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AIBU

AIBU to like seeing washing out on the line?

(135 Posts)
mostlyharmless Tue 12-Jun-18 17:41:21

In Colyton Devon, a pretty, touristy town, an anonymous letter was sent to a mum who puts washing out on a line.

The anonymous letter was written "on behalf of local business" and asked Ms Mountjoy "with kindness" not to put washing out at the front of her terraced house, which is in "a prime location"

Other residents and local businesses have showed their support for washing lines by draping underwear on shop fronts, the flagpole and in front of houses.

What’s wrong with washing lines? I know some housing estates ban it, but I like seeing washing out on the line and not just my own family washing.

Beau Tue 12-Jun-18 23:08:22

He works - he's actually a doctor, merlotgran - I don't understand his aversion to washing lines but I think it's the whirligigs he's against particularly - one of those would be my ideal ?

M0nica Tue 12-Jun-18 22:28:34

We once didn't buy a house because there was a covenant on it, stating that washing was not to be hung outside at weekends. It was a new house on an estate, so it applied to every house.

Nannykay Tue 12-Jun-18 22:28:22

My nan would always frown at doing laundry on a Sunday and I try not to do any that day, I wash six days a week, I take Sunday off .

Yes I love to see washing out on a line, there’s something about seeing it blowing in the wind, and it smells so fresh. I can’t manage it on my own any more, my poor husband carry’s the baskets out, and buts the line up for me, then I peg it out. It’s a faff, but worth it.

gillybob Tue 12-Jun-18 22:11:50

My (very religious, good Catholic) Grandma used to say it to me Smileless but I ignored her. As a single parent, working mother what else was I supposed to do?

Smileless2012 Tue 12-Jun-18 22:05:46

I prefer to dry my washing outside. My gran used to say that it should never be hung out on a Sunday. Did any of your gran's ever say the same thing?

gillybob Tue 12-Jun-18 21:40:44

These Eco warriors can’t have it all ways . If it’s fine outside (and you have outside space) then dry it outside. End of.

grannyactivist Tue 12-Jun-18 21:26:03

When I lived in Germany it was forbidden to hang washing out on a Sunday and where I lived it was almost a hanging offense to make any noise that could be heard outdoors between lunchtime and about three o'clock.

grannysyb Tue 12-Jun-18 21:24:44

My DM was German and never hung washing out on a Sunday. Her sister lived in a modern development and had a cellar for the washing machine, she wasn't allowed to hang washing out; it all had to be dried indoors. I still don't like to hang washing out on a Sunday!

merlotgran Tue 12-Jun-18 21:10:47

Is he there all the time, Beau? Does he not go to work?

I'd get a whirligig and stick two fingers it up when he's out.

MargaretX Tue 12-Jun-18 20:58:05

Well I live in Germany and we do have restful Sundays here. No washing out, no loud vacuuming, or drilling or hammering. But most people here have a cellar and in large blocks of flats the use of washing machines, dryers and washing lines. in the cellars.
I like having large area in the cellar to hang washing alhoutgh I use a tumbler dryer as well.

Germans have lived in flats for years and a large amount of the population still do. There are rules for that living together and actually it is better than everyone doing there own thing and causing noise Washing hanging on balconies is not allowed but is usually not visible. Where there is a baby in the family anything goes.

Beau Tue 12-Jun-18 20:55:54

I was really looking forward to having a washing line again after 25 years in a flat where I could not even put an airer on the balcony - now my SIL tells me he hates washing lines and won't have one in their garden ?
I am working on him to let me get a retractable one between their house and my new granny annexe which will be invisible unless in use - he tumble dries absolutely everything, including DD's tights usually ? - as he is quite money conscious I am emphasising the savings on their electricity bill if they would like to use my washing line ?

Maggiemaybe Tue 12-Jun-18 19:46:31

We live in a terrace, with gardens at the front only, and of course we hang our washing out (and couldn't give a monkey's who objected grin). To protect the prudish, I use a rotary dryer and hang our smalls on the inside.

We lived in Germany for a couple of years, Jalima, and there were certainly rules then about not hanging washing out at certain times or on a Sunday. Drummed into us by a neighbour who had knickers embroidered with days of the week, that she would hang out in consecutive order. grin

Cherrytree59 Tue 12-Jun-18 19:34:36

Apparently years ago when my dad was a wee lad living in a tenement flat, the washing lines were strung across from one flat to another,
So if you looked up there would be row after row of washing.
Never on a Sunday.
Laundry was done on the washhouse.

sodapop Tue 12-Jun-18 19:32:05

I like to see a line of washing hanging to dry too.
I'm not sure I would want it at the front of the house though.
It looks quite oddly arranged in the picture.

varian Tue 12-Jun-18 19:12:43

I love hanging washing on the line. Apart from cooking, it is my favourite domestic task.

I once designed a house extension for a client who had a huge private garden, and when I asked if she wanted a door from her laundry room to the garden, she said no and added that her husband would not permit washing to be hung outside so she always used a tumble drier, even in the summer. I was shocked!

SueDonim Tue 12-Jun-18 19:00:32

There's a house near me that only has a side garden onto the road. There is always washing on the line and the woman is meticulous about sorting her laundry.

Sometimes it's bedlinen, sometimes it's dark coloured t-shirts and socks, some days it's white underpants, another it's jeans and occasionally it's orange men's work overalls. I love driving past and seeing it. grin

Jalima1108 Tue 12-Jun-18 18:56:12

The original line of washing looks a bit near the house - unless the house is extremely clean it's going to get dirty again!

Jalima1108 Tue 12-Jun-18 18:55:21

I don't think that you are allowed to hang washing out on Sundays in Germany (where are our posters who live in Germany?).
That's what my friend told me who lived there for years anyway.

Iam64 Tue 12-Jun-18 18:54:40

What an interfering and frankly snobbish individual to write anonymously, saying the writer represents neighbours and local businesses. The writer also suggested the house owner dry her washing indoors or buy a clothes drier. Humph. Many terraces like the one in the photograph don't have a back garden so where else do you hang the washing.
It's good to see the sense of humour and support for the woman on the receiving end of the criticism.

petra Tue 12-Jun-18 18:47:34

The Swiss have some odd rules about when you can/ can't do your washing.

mostlyharmless Tue 12-Jun-18 18:34:34

Lots of lovely outside washing lines in Europe - Italy, France, Spain, right across roads and alleyways and on the fronts of buildings too.
Perhaps there is an EU directive encouraging washing lines?

JustALaugh Tue 12-Jun-18 18:30:04

I love to see washing out on the line. When the weather is warm and sunny, I actually like to make the most of it by looking for things to wash - cushion covers, curtains, pet bedding - all stuff that I wouldn't ordinarily wash on a daily/weekly basis.

polyester57 Tue 12-Jun-18 18:23:56

Just a joke. Of course, weather permitting, washing can be left to dry outside in the UK.

grannyactivist Tue 12-Jun-18 18:19:58

And........

grannyactivist Tue 12-Jun-18 18:18:58

And today we have.......