Air your dirty laundry in public

margaretclare

rogerki wrote:

BTW I wonder how many people who's rainwater is drained into soakaways in their garden (if you live on a sandy soil) claim the rebate on their sewerage bill for removal of rainwater?

Well, we do. It saves us £4 a month i.e. a sewerage payment of £11 a month instead of £15.

Just to add to the thread, I always hang washing out on the line when the weather is fit to. If not, I have a little airer in the kitchen, and as the house is always warm, washing dries nicely overnight in wet weather or winter. I wouldn't want a tumble-dryer.

We used to have 2 old ladies live next door, elderly unmarried sisters. They'd done an exchange with someone who wanted a flat and they wanted a bungalow. Immediately on moving in they got a garden contractor to remove every plant in the garden and put down turf. He used to come and cut the grass for them. I never saw either of those old ladies set foot in the garden, not even to hang washing (they too had a tumble-dryer). The reason they wanted the land (these 1930s bungalows have quite big gardens) was because of the noise in the flats. They wanted the space - didn't want anyone living too close to them who might make a noise.

Aunty Margaret

jellyhead

my line dried washing doesn't smell nice at all ... i don't mind it smelling of other peoples summer barbeques or bonfires but the male pensioner neighbours on both sides go into their back garden to smoke, seems like it's every ten minutes, my washing always stinks no matter what time i try putting it out.

Enterprise_1701C

I have never had a tumble drier. I dry on the line in the summer of on an airer in inclement weather. I have a friend who just bought a flat and was asking where to get a tumble drier cheap - I told him not to and to get an airer! He cannot believe how fast clothes dry (a bit difficult to hang washing out in a flat! My memories of a tumble drier when I was young were of shrunken clothes. I do not have a dishwasher either - no point with a family of four, just ten minutes washing up a day! I love high tech gadgets but energy drinkers leave me cold!

Capyboppy

Am I the only one who seems to have a problem with towels that dry as stiff as a board? In the old days I agree, towels along with all the other stuff was a pleasure to inhale and bring in off the line. Now, whether dried on the line, or on a pulley rack indoors seem to dry the same. I have tried all kinds of natural remedies to soften, and also put them on extra rinses in case it is the residue causing it, but still they dry like boards.

elona

Have you tried white vinegar instead of conditioner?

Capyboppy

Yes, I have. I have tried a multitude of "natural" remedies, one that includes white vinegar, borax and washing soda. I don't know if it is all the extra pollution in the air over the last couple of decades. I am also in a soft water area too.

sammyy

Since I've stopped using my condenser tumble dryer(Thanks to this site,might I add)my electricity use has fallen by more than a third!!!! We live in a four bedroom house with gas heating but have quite alot of electrical things what with having 4 kids but I was amazed that ONE appliance was accounting for so much of our total usage.I haven't used it for about 4 months now and its really not too much bother.

gromituk

Yay - congrats! :T

Capyboppy

I haven't used our dryer (which was only occasional anyway) since the motor went! It is surprising how quick you adjust to managing without, plus there is more light in the kitchen now as the dryer was on top of the washer. Sadly I can't say there is any difference in the bills as with the utilities going up so much in the last couple of years it hasn't made any difference. Great to have the extra space though.
For other "try to be green" folks out there. Try using Soapnuts instead of detergent. Better for the environment and cheaper on your household bills too.

gromituk

Capyboppy wrote:

Sadly I can't say there is any difference in the bills as with the utilities going up so much in the last couple of years it hasn't made any difference. Great to have the extra space though.

but that just means your bills haven't gone up when otherwise they would! So it's doing far more than saving space.