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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Do you hang washing out in winter?

63 replies

TheGander · 17/12/2022 11:16

Just wondering- I’m in London and it’s cold but sunny today. Any point in hanging the washing out- will some of the humidity dispel or will it just cling to the clothes? It would be e nice to get that fresh smell. Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
notacooldad · 13/01/2023 08:35

I've got my bedding on the line at the moment.
It's really windy and has been out for about half an hour. It is nearly dry but I will finish it off in the tumble for 10 minutes.
I doubt I'll get any more washing on the line today as the weather is closing in on us and a down pour looks like it is coming in the next 15/20 mins.

megletthesecond · 13/01/2023 16:47

Got three loads dry today. Cold, dry and windy almost lost duvet cover despite five pegs on it.

EspeciallyDetermined · 13/01/2023 16:50

I put two loads out today, about half of it (all the sports gear) was totally dry, the other stuff has just needed a quick blast in the dryer to finish off, it was dry and windy here. Only did it because it was my day off and I could get it it again before dark, wouldn't do it on a work day.

OhPeggySue · 13/01/2023 16:58

Hung a load out yesterday afternoon. Was cold but dry n blustery and it came in at about 4pm pretty much dry.

FictionalCharacter · 13/01/2023 17:30

Yes, if it’s a dry day. Even in quite cold weather it gets partly dry.

mum2jakie · 13/01/2023 17:34

I do when possible but we've had really damp and rainy weather lately so haven't managed any over recent weeks

Alliswells · 13/01/2023 19:45

yaflouloci · 11/01/2023 12:07

There's an app

HangWashing?

I've just downloaded it!

Definitely an app for everything!

Billybagpuss · 13/01/2023 19:47

3 loads line dried today 😊

TheCatsMakethTheHome · 13/01/2023 19:50

I put two loads out a 10am and got it in at 4pm- it was all dry. It was sunny, bright and windy so perfect for drying washing!

Spectre8 · 13/01/2023 19:53

I do if its sunny like today, did the sheets today and mostly dry thank god. Otherwise takes over a day to dry in doors

UsingChangeofName · 13/01/2023 21:11

On the odd sunny and windy day I might but, not generally.
Not worth it when it is damp and cold.

Skethylita · 14/01/2023 07:02

Yes, all the time, even in minus temperatures or when there is a chance of a small, mid-day shower.

The only times I don't are when heavy rain is forecast or when it's foggy/ drizzly.

Every time my washing comes in much drier than if I'd left it to dry inside; I have far less chance of mould developing indoors (no tumble dryer; never had one), and there is no musty smell, just that of fresh air.

BiasedBinding · 14/01/2023 07:15

Yes but I don’t always put it on the line, I put it on a rack so i can bring it in easily to finish drying inside

Billybagpuss · 14/01/2023 07:49

Skethylita · 14/01/2023 07:02

Yes, all the time, even in minus temperatures or when there is a chance of a small, mid-day shower.

The only times I don't are when heavy rain is forecast or when it's foggy/ drizzly.

Every time my washing comes in much drier than if I'd left it to dry inside; I have far less chance of mould developing indoors (no tumble dryer; never had one), and there is no musty smell, just that of fresh air.

Hanging out in minus temperatures is the best way to get rid of stains, our Christmas tablecloth had a very stubborn grease stain from last year, I washed it on a quick eco wash which didn’t touch it then I left it out over the cold snap for a couple of days, completely gone.

EspeciallyDetermined · 14/01/2023 08:02

Yes, it takes longer to fade stains than in summer but there's enough UV in winter if you leave things out for a few days.

Amboseli · 14/01/2023 08:07

I track the weather and plan my washing around dry days. Have hardly used the tumble dryer this winter, apart from drying off things that weren't quite dry.

I strangely enjoy being outside and hanging things on the line!

CoffeandTiaMaria · 14/01/2023 08:10

Mine goes out if the patio is dry, I love the smell of washing dried outside 😊

SallyWD · 14/01/2023 08:37

If it's a really bright, dry, windy day I sometimes put things out. However, I'm in Yorkshire and its often, grey, damp, drizzly. It's just not worth the effort to put things out. They don't dry.

mum2jakie · 14/01/2023 08:43

Another wet grey day here! I changed the beds yesterday but no chance of drying outside in this weather...

Skethylita · 15/01/2023 16:01

See, in my area it was wet and rainy this morning, but since about midday it's been dry and even sunny in places. No rain forecast for the next few days. I just hung a load out to dry throughout tomorrow and will stick my bedding in the wash in the morning tomorrow, so I can hang it out in the evening, ready for the next day.

Gatekeeper · 15/01/2023 16:04

Yes! Its cold, sunny and windy here in Durham with a good drouth. 2,nd load of washing is out and blowing away on the line. Smells lovely!

Roselilly36 · 15/01/2023 16:25

TheGander · 17/12/2022 17:20

So the humidity was 86% today. I left the clothes on the line about 4 hours and they were appreciably dryer than straight out of the machine, and smelt fresher than dried indoors, so I think it was worth it.

Me too, two loads of bedding today, not fully dry, but smelt lovely. I always hang out washing on a windy, dry winters day.

BucketofTeaMassiveCake · 15/01/2023 16:27

I don't bother to hang out in the winter as it's so irritating to bring in and it's still damp. It goes straight onto clothes horses in the spare room. Obviously I will now pay much more attention to my patio.

Fundays12 · 15/01/2023 16:30

I hang it out all year round as long as it's dry. In the summer the warmth dries it fully and in the winter the cold freeze dries it. I had 3 loads out today and all came in only mildly damp so one load got hung up to dry in the utility room, one got hung upstairs and the other 20 minutes in the dryer and it was dry.

EccentricElizabeth · 15/01/2023 16:31

No I don't, because it generally doesn't dry enough not to have to hang it up again and hanging it up twice is a pain.