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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Leaving washing out overnight?

30 replies

soon2befamilyof4 · 06/03/2009 13:45

Hello. Through the winter I have been doing my washing in the evening which I much prefer as I have no DD around and can hang up as soon as the load has finshed and leave it hanging everywhere overnight. However now, it is actually nice outside and is sunny etc so want to get it outside really, especially my nappies as it makes them lovely and bright white.

I was thinking about hanging it up outside in the evening, so it stays out overnight and gets the sun first thing in the morning? Then get it in early evening when it starts to get dark?

Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this? I feel a bit odd about it, like they wouldn't be as clean but I have no idea why?

OP posts:
bronze · 06/03/2009 13:46

Thats what I do. But I am a slattern so don't know what the general consensus is.

themoon66 · 06/03/2009 13:48

They might get wetter overnight if the temperature drops below dew-point.

You can tell i've put too much thought into this before can't you?

ramonaquimby · 06/03/2009 13:48

also do this. I do wonder what the neighbours think when I'm out there in darkness hanging up a load - but it works for me.

bellavita · 06/03/2009 13:49

Hmmm, I wouldn't, but that's my own preference.

I am a firm believer of hanging washing out, but I would think putting it out early evening and leaving it... well surely it will just hang there wet all night or get frozen and then have to thaw?

LotsofLovelyShoes · 06/03/2009 13:52

yes, but job is done and you are (in theory) ahead of yourself.

Please don't worry too much about this one!!!

Original poster
soon2befamilyof4 · 06/03/2009 13:59

It might get a bit wetter, but it will have lots of extra hours to dry as otherwise I can't do it till this sort of time of day when most of the sunshine has been wasted - because i have DD to worry about. When she is walking it might be easier as she can come out with me I guess.

OP posts:
IwishIwasmoreorganised · 06/03/2009 14:01

My only worry would be about spiders snuggling in for the night

choosyfloosy · 06/03/2009 14:02

I do this all the time. i quite like looking out in the morning and seeing the frosty stiff washing.

Not tremendously effective in that you have to leave it out longer to dry, but it DOES dry in the end (or dry enough to put it on radiators), smells nicer and is certainly better than leaving it to fester in the machine (which I also do sometimes).

Original poster
soon2befamilyof4 · 06/03/2009 14:03

URgh! didn't think about spiders!

OP posts:
bronze · 06/03/2009 14:03

never had spiders so I think the odds are low.
I find it easier too as by the time I've taken the kids to school etc etc I seem to have wasted a lot of the time the sun is in the garden.

BandMeeting · 06/03/2009 14:06

Frost bleaches out a load of stains and is great for whites

My mum hates me leaving washing out (mainly because it stays out for days) in a "what must the neighbours think??" way. Tbh, I don't really care - one set is new, and the other set has dingy grey bras

LittleWeePickle · 06/03/2009 14:06

I've always done this - hanging washing out last thing at night means you get the whole day of airing and drying, which does compensate for the slight sogginess which may occur during the night.

This works out far better than hanging it out at lunchtime 10am when you have missed the early morning air, which in summer starts at about 3:30am.

I started my habit as a student who likes to lie in bed! I have no intention of reforming my ways

As LofLS says, you will be ahead of yourself if you do this.

Enjoy your well earned lie in!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 06/03/2009 14:12

I will have to get over the spider thing though as this does seem like a great idea, one that I think I will adopt once I return to work in the summer!

LittleMissFickle · 06/03/2009 14:15

i wouldnt by me at the moment,every night a million little starlings come and do a merry little dance right over my house and garden,great to watch but they dont half crap a lot.

Original poster
soon2befamilyof4 · 06/03/2009 15:36

I think I am going to try it with the next load. I don't care what the neighbours think, and they are unlikely to realise anyway TBH - if it was them I would just assume they got up early!

OP posts:
OatcakeCravings · 06/03/2009 21:12

I do this in the summer all the time. Wouldn't do it at this time of year but thats because I live in the frozen North and it wouldn't dry.

random · 06/03/2009 21:15

I leave mine out all the time ...I usually forget to bring it in [lazy cow emoticon]

Lenlen · 07/03/2009 08:21

I've learned that style(leaving the laundry overnight)and it was effective. The clothes smelled clean and you get the best sunshine.

tigerdriver · 07/03/2009 08:27

My mum calls the smell of leaving clothes overnight "rainsweet". I do it all the time, sometimes for days on end

PuppyMonkey · 07/03/2009 08:30

But if it rains in the night (it does do that a lot in Britain) that means your washing is all ruined. Well it would for me anyway.

Mutt · 07/03/2009 09:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
soon2befamilyof4 · 07/03/2009 10:28

Oh well there are lots of "scummy" people on this thread then mutt. I suppose you have a maid to do all your work

OP posts:
fatzak · 07/03/2009 10:38

Why have I never thought of this? I always forget to bring mine in so it often hangs around for days ( again, what will the neighbours think comments from my Mum!!) Now a daft question - isn't a bit too cold at the moment to be hanging out overnight or will things actually dry?

(Fatzak now scurries away wondering why the thought of spiders and stuff in the clothes doesn't actually bother her....)

Mutt · 07/03/2009 11:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bronze · 07/03/2009 11:45

Puppy I thin rainwater is nicer than fabric softener and all the other crap that people use make make their washing smell 'nice' so I don't see how its ruined.