AIBU to like seeing washing out on the line?

When we lived in Holland I used to hang the duvet out the bedroom window when it was dry every day to air it. I wish I had the courage to do that here!!

I choose not to have a tumble dryer and get a lot get a lot of satisfaction from pegging out a line of washing and the wonderful fresh grassy smell as I carefully fold it when dry (hate ironing)
Luckily, my rear garden has some trees and backs onto farmland with long views, so there is no-one to complain about washing being out on Sundays.

Margaret X Lucky you.
Many in the UK would love a restful Sunday but, this for some, a Sunday may be the only day they can catch up with the necessaries of life such as washing clothes etc and English weather permitting able to hang them outside to dry. I am sure the Brits would be up in arms with such a dictatorial attitude.

Unless there's a written law or local ordinance that prohibits or regulates hanging your clothes (outside) to dry, no one can force you to do otherwise.

Having said that, you also need be prudent and practical. You are right about this, but now that the issue is out in the open (no pun intended , one of your adversaries could get an ordinance put in place sooner than later.

I would quietly hang my laundry in the back where it won't be seen from the street and hope that the issue goes away.

It came to my attention that in my village in France I was known as 'the Englishwoman who hangs her knickers on the washing line'.
Once I hadn't been able to do the washing for a couple of weeks so had quite a lot.
My neighbour's ex-husband (French), was tending some land adjacent to my garden and told me that he stood openmouthed when he saw it. He subsequently sent me a poem he'd written about 15 pairs of knickers on the line.

Dragonfly46
Good for you. Who or what is now preventing you doing this?
Would you be causing a traffic obstruction, blocking access to some ones property, blocking the light entering some ones window, damaging plants etc . Are you in accommodation that has rules about this sort of thing?

Never had a drier, never will. Washing dried outside when weather suitable. Snobs in Colyton.

Kathyd

kathyd

In the report I read it was on an airer outside her frony door. I believe the picture is what some of the other residents did - one woman ran her bra up a flagpole!

I love to hang the washing out, our rotary drier is at the side of the house,and can be seen by passers by.
I love to see others washing hanging out, I dont know why I just do.

Tumble dryers shrink clothes and use loads of electricity. Far better to get it out in the fresh air. Smells lovely after! And why are people so worked up about seeing someone’s underwear!?!

Beau this site has lots of information about how expensive in terms of both cash and Co2 a tumble dryer can be
www.confusedaboutenergy.co.uk/index.php/energy-saving-tips/80-energy-saving-tips-washing-clothes/91-tumble-drying
Good luck with persuading!

Always dry outside (on retractable clothes line) if at all possible. I prefer natural fresh smell to synthetic/none at all. Tumble drier only used in an emergency! Good for those who supported this woman.
I did the same in Holland Dragonfly and still do - but out the back window!

I love hanging washing out and that fresh smell of it when I bring it in. Even in the winter I hang it out to part dry it before I finish it off on an airer in the bathroom. I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't got an outside space to dry their washing. I don't think I could live anywhere like that as it gives me so much pleasure.
When my four children were small with two in Terry nappies, my new elderly, childless neighbour asked me 'Do you have to hang washing out on a Sunday'? I'm afraid I said yes I do, otherwise I will run out of nappies! She never complained again.

GrannyO The washing in the picture looks strange because all the local people have hung it up in support of the lady who received the letter. They have festooned the fronts of their houses, fences, doors and windows, and even hung a bra from the flagpole. Amusingly enough, rather than deter visitors, this has brought lots more into the village in support.
It reminds me of the news item about an elderly man who lived in one of the prettiest villages in England. He was told that his bright yellow car was spoiling the look of the place, and tourists' photos. He took no notice, and someone vandalised his car. When news of this got out, people descended on the place from all over the country, driving yellow cars, and paraded around the village all day!
We Brits have a history of supporting the underdog!

I hung washing out at 9.00 this evening because it's fairly mild, and quite windy, so I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't rain overnight. I much prefer to dry washing outside whenever possible. I also 'look' for things to wash on a really fine day. We moved last year from an exposed, windy area near the sea, and I couldn't understand, at first, why my washing wasn't quite as dry in the 'new' garden. Eventually it struck me that we now live in a low lying area, near a river and the air just isn't as dry here. I'm quite disappointed!

I sometimes put coats and things I don't wear very much out on the line over night. If its a certain sort of cool slightly damp air, the clothes lose all creases and smell so fresh next morning......better than dry cleaning!!
My line is in the back though.

BTW I cant stand all these strong fragrances they put in washing powder now!!
First off I'm allergic to them, sneezing, itchy eyes, headaches etc. Secondly they're so unnatural.
Another reason to line dry, it blows it all away!

I put washing on the line every day I possibly can. Years ago we had a neighbour who told me that she had never, ever hung washing on her line (no idea why), but her sister owned a hairdressers and her tumble drier had broken. My neighbour was mortified to be hanging out rows and rows of towels stained by hair dye etc and was worried folk would think she was a dirty besom!

Dragonfly, 40+ yrs ago on our honeymoon in Austria we saw duvets being hung out to air over the balustrades of the balconies inbetween the geraniums. Being newly married we just assumed that was what you did with these new fangled continental quilts! I have always done this since either hung out of the bedroom window or taken out into the garden. No-one has ever commented on it in all that time - just do it!

I have nothing against a washing line, I have one in my back garden but in the front garden? I don't think so.

For those of you who use a washing line don’t you find your towels are hard and scratchy when they are dry ?

I know Colyton and I think the washing line looks appalling in the photo. No wonder people were upset. How this woman can ruin the town in which she is privileged to live passes me by.

In my own village I walk past every house every day and there is a marked difference between the way outside spaces are kept. Some people are keen to keep their properties neat and pleasant. They maintain their properties, mow their verges, sweep the paths and ensure their bins are only visible in bin day. Others live in a state of public squalor and detract from the pleasant atmosphere of the village. Shame on them.

On bin day, not in bin day!