Drying washing outdoors in winter

Primrose

This morning we had a frost but its sunny now. I've just hung my washing outdoors to try and dry it but it occurred to me that the temperature in our spare bathroom with foldaway drying lines would in reality have been a warmer drying location.

So, what's your favourite option? I've moved my Hills Hoist to its alternative "spike in the ground" location where a neighbour's huge tree doesn't cast any shade but it's not really very warm out there !


What's your best winter drying weather? Sunshine or wind?

kerri_gt

I always prefer to dry outside if possible in order to minimise excess condensation in the air in the house. i don't have a clothes line so just put the airer outside for the day

Oakdene

I dried my woolen blankets outside yesterday, I love the fresh smell that they get. Always outside if I can.

Alikay

I always put my washing out unless it's wet, below freezing or foggy. It rarely dries completely during the winter, but I bring it in around sunset, and drape it over the clothes horse or give it 10 minutes in the tumble dryer to finish off.

Hedgehog99

Sunshine and a breeze, but not enough wind to blow my airer over like it did the other day (even though it was anchored!)

Trouble is, now the clocks have changed, if working full time, I can't get the washing in before dark (and therefore cold and dampness), so outdoor drying is only really realistic at weekends when I can keep an eye on it.

Using every other rail on indoor airers definitely helps - it's a false economy to try to cram too many items on an airer.

I definitely notice the improved freshness of outdoor-dried items now that I have moved away from a town.

tori.k

It's like military maneuvers in this house this time of year washing is done in the evening put on the airer overnight then I will hang it out in the morning before work weather permitting and DH will pick it in when he's home then it's usually in the dryer for 10 mis, I detest the smell of washing that's gone a bit musty before it fully dried on a airer, so will use the tumble dryer if can't get it out on the line.

LameWolf

Outdoors if there's even a chance it will dry; it smells so much nicer, specially as I don't use fabric conditioner or any other "smellies" on my washing.

Slinky

I get fed up of hanging stuff out, bringing it in and hanging it up again. Particularly fiddly stuff like socks. So this time of year I tend to hang it up over the bath on airers if possible or over the bannisters. Some stuff I'll put in the drier.

trailingspouse

The smell of washing that has actually frozen on the line is like no other.

Mine's out right now - in fact, I need to go and get it back in as the dew will be falling.

Always outside - it still dries, just takes a little longer when it's cold. Basically, if the paving slabs are dry then the washing will dry.

LameWolf

Slinky wrote: »

Particularly fiddly stuff like socks.

Socks and underwear go on one of those "carousel" thingies; I load it up indoors on the work surface, then it just goes on the whirligig from it's hanger - much quicker for whipping in "smalls" if it starts raining.;)

Linda32

I do like to dry the washing outside, but I do not waste my time either. If the slabs are still wet or it is below 10 degrees thsn I do not bother, so then its airing cupboard, tumble dryer or airer.