Line dry or tumble dry - or rather, in sight or hidden?

sillyvixen

When I can guarantee the weather on days I am working I will line dry, been easier the last 2 summers as hubby working from home has been able to nip out and bring washing in if necessary! Now hubby is back at work my preferred day for hanging washing out is my day off. I hang everything on the rotary line (including smalls and reusable cloth pads - I have no shame!). Why would I be embarrassed with the niegbours knowing I wash my undergarments? Admittedly underware is in the middle of the rotary line, due to it sitting quite low and clothes are put around in hight order to avoid dragging on the floor. In the winter underware and cloth pads are hung up in the window, from the curtain rail on those hangers with pegs (I have 4) to free up space on the radiator and clothes horse for larger items and allow efficient drying from one radiator in a small space. As my hubby says ' they are hanging in the window like bats'. No worry that everyone can see them.

OrkneyStar

Floss said:

Would you line or airer dry your laundry for free, potentially in full view of neighbours or family, or tumble dry at a cost so your washing is hidden from sight?

I don't care who sees my laundry, so outside if viable and on airers indoors if not (we live in an area where wind/rain/slurry spreading can influence whether it's a good idea to hang the washing out). We don't own a drier but we do have a dehumidifier which can help dry clothes (we use it anyway to help keep damp under control), we also have a small airing cupboard which helps too.

I_Love_comps

My first option is to line dry, cheaper and I do not mind if the neighbours see my clothes. In Winter I always dry the clothes on an airer, we have an dehumidifier which speeds up drying. 
I do not have a tumble dryer - to expensive to use.

Moorviews

My preference is to dry everything on the rotary line, although I do put anything I am more private about in the middle. I was using washable sanitary ware decades ago but didn’t need my neighbours to know that, or wonder what they were. Otherwise, I use the Sheila Maid in the kitchen and airers around the wood stove overnight. I don’t like having the laundry hanging around me in the daytime as it takes up too much space. Perhaps I am odd but I do actually love to see lines full of washing blowing in the breeze, whether mine or other peoples. It’s kind of joyful I think! I like to put the rotary line away afterwards but the rest of the family wouldn’t bother using it if I did that. We have a tumble dryer but I don’t think we have even used it so far this year. Washing doesn’t usually take all day to dry in the garden so could be brought in after a couple of hours, then ironed and aired, if people don’t like the look of it out there. I rarely iron anything but it is easier if the laundry still has a little dampness to it. 

prowla

I use the line whenever possible.

Some things, especially towels, can benefit from a short finish in the tumbler.

Laurasiamos

I have 3 small children so I inevitably end up using the dryer during the wet winter days. I almost exclusively line dry otherwise though. It does mean I plan washing based on the weather. Do not care who sees my smalls (which will be a lot of the street considering our lengthy sloped garden). I also love seeing washing blowing on the line. Find it very therapeutic. 

Spendless

Growing up in then 1970s our then next door neighbour wouldn't put washing out on a Sunday. They weren't religious, I was good friends with their kids.

Mr S is a sucker for putting the TD on, but then he puts random things in the WM anyway. A load could contain 4 unmatching socks, a random pillowcase, a couple of items from DD's floordrobe and anything else. Then he puts the TD on for convivence. I'm more logical with loads and though I'm a sucker for using the TD for towels as I like soft fluffy ones and underwear cos I need to buy one of those things that save space, I put these loads on later in the day and do other loads when it can be line dried. Can't beat the smell of washing that's been dried outside. 

London_1

Its never bothered me, or I had even thought about anything other than line-drying stuff as much as possible.
Its never occured to me that anyone would be remotely interested in my 'smalls' or anything else for that matter. I know there are some silly estates that insist 'no washing lines' in gardens ,but I would never want to live in a place like that.

Crazycatlady2

I line dry where possible. I am trying really hard not to use dryer at all. The weather is only deciding factor really and underwear goes out…never even considered it shouldn’t tbh

ive been putting it on airer in downstairs bathroom with dehumidifier on if can’t dry outside recently.

thriftwizard

Line-dry, weather permitting! And we have indoor airers, including a heated one, if weather doesn't permit, though it's hard to prevent DS3 using the heated airer as an extra source of heat. Because I work mainly from home, I have the luxury of timing washes to make the most of good weather, and I shouldn't think the neighbours give a toss about our underwear - they're too busy trying to stop the puppy eating theirs!