Putting washing outside

London50

I do not think it is an age thing it is more where you live, in the past most families were "lucky" enough to have a home with a garden. These days with the rise {mainly in the late 50's/early 60's} of high rise blocks of flats the chance of having an outside area to be able to hang washing out was close to nil in most town/city areas and with the price of tumble driers going down many people had to choose between damp/wet washing on rads ect or buying a machine that at least would get the childrens clothes washed and dried ready for school the next day.
Some of us are lucky and have either a garden or at least a drying area but for those in the b ig cities in a 10/12/15 story block of flats {working family or not} stand very little chance of the luxury of an outdoor space to line dry.

Snakey

I live in a council block and I hang my washing out of the windows. I am sure it looks what my grandmother would have called "common", but the way I see it is why should I dry it all inside (which takes longer) and risk condensation and mould just for the sake of what complete strangers might think of me?

I used to have a house, back when I lived up North, and one of my favourite things about it, having previously been in bedsits etc, was the back garden with washing line (and next door's cat in the greenhouse).

I'm 43.

poppellerant

My main gripe with hanging washing outside, especially in the spring, is catching dry spells long enough for the washing to dry.

But in summer I can hang a full load of washing out only for it to be dry in an hour - meanwhile I hear the odd tumble drier ticking over wasting money. :rotfl:

CathA

Very interesting comments, thank you all. I remember the days when the neighbours would bring in your washing, never had anyone iron it for me though!

I realise that not everyone has a space for putting washing out, as well as keeping it from being rained on. However, my daughters all have somewhere they can put it out on an airer and it's under cover so would be fine, they just can't get the idea that it's a good idea!! Perhaps it's because I suggested it, we all know that parents know nothing!

bouncydog1

DD 22 put her washing out at Uni when she had a garden and line. Then she moved to a new apartment in London and had to use an airer indoors as she wouldn't use the drier because of the cost. Now living elsewhere with patio doors so she uses the airer on sunny days and the tumble drier during cheapy time! Me - I use the drier when it rains and the line when it doesn't - but the conservatory quite a lot in the winter as stuff dries brilliantly in there and doesn't go stiff!

Ebe_Scrooge

I'm quite happy to use the tumble dryer when the weather dictates, but I always hang it out when possible. Apart from anything else, you don't get that delicious smell from a tumble dryer - I don't know what it is, but it just smells so "fresh"

pollypenny

When I was working I'd use the tumble dryer if the weather was dodgy. Now I'm retired I have flexibility about when I wash, so I try to wait until I can peg out.

Why waste money when there's good fresh air to dry clothes.

DigForVictory

I've three teenage boys. They will peg laundry out on the line if instructed, but we've no window overlooking the rotary drier, and only realise it's raining when it starts to hammer down.

In months where the forecast includes a pollen count, I do try to get them to peg stuff out & I think they like the smell, but with uniform and so forth, the washing machine is on every day & we can't wait for the weather (our area nicknamed "wetly green" for a darn good reason) to get clothes dry.

A godfather uses his greenhouse as a place to leave the drying rack (bonus, keeps temptation away from his dog!) but we lack the extra glazed area.

The lads do get the good neighbour idea as whenever they want to have a bonfire, we go along the houses knocking on doors & asking.

I'm under 50, but recognise a good drying day by its scarcity...

Rain_Shadow

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

in the old days, so I'm told, neighbours used to take in washing if it started raining,

They certainly did. I remember it well as a small child.

EmmyLou30

My Mum always tells me I should have my washing hung out more - but living by the coast even on a windy day, if it's cold it just won't dry no matter how long you leave it as the air is too moist. Plus I work so can't be in and out like a yo yo taking it in if it rains like a stay at home Mum can so I dry on a clothes airer indoors as I've no choice. I never put wet things on a radiator though. In summer I'll dry everything outside on weekends as I love the line dried smell and crispy towels :-) I can't understand people not drying outside if they have the option on a dry day.