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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Washing at night!

212 replies

fandjango · 04/04/2025 21:17

Controversial I know but is hanging your washing out at night a really bad thing?

I know I know, Spider Penises and Bugs etc but don’t these things also happen during the day?

We are a Family with small people with lots of washing and our tumble drier has recently broken down, plus cost of living and all that plus the sunshine early morning.

Husband is horrified i’ve hung some washing out on the line and also hung two clothes horses worth of clothes under our canopy this evening.

I just want to get the washing done!

Surely it’s not just me!?

OP posts:
BatchCookBabe · 04/04/2025 23:19

Just put your washing out first thing in the morning. 🙄 The sun isn't even up til about 7am, and it's April, so it won't be warmish til around 11am. It's hardly likely to dry overnight. It's down to 2 degrees C overnight.

Can't believe the totes hilaire spider willies and darked on 'jokes' are still doing the rounds. I thought they'd died a death in the last decade! They weren't very funny even then! 😬

BelleDeJourRose · 04/04/2025 23:20

I do it a lot. It works well and still smells nice and fresh. Nice to wake up and it's already flapping on the line.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 04/04/2025 23:25

@fandjango at least it wont fade overnight!

PigletJohn · 04/04/2025 23:27

Have you got an extractor fan in your bathroom or utility?

Does it work, and is it so quiet you can't hear it from the bedrooms?

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/04/2025 23:29

BatchCookBabe · 04/04/2025 23:19

Just put your washing out first thing in the morning. 🙄 The sun isn't even up til about 7am, and it's April, so it won't be warmish til around 11am. It's hardly likely to dry overnight. It's down to 2 degrees C overnight.

Can't believe the totes hilaire spider willies and darked on 'jokes' are still doing the rounds. I thought they'd died a death in the last decade! They weren't very funny even then! 😬

Why try to sound so superior? Its a silly joke that bothers no one, except apparently you, where is the harm?

And what exactly is the problem with hanging it out the night before?

RogueFemale · 04/04/2025 23:31

I put washing out whenever I want, day or night. It sounds bizarre to think of / care about the odd spider.

Pushmepullu · 04/04/2025 23:40

BashfulClam · 04/04/2025 21:42

My mum used to talk about bringing the washing in ‘before the dampness comes down’. The air is damper at night and I find the washing smells weird.

Agree, washing smells if left out overnight.

OhWhistle · 04/04/2025 23:40
black and white spider GIF

nothing to see here

bridgetreilly · 04/04/2025 23:42

It is completely fine and normal, but some people are bonkers.

EBearhug · 04/04/2025 23:43

Fromage · 04/04/2025 22:23

@EBearhug "Spiders have pedipalps rather than penises"

WOAH

So the penis rubbing is just an incy wincy strap on? We need not fear arachnijizz?

Not exactly. The pedipalps do the same thing as a penis does in mammals, as far as sperm goes, so it's almost the same thing.

I should add I am not an expert in arachnid anatomy, but the word pedipalp stuck in my mind when one of these threads caused me to look up whether spiders really do have willies.

MN has much to answer for.

Barney16 · 04/04/2025 23:45

I'm mothballing my dryer for the summer but washing out at night? No no no. There be bats.

EBearhug · 04/04/2025 23:45

Ihateslugs · 04/04/2025 22:18

I remember my next door neighbour leaving her washing out the night of the hurricane in the SE, I lived near Reading at the time. Her very large old lady knickers blew away and were never seen again! She was mortified at the thought of neighbours finding them!

She probably got away with it - unless she'd sewn her Cash's name tapes in...

EBearhug · 04/04/2025 23:46

Barney16 · 04/04/2025 23:45

I'm mothballing my dryer for the summer but washing out at night? No no no. There be bats.

But bats are cool!

TunipTheVegimal24 · 04/04/2025 23:49

What?!

I've never thought twice about it! My towels are out there now, merrily drying in the dark. I suppose there is a chance of spider peen. But then I live with two boys and 1 man, so peens will almost definitely come into contact with them at some point 😂 If their willies grow legs and fall off, I'll know why!

What is your DH's complaint?

PickAChew · 04/04/2025 23:52

Here, at this time of year, it would just come in wet or frozen.

Growlybear83 · 05/04/2025 00:00

I don’t dare leave mine out overnight because I’m worried one of the foxes will steal something. I had six foxes dotted around my lawn this evening, and once it gets warmer and people start leaving their washing out, I regularly find random pieces of clothing scattered round my garden that have been stolen.

MidnightMeltdown · 05/04/2025 00:04

Depends whether you’re overlooked. If you are then you might get judged by the neighbours 😱

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 05/04/2025 00:13

CottageGoblin · 04/04/2025 21:22

I agree. It will get darked on and spiders will rub their willies against it.

(it’s probably ok though)

🤣🤣🤣

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 05/04/2025 00:14

Growlybear83 · 05/04/2025 00:00

I don’t dare leave mine out overnight because I’m worried one of the foxes will steal something. I had six foxes dotted around my lawn this evening, and once it gets warmer and people start leaving their washing out, I regularly find random pieces of clothing scattered round my garden that have been stolen.

A fox stole a shoe left out in the garden the other day!! In broad daylight with us watching 👀

YawnSoTired · 05/04/2025 00:16

MidnightMeltdown · 05/04/2025 00:04

Depends whether you’re overlooked. If you are then you might get judged by the neighbours 😱

Yeah where I live it's seen as a lazy thing to do.

LuckyOtters · 05/04/2025 00:35

MinnieCoops · 04/04/2025 22:17

If you ask the spiders they’ll say it’s a MASSIVE one

Maybe the spiders are bragging though? I sure hope so

LuckyOtters · 05/04/2025 00:40

Barney16 · 04/04/2025 23:45

I'm mothballing my dryer for the summer but washing out at night? No no no. There be bats.

We have to worry about bat willies too?! 😮😮😮

Which willy threat is worse, I wonder ? Maybe we need a vote on this: bat willies vs spider willies?

Riapia · 05/04/2025 00:43

It was an issue until recently.
One of the first laws passed by the present government on gaining power was to ban all spiders from the nation’s washing lines.
Any spider found breaking this law will face a minimum of 48 hrs in a vacuum cleaner.
😉😁😁

nicenicemaybe · 05/04/2025 00:45

I have a line load hanging out tonight as I have done for decades…absolutely amazing getting outside at 10am and washing dried! Have never seen anything ominous on the washing.

Rycbar · 05/04/2025 01:04

I don’t know if it was just our garden but whenever I left out washing/pegs on the line they’d end up with loads of spiders! We’ve moved house now so I’ll have to try it here in the summer!