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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put washing on the line in January?

43 replies

OriginalGreenGiant · 02/01/2015 11:36

We've fallen so behind with the washing this past fortnight and I've just washed a monster load of towels that had built up. I have about 12 large towels that need drying, and my house is already full of laundry hanging up (radiators and tops of doorways have already been put to use!)

So I've just shoved them all on the (very long, very high) line. It's about 8 degrees here, breezy, blue sky. No direct sunlight on the line but will probably get a couple of hours this afternoon.

My mum is here, chuckling at me, saying what a waste of effort and they won't dry.

I know they probably won't dry completely but surely in those conditions it will do something^ to the towels, meaning I only have to tumble them for a few minutes this evening.

It's not that weird, surely?

OP posts:
ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 02/01/2015 12:14

Sod the towels, I need to put myself outside for some fresh air! It's a lovely day here!

Of course you're right!

FunkyBoldRibena · 02/01/2015 12:15

Mine is out currently. I usually check the weather forecasts and if no rain is due and the potential of some sun, I wash it the night before and chuck it on the line as the sun comes up - sometimes even the night before if no rain is forecast overnight. All year round.

Smells great at this time of year - so fresh.

PrimalLass · 02/01/2015 12:16

Sunshiney and very windy here (Fife). But with intermittent downpours.

ThePinkOcelot · 02/01/2015 12:19

I've hung some out as well today. It's really windy so I'm hoping they dry. They did lastweek, or week before when it was windy.

snozzlemaid · 02/01/2015 12:21

I dried towels outside on my line yesterday. Was lovely and breezy.

Pisghetti · 02/01/2015 12:25

It's rained all over the Christmas holidays and now, on my first day back in work, it is a day I could have put washing out on! I changed the beds on Wednesday and trying to dry all the duvet covers and sheets indoors is a nightmare. I now have a backlog of wet washing waiting to go on the airer so I gave in and have reserved a tumble dryer in the sales which I will pick up later....

Original poster
OriginalGreenGiant · 02/01/2015 13:25

Update on my washing Sad

The wind picked up. Lovely, I thought. It picked up a lot (think towels blowing horizontally) so about half an hour ago I was standing in the kitchen debating whether I should get it in.

Then the end of the line that's attached the post at the bottom of the garden went ping and my lovely clean towels have sailed over the fence into next doors garden, still attached to the line.

Just waiting for next door neighbours to get back so that they can chuck them back over and I can wash them again. Bloody wind!

OP posts:
ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 02/01/2015 13:44

Bugger.

jellycake · 02/01/2015 13:46

If the colours are dark and in direct sunlight, they will dry beautifully. I love it when I put washing on the line on a cold, sunny day and they start steaming.

newyearsresolutionsnotforme · 02/01/2015 13:49

Oh dear OP, well YWNBU because it could have dried them quite a lot. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Original poster
OriginalGreenGiant · 02/01/2015 15:03

Well I've just had them back and they were covered in mud so have just gone back in the machine Angry

BUT...they were noticibly dryer than when they went out, even though it had only been 2.5 hours. So it generally is 'worth it' as long as you have a sturdier line than me

OP posts:
Oldraver · 02/01/2015 15:07

I pegged sheets out and although they didnt get totally dry they got the nice smell

BendyMum15 · 02/01/2015 16:58

I put my washing out all year round, unless its raining. Even if it doesn't dry completely it will dry more quickly inside and will have that nice smell.

So, no, yanbu!

Hatespiders · 02/01/2015 17:02

Well mine was out on the line today. About ten degrees, bright sun and a nice strong wind. Have just got it in, and it's nearly dry. Will pop it on the rads to finish it off. It smells lovely and fresh. YANBU.

Optimist1 · 02/01/2015 17:19

So sorry to hear about the pinging line, but you are of course 100% reasonable to put washing out whatever month of the year it is! I've been out all day today, and spent much of it looking at the sparkly sunshine and brisk breeze and wishing that I'd left washing on my line. Sadly, I'd had to leave home before it got light, and even I'm not that enthusiastic!!

In the winter months, not only do I check predicted temperatures and sunshine on the BBC Weather app daily, but also wind speeds ... there's seldom an occasion when I get the washing in any wetter than it was when it went out.

Sunny67 · 02/01/2015 17:29

Wish I could peg mine out but it's that bloody windy I'd be running round the next county trying to find them! Oh and it keeps raining Hmm

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 02/01/2015 18:14

I do this. I know they won't dry but they'll be aired and will smell nice. I even put washing on the line if it's showery as I can't stand having washing drying round the house. I don't have a tumble dryer but I have one of those clothes drying things that's a godsend when it rains for days on end.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 02/01/2015 18:15

heated clothes drying things that should read.

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