AIBU to think drying washing outside is still normal?

[BlueyandBingo]

Just getting a load of washing in and DH has declared that no one dries their washing outside anymore and that it is ‘niche’.

Don’t get me wrong, I use the tumble dryer when I need to but surely it is better (and cheaper) to use the line, especially on a day like to day when we have had sunshine and a breeze??

WTF? Is this a joke?

I don’t have a tumble drier and the heating is now off. All my underwear dried perfectly on my outdoor washing lines today. I dry washing outside all through the year. However, sometimes I need to resort to my ceiling airer and a dehumidifier if the weather is really bad. I don’t give a toss about anyone seeing underwear on the line - we all wear it!

Has your DH has been worrying about spiders willies and washing getting darked on?

Excellent question. My undies go on the line with everything else. If that bothers people they can just... not look.

OP, your DH is a loon. If you can line dry, you absolutely should - you're doing your bit for the planet.

Yep, same. I tumble-dry pretty much everything, all year round. Can't be bothered going out, pegging every goddamn sock and flannel, and then bringing it all back again. What a faff, I have better things to do.

My closest neighbours also do the same, from what I can see. No lines in their gardens, and never any laundry. I'd love it to be like in the US, where people don't hang their shit outside; it looks so unkempt.

But I don't think it's niche either, judging by this thread.

Why on earth not? In case Mr Jones next door gets excited by your granny pants and Doreen bra?

To the poster who mentioned crunchy towels, put a tablespoonful of white vinegar in the rinse section of your washing machine and don’t use fabric conditioner. Works fine for me.

No tumble dryer and line dry at every opportunity.
Underwear and all, I have a socktopus which makes the smalls super easy to peg out, if they're not dry enough I take the whole socktopus in with the underwear still on to finish drying inside. Will link my marvellous socktopus here...

My late MIL (from Philly, so definitely US) pegged out whatever she could on her tiny tiny balcony. So it isn't universal in the US either.

As for 'unkempt' - why is doing your bit for the planet more important than appearances? That seems pretty shallow to me.

I don’t think that many people do dry outside much anymore. I use my line when I have things which can’t be tumbled but I am the only person I know who does this. A few people have a clothes horse they may put out from time to time but it’s very much not the norm where I am

It was about 25 degrees today and I washed and dried a load of towels outside. But they’re quite exfoliating in texture, although they smell great!

We have a large ish garden but I tumble everything- well apart from the odd thing that can’t be tumbled, I just shake and hang these on hangers over a doorway etc. But I can’t be arsed with putting things out on the line and then bringing them all in again. I just move it from the washer to the dryer and then fold it and put it away, job done.

Clearly he has never sorted a washing in his life 😂 of course it isn't niche it is totally normal.

Bit of white vinegar in your towel wash and it helps with the crispiness if you are planning on hanging them out.

I get hayfever so have a compromise. Laundry always goes on the pulleys in the utility room, with the back door open as often as possible if I’m in.

Small items go on the winterdykes and sit in the open doorway in the sun.

https://amzn.eu/d/04DcHkz8
Behold my socktopus 🙌

I put a line of washing out this morning and dh has put two loads on the line while I was at work. He's just brought the bedding in and is finished quilt cover in the tumble.
Nothing niche about line drying where I live.

I'm so keen on outdoor drying that I sought out a smaller than usual rotary drier as I only had a tight corner to put it in. Never so happy than when it's being used. I particularly love getting into bed when there are fresh sheets and they've been dried outside.

I’ve had 3 loads of washing on the line today!

Same here. It's pottering in the garden, listening to the birds and watching the cats play in the sun that makes it bearable for me.

We hang out where possible and try to line up doing the washing with the best drying days. Plenty of people hang washing out, why wouldn't they?

I had a pulley in my house when we moved in this house but it hadn't been used in years, it was greasy from cooking and nicotine we had to.get rid, which was a shame ,

We have a holiday house in SW Florida with a very militant HOA. You’re not allowed to dry washing outside. Not that anyone would even consider it, tbh. Think it must be bemusing to Brits who rent there and are fans of drying laundry outside.

There’s nothing better than that fresh off the washing line smell

I wouldn't find it bemusing. I'd find it one of those rules that should be ignored and needs challenging.

There is no rational reason to ban people from hanging out their washing and for environmental and CoL reasons, it should be encouraged.

In the Land of the Free (USA( you often cant dry your washing outside, grow vegetables or collect rainwater.

Having lived in Houston, no point trying to dry outside as it would come in damper than when it went out. Our HOA only covered front gardens though - so everyone’s front garden was immaculate but back gardens could be … interesting.