To hang washing outside?

[ceeveebee]

We live in an affluent borough in SW London, but both me and DH are originally from up north.

We always hang washing on the line in the back garden when the weather is nice, IMO it makes the clothes smell and feel nicer and saves electricity too (I cannot stand washing on radiators in the house so only alternative is the tumble dryer). However I have noticed that none of my neighbours do so, and today our NDN mentioned that his neighbour on the other side had commented to him that she'd noticed we always have a full line (we have baby twins).

Is it so unusual to hang washing out in nice weather? Is this a north/south divide thing?

I had a line of cloth nappies out today, looked nicer than plonked on the airer inside! I'm in the south and all my neighbours hang washing out.

the sellers of our house were supposed to leave some stuff, but take the amazing 4 line washing line that stretches the entire length of our garden.

they ripped out the stuff they promised to sell us, but left the washing line! i actually punched the air in delight in front of the estate agent who brought the keys over. he gave me a look of withering pity.

AND i get ridiculously excited when bbc weather sw london shows a forecast for sun and I can wake up early to start sorting out loads.

god, i really am sad!

Well Marshy all I know is that when I was at uni in the south west, someone said to me "I was going to apply for a really northern university, ike Nottingham" - I boggled slightly as I agree, I thought I was from the middle!

lso I recently went to a do in London and when I mentioned to people I was driving back up the M1 that evening (about 2 hours - not much more than a lot of people commute in the south) astonsihment was expressed at the idea/how late I would get home etc. I really think they thought I was driving to Scotland or somwhere.

i put out 3 towels today at 11am and they are STILL wet. Im leaving them out to see if they dry tomorrow instead!!!

I love washing that's dried on the line but am too lazy/busy to do it in dodgy weather. I hate that sinking feeling when it starts raining and i'm at work and I know nothing will have dried. I'd happily pay for a washing-hanger-outer just to get my sheets smelling all spring fresh

Clary, when we lived in Manchester I used to refer to Birmingham as 'down south', was surprised when I moved here to find its regarded as northern. IMO the north begins at Crewe station...

Well, seems that hanging washing out is definately NU so will do it all the more, including knickers. Might even put a line up in the front garden to annoy the neighbours even more.

Always hang stuff out. if the weather is a bit changeable I'll hang the clothes on a clothes horse and stick that out. Easier to pull it in quickly if it starts raining. I only tend to use my tumble dryer in the winter and then for towels/ underwear (cba to hang up socks and knickers).

Clary - my SIL, who is a little bit up herself, lives in Cambridgeshire and considers herself 'in the South'. She made reference on one occasion to us being in the north. My DH, who is in fact from St Albans, took the trouble to compare our locations on the map, and was delighted to find that she is fractionally farther north than we are!
I don't think she puts her washing out though and, as i have already confessed, I do! It's all very confusing.

My BIL thinks I have a Birmingham accent. I was born in Leicester and live in Worcestershire! He definitely doesn't hang the washing out!

I've always lived in the South and have always dried washing outside. I got 4 loads dry today

Our front garden is as big as the back and the sun travels round during the day, so I have two washing lines. I love sticking my nose in the washing as I take it down .

I don't know anyone who doesn't hang their washing outside
Northerner living in the south west

Shockers - you hang your washing in the front? That can't be right.........

I've got a broken tumble dryer and no desire to replace it. Been hanging washing out for a week now, love it!

Oh the joy of a sunny day and a line full of washing....

Marshy...I get your point, but we're in a courtyard kind of arrangement, away from the road, with a little barn conversion conveniently placed in front. I still don't hang smalls there though, in case the post-person is of a nervous disposition...

We have no tumble drier either VickityBoo... and we live 'up north'!

Hi Cee

I am also a northerner living in an affluent past of the SW.

Yes I hang my washing out, there is nothing quite like a line of whites in the breeze. My friends would rather hang their washing INSIDE..??Eh.

Funnily enough though my US friends are horrified as only poor people do this in the states as it shows that you cant afford a dryer.

Shockers - sounds lovely. I think my stuff might get nicked if it was in the front!

LOL

"affluent [past]" might as well be, here.

Tis lovely Marshy, but not as grand as it reads. Ours is a 1960's semi detached bungalow which was built on an old farmyard. It's not the prettiest house, but we have spectacular views from the back .

Um.... NO! Where the fuck else would you dry it if it's nice out?

This thread has just reminded me mine is still out. Bollocks.

Ooh Edith,tough call - leave it out or bring it in? Gonna be cloudy but warm here tomorrow - I would be in a real dilemma!