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??

😂 nice one Oona

Exactly! Very much looking forward to getting into my favourite bedding which was washed only yesterday and changed about an hour ago. Best night!

Drying outside is the dogs bollocks!!! Love it. Your DH is wrong. Leave him.

Both DH’s parents grew up in flats in central London so maybe it is that. I do remember his great aunt telling me how pleased she was when she moved out a bit and could actually dry washing outside…

It's only niche because it's been raining so much!

Maybe your H is a snob? Is it too working class to him?
Like you, I prefer to dry outside whenever possible - better for environment and much better for the fabrics

also meant to say, we are a family of 5 (2 grown up sons, 1 teenager) and we don't have a tumble dryer ... and haven't had one for over 20 years. I LOVE being able to dry washing outside.

We live in a ‘naice’ area on London and to be fair to him, when I look out the window only our very elderly neighbours hang their washing outside, certainly our other next door neighbours never hang anything out and I have often wondered why they don’t use their south facing garden to dry washing.

Very happy to be part of a large "niche" and hang washing out whenever possible.

I use a laundry dehumidifier during the winter and line-dry the rest of the year. Line-dried clothes always smell lovely, especially bedding.

I'm 46 and I've never owned a tumble dryer, I dry outside year round (as much as possible in North Wales). My American family thing it's 'quaint' and very British of me! They are often not allowed to dry washing in the land of the free, and culturally they find it odd

Oh i must be so niche as there are very few days in the year when i don't have washing on the line.

I’ve had a couple of loads out today plus the tumble drier has been on too.

My neighbours do not have washing lines and prob think it “niche” also 🤣 I love washing out on a line- it’s good for the soul!!

I have hayfever and so does DD but I still dry everything outside (I hate humble driers and will never own one). I'm outside a fair amount anyway so I don't think theres much benefit in keeping my laundry sealed up inside my house.

Ive always assumed that people who don't line dry are Hyacinth Bucket types.

I’m the same. I do more than enough around the house. I’ve got a very expensive and energy efficient dryer and I use it.Pegging things out? Nope.

OP I say this semi tongue in cheek but I have recently had my rotary clothes dryer restrung rather than buy a new oneand it cost me dearly. Most handy people said it would be cheaper to buy a new one - true! I am antipodean born and bred but hanging washing outside is joy and I can smell the lovely scent of my recently outside dried duvet as we speak!

We said we knew we were grown ups when we got excoted that its the time of year to hang the washing out!
Love the fresh smell.
We only use the tumbler when we cant hang stuff outside and even then it's only towels and bedding we put in it.

By the way, I've just looked at the website named above, dryoutside.com and it's great for all us line dryers!

I think it is a US thing (they don’t use outside lines AT ALL), and also a class thing.

DH’s family all think it is common, DH is hugely embarrassed by me using a washing line and refuses to use it himself. Apparently you should be sending your washing out, so it’s a sign of being lower class to hang your washing out in your own back garden. Probably a hangover from DH’s mum’s family 80+ years ago, when domestic service was a bit more accessible to the middle classes (I come from a working class family, so we’ve always hung ours out - we see it as healthy to have your washing getting fresh air and sunlight out on the line).

Maybe DH was put off because his washing got darked on and had spiders rubbing their willies on it once.

I can’t 😢 DH and DD have severe hayfever, drying my washing inside helps slightly

Niche? I think your DH is trying to say he thinks it's common. Which is total rubbish because it's THE eco-friendly way to dry! My late father always insisted there was nothing as nice as slipping between freshly air-dried sheets.

Tell DH if he doesnt like how you do the washing , he takes it over, plus pays for the higher electricity costs

I was made up today because today was the first day this year I got a line of washing out to dry

Lakeland has so many rotary airers they’re actually selling them😃 Your DH is an eejit.

My garden is becoming so lush and green this time of year and seeing the washing blowing away against that backdrop gives me so much pleasure.
It's free and one of the best smells ever and who doesn't enjoy the heavenly feeling of sinking into a clean bed of freshly line dried bedding , absolute bliss.