To expect DH to install a washing line!

[LuckyWookie]

He’s been doing the back garden and has removed the twirly washing line to lay a new patio. Lovely. But he’s refused to put the twirly back because it’s unsightly and he wants to install a pergola anyway. And he says we can’t have a straight line either because the garden is terraced on a slope so it would be impossible to get a straight line. I said how am I supposed to dry clothes? He said use the tumble drier? Which horrifies me because my mum taught me it was only for emergencies as the electric costs too much! AIBU to expect my washing line back? And how do you install one when your garden isn’t flat?

Next load of washing you message him washing machine is finished over to you mr perfect patio. And repeat. I wouldn’t use the tumble dryer either.

It’s just so bloody disrespectful to take it out and expect you to suck it up! Could you look up handymen, tell dh you are booking a handy man to install a washing line in 2 weeks time - that gives him one weekend to investigate options and one to install. Otherwise hole in perfect patio it is (whcih I would now be calling ‘your fucking patio that you dream of relaxing on while I do your washing’

He said use the tumble drier? Which horrifies me because my mum taught me it was only for emergencies as the electric costs too much!

Horrifies is a bit of an over reaction don't you think? I use my drier all the time, haven't put washing out for years. While I think if you do the washing and want to hang it out you should, I also think your mums opinion of using a drier is extreme and you should not be scared to use an appliance in your house.

@RuthTopp

Firstly stop washing his clothes if you are the one that does. Then with dc/ yours set up a airer where it would be in the way for him ( his side of bed / obscure the tv for him )

This is the only sensible solution. Love it!

@legotruck

He said use the tumble drier? Which horrifies me because my mum taught me it was only for emergencies as the electric costs too much!

Horrifies is a bit of an over reaction don't you think? I use my drier all the time, haven't put washing out for years. While I think if you do the washing and want to hang it out you should, I also think your mums opinion of using a drier is extreme and you should not be scared to use an appliance in your house.

I’m pretty horrified at the idea of using the tumble dryer as your base drying approach. Would never ever default to an energy intensive appliance when you could just hang washing out - free solar / free piggy backing off your central heating.

@DeathStare

I'm with you OP. Either he puts a washing line back or he takes full responsibility for the laundry from now on.

Agree with this totally, but you have to stick to it (and hide half of his clothes)

Sounds like drying the washing is now his problem to sort.

It’s threads like this that makes me feel sad for young women nowadays.
They are expected to have fabulous careers and obviously pay half of all bills. They obviously have to give birth and then rush back to full time work. They need to know how to cook and clean and do laundry whilst simultaneously being fit and looking gorgeous and totally up for wild sex at any time. Now they have to be able to do all of the diy as well!
I’m glad at times that I am old.

I hate outdoor clothes lines. They look terrible and I don't like the way clothes dry on them. All crispy. And I hate that outdoor smell

I use a tumble dryer and clothes horse/radiators. It's fine. On the very odd occasion I want something dried outside I'd put it on a clothes horse and put that outside the back door.

I'd have thought this, mentioned upthread, might suit the OPs needs. It may suit mine - I currently just take out a clotheshorse if I need to dry anything outside but things don't blow around on it very well and sometimes it falls over.

www.lakeland.co.uk/53277/Lakeland-Free-Standing-Outdoor-Rotary-Airer

Don’t do his laundry until until the washing line goes back up. Go on strike. Make his clothes fester.

MY SIL has this actually from the upstairs balcony, to a tree. Just brilliant. available all over N America, but I'm certain your husband will love this project www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=sr_pg_2&k=cable%2C+pulley+washing+line+kit&page=2&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1622721200

[quote maddening]www.robertdyas.co.uk/brabantia-wallfix-wall-mounted-airer?gclid=Cj0KCQjw--GFBhDeARIsACH_kdblnRIhbLIiaGK95LVKWrcz0Fx38wqrg7Aoh8SWNm4Sgl4_-4IdK28aAgxQEALw_wcB[/quote]
We have this . It is really good and folds away if you want it to

@LuckyWookie

Why does he get to decide what happens in a garden you both own? Don’t you have a say too? I’m trying to have a say! I said I want my twirly back on the patio because there’s no other way to fit in a line. DH said he won’t install it and there’s no way I can lift paving slabs and cut them myself. Plus he’d be furious if I wrecked the patio he’s just installed.

Pay someone to install it for you if it is beyond you . I'd be pissed off in the extreme is DH said I couldn't have an outside clothes line when I do all the washing . I'd definitely stop doing any of his washing if he did this

It's pretty shit to use a tumble drier by default - we're in the middle of an environmental crisis!

It's not YOUR washing line. It's the washing line that the house needs to dry the family washing.

He is bu.

Why’s hanging out washing your job?

Anyway, I’m with him those twirly dryers are ugly, I got rid of mine when the patio was done and we dont have a tumble drier either.. Generally I either throw it over one of the benches/sofas, or just shove it in rhe spare room as usual to dry, it’s always roasting up there so dries very quickly.

I really don’t get the emotion about line dried laundry, for me, it’s clean it’s dry, job done.

Generally I either throw it over one of the benches/sofas

How does washing dry on a sofa?

@HavelockVetinari

It's pretty shit to use a tumble drier by default - we're in the middle of an environmental crisis!

Oh. Well I do it. It saves me my own crisis.

You are being unreasonable to expect your husband to sort it. Do it yourself!

I LOVE my tumble drier and hate outside line drying (stuff crunchy towels, bugs, bird shite and that horrible outside smell (yep I hate that) but I still dry outside on sunny days! Why opt for a costly tumble drier when the sun is free (and can remove stains!)

In your case OP I would pop all DH's T-shirt's and jumpers on high and give him back the now tiny dolly sized ones. Or just buy a whirligig yourself and have someone else install it if you can't. It's your garden too and if what I expect is correct, it's you stuck doing the laundry and not your DH anyway? I do all the cooking in my house. DH isn't allowed a day in what kitchens utensils, pots and pans I use.

When he's building the pergola he also needs to build a screen made from bamboo, trellis or whatever that can be erected to shield the view of the twirly line. Bringing lines in and out, putting them up and down doesn't really solve the issue raised by your husband. I do get the need for balance, I need it in my own garden as I hate lines of washing but obviously they're needed. Screening hides unwanted or ugly parts of the garden.

@UhtredRagnarson

Generally I either throw it over one of the benches/sofas

How does washing dry on a sofa?

Immediately to be fair. I only do it on hot days with towels.

Our tumble dryer has had little to no effect on our electricity spend and we dont have a washing line.

Immediately to be fair. I only do it on hot days with towels.

Ahh ok! And how do you stop the dog rolling all over them? 😂 perhaps that’s just a me problem.