Is hanging washing on the line not a thing anymore?

[Savvyshopper81]

Interesting conversation with neighbour recently:

Him: ‘I see you like hanging your washing out to dry.’
Me: ‘Er, yeah. Doesn’t everyone?’
Him: ‘Well no, we think it’s a bit common.’

Now this was said tongue in cheek but I’ve come to realise that NONE of my neighbours have washing lines (only us!) and we all have big enough gardens. Plus a local friend recently said that they tumble dry everything because they can’t stand seeing washing hanging around.

Is this no longer a thing? Has the world gone mad?? I live on top of a very windy hill in a sunny part of the UK - unless it’s raining washing usually dries in a couple of hours. I’m baffled as to why people wouldn’t take advantage of that!

I live in Scotland, it rains a lot, on the days it’s dry the washing is out. It’s free!

Some newer estates have covenants saying not to hang washing out. Whether people enforce that I dont know.

Well judging by the number of rotary airers, washing lines, pegs etc being sold in Dunelm, Argos, Lakeland, Tesco - I could go on - I reckon it’s still a pretty popular choice. In dry weather, my bloomers are out billowing on the whirly, blocking out the sun.

Edited for 2 words round the wrong way!

I live in the Canary Islands and everyone hangs out their washing. If they don’t have a garden then it’s on an airer on the balcony. Most buildings here have a communal drying area on the roof that can be used.

I’m currently home in Scotland as my mother is ill, I’ve done the washing and it’s hanging outside (it’s a great drying day) and the next door neighbour has washing hanging outside too. I can also see gardens up the street with washing hung outside. This is a very nice, affluent village - I don’t think all these people are ‘common’. 🙄

Time and culture changes have to have an impact, often laundry has to be fit in within a certain length of time. Few full time housewives able to spend the time on it. However, with WFH more common that would negate that to a degree. dh does all the laundry process in our household as he works from home. 12 year old is expected to do his own laundry as far as bringing down basket and using the machine. He is also expected to load and unload the dryer when it’s used. Nine year old can hang and take in (and fold) the washing, he isn’t quite there yet with the washing machine.

I'd love to more but hay-fever is a bugger for both me and DH it definitely gets worse. I do put an airer with smalls etc outside from time to time. I'll do what I want in my own garden ...what a cheeky bugger @Savvyshopper81 cant stand snobbery.

Nothing makes me more content than my washing lines full and the wind blowing them ( yes, I’m easily pleased). 😁

Oh I get mine out! Is a must with me even tho I’ve got a tumble dryer. I use it for bed clothes in winter, only to give them a wee boost before putting over the clothes horse

I love hanging washing out can’t beat that fresh dried smell plus it’s free !

I even leave my washing out overnight or if it rains. I love the smell. I don't care if spiders have been rubbing their willies on them, lol.

Ffs I live for a good drying day 😭

Well im also as common as muck then as I love to get my washing on the line, I have 2 lines both regularly full. As soon as I see the sun my first thought is great I can get my washing on the line!
my next door neighbour is elderly and she hangs washing out but other neighbours dont seem to.
in a day and age where we are supposed to be environmentally friendly it seems wrong that people would choose to tumble dry over line drying. plus the electricity costs.
I also think laziness from some people is also a reason as they can't be bothered to hang it out, its easier to just shove it in the dryer, I have a friend who says she can't be bothered with the effort of hanging it out and bringing it back in.

and again.....allergies

We have a washer-dryer combined (small kitchen so no space for a separate dryer) but whenever I can I hang the washing out to dry, means I can get all the washing done in a few hours, it smells so much fresher and it's cheaper than using the dryer.

Neither do I.

Smells much better and is better for the environment. Why would you not hang it out? Its bonkers.

We do, we've got a large garden.

I've literally just hung mine out. Love it when line dried. Obviously we are as common as muck! Why waste money tumble drying? People are weird.

I hate clothes hanging on radiators or draped on a clothes horse. So would use dryer if I need to. Weather permitting definitely use the line.

I have a wall airer for small washing & 2 retractable clothes lines for big family loads and bedding. I always put my washing out unless it rains. I don’t see why you wouldn’t. I love seeing my washing outside & I’ve never had a tumble dryer. For winter my heated airer works a treat. Where I live it’s quite affluent and everyone bar a few people put their washing out, I mean why wouldn’t you?!

Always hang washing out in summer and on indoor 'Maidens' in winter.
Have a tumble dryer with all the bells & whistles (Apps, delayed starts etc etc) but only have it on eco setting for 2 minutes to 'take the edge off' if slightly damp.

I notice on my travels that the bigger and posher someone's house and garden is, the rarer a washing line is.
I always ask about it and am met with bemusment.
I wonder how many Alderley Edge mansions have one? 🤔

@Savvyshopper81 l put washing out every time unless it's raining of course. Isn't the tumble dryer the worst thing for using electricity ?
Washing smells nicer when it's been outside IMO. And, as I'm common as muck, it gets the smell of cigarettes blown away in the fresh air.

Here's part of a GB Shaw play first performed in 1894. So it's been a part of national snobbery for well over 100 years!

PETKOFF. Well, I’ll tell you something I’ve learnt, too. Civilized people don’t hang out their washing to dry where visitors can see it; so you’ dbetter have all that (indicating the clothes on the bushes) put somewhere else.
CATHERINE.Oh, that’s absurd, Paul: I don’t believe really refined people notice such things.

My widowed FiL moved to a small new development of mostly older residents, where a couple of prissy, prudish old bags soon told him that he ‘wasn’t allowed’ to hang washing in his back garden - and that he ‘must’ hang net curtains in his front windows!

He was too polite to tell them to fuck off - he simply ignored their nonsense.

Which play is that?

I wouldn’t call it national snobbery BTW, more like national prudery. Heaven forfend that anyone should glimpse our unmentionables!