outside - when do you stop?

75 replies

Marshmallow12345 · 31/10/2022 17:16

When do you stop pegging laundry to dry outside?

I just brought in a load of towels I had pegged out late morning and they still feel as wet as when they came out of the machine, only colder!

Is it still worth pegging them out when it's dry? It's not been very windy today so maybe that's not helped?

It's the first winter I've had a proper garden instead of a balcony so I'm not sure if it's worth bothering?! We've not had the heating on really as it's not felt cold enough inside so worried they'll take ages (even with the dehumidifier on). Thanks

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 31/10/2022 20:01

I got towels dry outside today but we seem to live in a windy spot.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/10/2022 20:06

If the ground is drying, then out it goes, even for a bit. But I WFH, so I can pull it back in again if it rains.

Isleoftights · 31/10/2022 20:11

My next door neighbour hangs her washing on the line, and then leaves it there - even if it is rains - until it is dry. If it rains; it stays on the line, until such time, as it is dry, even if that takes a couple of days...or more !

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Kpo58 · 31/10/2022 20:15

If you leave clothes out too late in winter (past 4 usually), they can start getting damp again as evening rolls round.

gamerchick · 31/10/2022 20:16

If the ground is dry and there's a bit of a breeze, washing is good to hang out. If it's still then there's no point.

SequoiaTree · 31/10/2022 20:19

I usually stop in about October as I don't want to have to rehang indoors afterwards and don't have a tumbler to finish them off. I start again in April. In the winter i hang on airers indoors

TheHauntedPencilCase · 31/10/2022 20:20

All year round save when it's rainy. Thankfully I brought ours jn tonight before the rain! It gets most of the wet out if it and now its on airers inside. Once the hearing comes on we will finish them off on radiators.

nowtygaffer · 31/10/2022 20:20

My mum told me there is an old wives tale of 6 weeks before Christmas and 6 weeks after.

Cynderella · 31/10/2022 20:23

If I wasn't paying so much for energy, I'd be tumble drying from now until April. As it is, I got two loads on the line today, and half of it is dry. The rest is on the airer in my WFH room. I've just put dehumidifier on for an hour. It'll be dry tomorrow morning.

My mother used to say that even if it comes in just as wet, it dries quicker, so worth hanging out. Not sure how true that is, but I think I'll give up soon and just use the airer. Once the heating goes on, it'll be easier because things will dry faster, but for now, I'm using the dehumidifier. I think it'll be on for a lot longer than an hour soon.

alwayscheery · 31/10/2022 20:24

While there is a breeze I hang the washing out , if the air feels wet and heavy washing will not dry .

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 31/10/2022 20:25

I never dry outside. UK is too cold and wet to make the difference when hanging outside for me.

FourChimneys · 31/10/2022 20:28

My mother used to peg out all year so long as the pavement was dry. If it wasn't she (quite rightly) said the washing wouldn't dry. I tend to do the same.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 31/10/2022 20:29

Whenever it's not raining. During the colder months I'll put it through an extra spin cycle to get more water out before hanging it in the line. If it's not completely dry by the time it gets dark I'll give it 15-30 mins in the tumble dryer just to finish it off.

A580Hojas · 31/10/2022 20:30

I put it outside if the patio is showing signs of drying. I'm in London - some of my washing went out on the line at about 8 this morning and I brought it in when it looked like it would rain at 3. It wasn't dry but it was an awful lot dryer than when it came out of the machine. Now it will finish off over an airer in the warmest room in the house. I happened to be at home today so could faff around with it.

randomsabreuse · 31/10/2022 20:30

Needs to be windy and not misty/damp in the air. Not had any drying days for ages but still looking for opportunities!

A580Hojas · 31/10/2022 20:30

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 31/10/2022 20:25

I never dry outside. UK is too cold and wet to make the difference when hanging outside for me.

So you missed the heatwave this year did you?

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 31/10/2022 20:32

Only when there's a good stiff breeze.
It's often too wet in the winter months for line drying unfortunately.

orangetriangle · 31/10/2022 20:33

I put a lineful out today at 8.30 am still damp when I brought it in ended up having to put it in tumble dryer so no more outside for me now I dont think until spring though worried about bill have some on airer in conservatory but that takes ages to dry roo no heating on and wet towels everywhere as well Normally heating would be on by now and washing would have gone in tumble dryer a few weeks ago its miserable

LIZS · 31/10/2022 20:35

Only when too damp or cold to make a difference. Had some out today.

moleeye · 31/10/2022 20:36

I did 3 loads today
Dark, towels and light

Dark and towels bone dry by about 2pm, light mostly dry when I brought it in at 4.

I try and hang outside for as long as I can as cold washing in the house lowers the temp and I haven't put the heating on yet!

Oblomov22 · 31/10/2022 20:39

Have stopped now. Won't take risk of rain.

DelurkingAJ · 31/10/2022 20:44

It’s all about the breeze at this time of year. Our garden is very sheltered so I got one load part dry over a five hour period before I hauled it in just before the heavens opened.

Now I WFH three days a week I reckon to get much of it dried outside still because I can rescue it. If I was in the office five days as I used to be then the dryer would be getting much more use as today’s load would have been wetter by 6pm when I got home than when it went on the line…

TheFairyCaravan · 31/10/2022 20:48

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 31/10/2022 20:25

I never dry outside. UK is too cold and wet to make the difference when hanging outside for me.

We moved house in May. I needed to buy a new tumble dryer because I don’t have a vent for the one I’ve got. I still haven’t bothered because I’ve dried all my washing outside.

Anjo2011 · 31/10/2022 20:53

If there’s a breeze and it’s not damp then out it goes. Even if you can get it partly dry it’s better than nothing.

ohforthelife · 31/10/2022 20:53

When it gets to the stage that you could leave it out all day and it wouldn't dry because the air is too damp. If it's dry and breezy, it's going on the line! Even if I have to finish it off indoors.