Washing taking ages to dry outside

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I am trying to dry my clothes outside as much as possible. Today was a lovely day in London so I hung it out outside. It was outside for about six hours and then I took it in when it got dark. But despite the lovely day it was still very damp. Maybe because there wasn’t much wind today. But very disappointing to have it back inside with the dehumidifier on!

It was very misty here this morning so I suspect it must have been very damp last night.

I don’t have a tumble dryer as don’t have much space for one and in any case if I did have one I would only use for sheets and towels.

I'm about to give up on drying outside for the rest of the winter. Don't have a dryer, so will reschedule wash-day to midweek when I travel past a launderette and will be able to pop it in for a £2 swoosh in the huge dryer. Can't dry indoors as too scared of damp while not having heating on.

We’re wonderfully sunny today.

Damp, gloomy and miserable on the edge of the Pennines today. Definitely not drying weather.

It’s the wrong time of year to be hanging clothes outside. It’s too damp and too cold. It was 17-18 in London yesterday but not the same as 17-18 on a June day. Am surprised you are even wondering about this.

My radiators aren't on so this wouldn't work for me.

Minr aren't at the moment either @Athenen0ctua. I have my washing on an airer inside in a small room with the window open.

I agree about out early and in by 3pm - my washing machine has a delay function, and I've started using that to have it ready to go out as soon as I get up.

This morning, I've ironed damp sheets etc and they're on the radiators. This evening, the heating can go on for an hour and they'll be ready to go away in the morning.

I'm fortunate in that I WFH, have space for an airer, have a dehumidifier and don't mind spending a bit of time moving damp washing around.

Isn't there a problem with extra spin? I know the clothes will be drier. However isn't it using electricity and doesn't it reduce the life span of your machine. I bought a new washing machine recently and in doing my research I came to understand machines are designed to last X number of washes and spins. I guess it's a calculation we will make.

It's rubbish isn't it.

I wear clothes for longer. Wash less

I am wearing more manmade fibres that dry quicker.

I use microfiber towels as they do the job and dry really quickly. Cotton towels are the thing that think are hardest to dry.

I do use drier for the slightly damp clothes from the line. I figure I have reduced use significantly.

I use a dehumidifier in the house

Impressed at all the people who haven’t had their radiators on yet. I mean, the last week has been quite mild I grant you, but there was a week not long ago where it was 4 or 5 degrees when we woke up!

I haven't switched my heating on to the timer yet but when it's on it's at 16 in the evening. The few times I've put it on for an hour it's raised the temperature by a degree then switched off, just not cold enough yet. My house has never got to 4 or 5 degrees at any time of day, even after a freezing night, always double digits.

Same problem here. I think if you put it out bring it back in before late afternoon or it starts to get damp again.
I purchased a heated airer - love it!!!

I’ve got all my washing dry outside this week. The load I put out yesterday was dry when I got it in at around 3pm ish. It’s really misty and damp today, though, so there would be no chance of getting anything dry at all.

Can you try something crazy.

Take a full load from the washing machine and weigh it.
Then spin it at the highest speed and weigh it again.
Fill a jug with water until it equals the difference between the two weights and prepare to be amazed.

Post the results here.

You're wasting your time hanging out clothes unless you've spun them at least once, preferably twice.

For those struggling with having lots of washing to get dry.

1. Prioritise your washing and split into loads to do in order of importance so eg; in my house P1 is underwear and socks, school uniform and DH work uniform P2 heavy things like jeans, jumpers and towels P3 'regular' clothes and bedding
2. Wear clothes as long as you can before washing. I am spot cleaning kids uniform through the week to reduce how much there is to wash and dry along with my own clothes wherever I can. If you keep your body clean daily, I promise your clothes will NOT smell or be very dirty after a single wear unless you maybe do a very physical/messy job

I find it's much harder to get the heavy things like jeans and towels dry inside so when I spot what should be a good drying day I wash these things then as the first load to get them out on the line and as dry as poss before they come in to finish off on the airer.

It's a bit of a military operation I'm afraid.

I plan to not have it on for as long as possible. I refuse to pay what's being asked right now. It's disgusting.

Instead we have bought knock off oodies for everyone which really are a good investment we are all toasty and I already had lots of blankets for sofas and beds.

Blankets are great for snuggling up in the living room, not so much when you step out of the shower first thing.

Same here, I hang it out to get the worst of the wetness out the washing but still have to air or tumble dry it. It’s sunny with blue skies here, but the ground is still wet and the clothes aren’t moving on the line, so I know why I bothered hanging it out really.

All these winter lovers who go on about crisp cold days obviously don’t live in this part of the UK where it’s about 90% humidity in autumn and winter.

You get dried off quick and put your dressing gown on surely?

Who wants to get up and dressed in temperatures which are only a few degrees above freezing? That’s miserable - and appalling that people are still having to do this in 2022.

I’ve given up on the line now for winter…..tumble dryrer….or the maiden in the utility room …..start again after next Easter probably

How cold is your house? Lowest its been so far in mine is 15 degrees. Normally a steady 18 at the moment.....

I grew up in a much colder house than this one, perspective init.

just our log burner ( for which we get free wood) up to now…it heats back room and kitchen …..just run up to bed …. But I agree it’s going to get a lot colder so the heating will go on intermittently…especially when my mums here or GC

Personally I think the 'dries outside in winter easily, just give it an extra spin' posts on this site are akin to the competitive under eating, the mumsnet chicken and the mumsnet salad

Things that never happen in real life

Yesterdays mine barely dried (I stuck it back out today). We have a very short window now of ‘drying time’, needs to be in by 2pm.

Exactly the same. It did get a little darked on but I think there was just too much moisture in the air. Put 2 loads of tumble drying on in the evening so couldn't even take advantage of the solar panels.