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 am fuming because I can’t hang washing today because my husband is painting the new fences!!!

my washing goes out all the time! Underwear included

Absolutely hang out washing here. I don't have a tumbledrier on principle.

Mind you, I've been caught by sudden showers so often I'll often put everything on a clothes horse instead of on the line and put that outside so I can whip it back inside if it rains and then back outside when it stops without having to rehang it all.

I seem to be the only one in our row who hangs out their washing. They’re mostly families of 4+ people as well so must have more washing than we do

i find it takes longer to dry things in the drier than on the line so they must be constantly on the go

Washing out on the whirligig here whenever weather allows. Just pegged out a load this morning, great drying day. No idea what my neighbors do, I can’t see their back gardens. In winter/ wet days it’s inside on the pulley in the utility room with the dehumidifier on. Tumble drier for towels only (so scratchy if line dried) - sometimes bedding in winter to give them a head start.

Americans think it’s common (HOAs don’t allow it!) so that attitude is creeping over here. It’s batshit.

You see posters on MN creating a laundry room upstairs, apparently to save them going up and downstairs with washing. They must tumble dry everything.

Seems ridiculous to me if they have a garden.

We are on the Salento in southern Italy. In the little towns, literally every street, it's hung balcony to balcony across the tiny roads, by gossiping Nonne, screeching to each other about the price of Panettone. Papa's long Johns waft in the breeze, like a flag of warning to the young Vespa riding casanovas!

I have a small patio but a very good clothes drying rack thing. Washing goes out all year round even although I have a tumble dryer. Your neighbours are nuts.

(love seeing washing out drying especially when it's blowing)

My machine is currently on, with my washing divided into white, light, mixed colours and darks plus bedding and it will all be going out on the line... why waste electricity on a dryer?

"Common"? What a bunch of snobs. I don't even have a dryer. I prefer to hang my washing. Makes it easier to fold as well.

The other winter, DH went out to get the washing in. The next thing I saw was him waving at me from the garden, holding a frozen solid pair of jeans! 🤣 Freeze drying is almost as good as wind drying though, but folding it is challenging. 😀

I only tumble dry bedding, towels and underwear all year round, love the summer when the washing can go out on the line!

Common to hang out washing to dry?! I've never heard anything more stupid in my life! When the weather is good, it is surely better to hang it out? Saves electricity, saves money, clothing is less creased, smells lovely etc. Sod what your neighbour thinks! I only tumble dry my laundry if it's raining or I need it really quickly. Everyone I know (rich, poor, etc) will hang out laundry to dry whenever they can.

I use the dryer alot so I don't have to iron. I do put some out too though.

Mines on the line. Two loads worth. I’m going to Aldi. 😂

Calling something "common" is particularly English, it's not even a concept in the USA.

Our next door neighbour sometimes leaves it out for many days at a time. The record is well over a week! I said to DH that I reckon there's a silent war going on between the couple about who's going to get it in! 🤣

I'd have told the neighbour that I disagreed with him and didn't really care.

I hang the washing out whenever I can. I'll be putting a load out later this morning.

I've never hung washing on a line - very small garden, so neither practical nor aesthetically pleasing.

I never hang out but don’t think people who do are common or wrong. Its personal preference and due to where I live. Washing comes in filthy due to coal fires so need to wash again. All neighbours elderly and get free coal which is their only source of heat. My mother always goes on about it as says drying indoors is not as nice

We peg all of our washing as often as we can - line dried washing is the beat washing. We also air bath towels and beddi g oitsode most days (in fact our flat lease - from tbe 1930s - stipulates you should air bedding outside daily and rugs weekly).

I thought was only mad uptight Americans who objected to drying washing outside. Pretty much all European cities have balconies festooned with washing lines and airers. Indeed we stayed at a flat in France last year that had a retractable washing line built in to the balcony.

Recently moved and now have a washing line instead of a rotary one. I’m loving using a washing line again!
Clothes are drying faster and smell lovely. Reminds me of the book Mrs Mopple’s Washing Line (would be a good user name) “ Blow wind blow!”

I hang mine out whenever possible.

Yep gives it a much fresher feel. And is free!

Although some places in America it is actually quite dry and dusty so not ideal for hanging laundry out.

No excuse here