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Washing lines

(293 Posts)
Missfoodlove Fri 15-May-20 10:12:45

This morning I have just pegged washing on my whirlygig.
Yesterday all our bedding was out.
Nothing like line dried laundry.

It got me thinking, neither of my mothers in law would put washing out.
One said it was common and neighbours would think they couldn’t afford a laundry!
The other was a snob and thought that you couldn’t have a swimming pool and hang washing out.

Thoughts please.... am I common to hang out my washing?

Kartush Sat 16-May-20 09:47:58

My husband hangs his washing and the sheets and the towels because he washes in the big machine which is downstairs. I do my washing in the small upstairs laundry and use the drier only because I can’t manage the stairs with a laundry basket. But I have never considered hanging your washing on the line common

Grannygrumps1 Sat 16-May-20 09:48:50

I’ve no choice. ( see another thread) my washing machine blew up three weeks ago and I cant get anyone to fit a replacement coz of lockdown. Everything has to go outside to drip dry.

Phloembundle Sat 16-May-20 09:49:01

Those like GabriellaG54 who think hanging out washing is common are actually the plebs who wannabe be. They are people we used to call nouveau riche, who have pretensions to be upper class but with no idea how those who truly are upper class behave.

Juliet27 Sat 16-May-20 09:49:17

grin BarbieB

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-20 09:52:06

I always hang washing out.

No way would I pay for something that nature will do, free.

Nortsat Sat 16-May-20 09:52:35

I love to hang the washing out. It’s a joy to get it outside on a sunny, breezy day and have it all nicely dry by the evening.

We tumble dry some items and hang out those which can’t be tumbled.
I like the line to look tidy and I always colour co-ordinate the pegs with the item.
I don’t put underwear out on the line, neither did my mother.

Puzzler61 Sat 16-May-20 09:54:31

My mum had a long washing line and it was always full, but she also used St George’s laundry for shirts and sheets.
There was my dad, and my 5 brothers all wearing shirts each Dayan our house.

Puzzler61 Sat 16-May-20 09:54:54

*day in

Harris27 Sat 16-May-20 09:54:58

It’s the highlight of my day when it’s sunny and I can get my washing out. But I’m just 60 and a happy Geordie!

Aepgirl Sat 16-May-20 09:56:15

Well, if you’re common so am I and most of my friends. However I do think most younger people would rather use a tumble dryer, but they don%to know how lovely washing smells when it comes in from the fresh air.
I never hang washing out on a Sunday, as that was instilled in me by my mother.

lynn56 Sat 16-May-20 09:56:34

No it’s the best way to dry large items and I love the look and smell of it .
My husband is Scottish and I found out the hard way not to hang out washing on Sunday near the coast when a sheet blew off and travelled over the fields for quite some way before being returned by an irate farmer !!! To be honest he would have been cross whatever day it was ! smile

Hang out the washing - my mother would be horrified at any other way

Leah50 Sat 16-May-20 09:56:50

I must be particularly common as I hang out my washing EVERY day. I don't use detergent for environmental reasons, only soap powder so have never owned a washing machine or dryer, (have a spindrer tho'). My laundry is done in the big old sink every morning as I hate the thought of soiled clothes hanging around. My daughters think I'm mad, but it's me they turn to if they want silk items washed. Large things like curtains & loose covers are done in the bath, & I'm lucky to have a south facing garden to dry it all.

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-20 09:59:29

smile
My mum always kept a spin dryer.

annodomini Sat 16-May-20 10:03:53

My English granny, who came from a posh background, even though her branch of the family had fallen upon harder times, used to lay some of her laundry out on the grass - mainly towels and tea towels. I think this was to catch the maximum bleaching effect of the sun. When my other, Scottish, granny came to stay with us, my mum was embarrassed to think that neighbours would think she had taken to wearing long combinations. She used to get irritated by our pinching the clothes line to use for skipping games.
Sorry, off topic - of course it's not 'common' to hang out the washing. It was and still should be, a matter of pride to have lovely clean laundry blowing on the line.

oldgoat Sat 16-May-20 10:04:58

Our old neighbour used to hang her husband's large white cotton Y-fronts side by side on the line.

One day, she told me that her husband had problems buying trousers because he was 'long in the drop'!!

Yes, we know, I thoughtgrin

lilyH Sat 16-May-20 10:06:03

My washing always goes out, living near the Atlantic though does mean strong pegs are a must!

Seefah Sat 16-May-20 10:06:18

What an interesting question Missfoodlove !! I love Gransnet because it always make me think about things! When I read this I remembered that as a young child in the early sixties a whirligig was how I defined a ‘poor’ area. I ask myself where I got that from and can only think of one thing. My father came from a very posh family and my mothers family were Scottish crofters and very poor. My Scottish granny had a whirligig. I loved watching her multi coloured bloomers flying around in the wind when I visited with my mother but I remember all her washing disappeared and whirligig was put in the shed when my father was around !

harrigran Sat 16-May-20 10:08:43

When I was ill he took over the laundry but he will not peg the washing on the line. He thinks it is a waste of time walking to the garden when you can just pop them in a machine and they will come out ready for ironing.
I have given up mentioning it, I shut the kitchen door and go upstairs only returning when he has finished the ironing.

H2ugo Sat 16-May-20 10:09:40

A line of washing is a good sight as long as your whites are white !! but I do like to put my towels in the dryer as it makes them soft & fluffy

ayokunmi1 Sat 16-May-20 10:09:42

I think GabriellaG54 comment was tongue in cheek.
I will never get a tumble dryer ruins clothes in my opinion.
Why would one not hang clothes outside if the weather permits .I have a clothes rack that I hang underwear on placed outside but not on the line.

CarlyD7 Sat 16-May-20 10:10:50

Love the smell of washing that's been dried on the line. It's also very Green. Personally, I don't hang out my "smalls" on the basis that I'm a private person and only want me and my OH to see them but that's my personal choice. We have a tumble dryer but only use it in the Winter, when we have to. (My husband will even hang out washing in Winter if it's a sunny day!)

RosesAreRed21 Sat 16-May-20 10:11:27

I absolutely love being able to get my washing pegged out

Rosalyn69 Sat 16-May-20 10:11:33

I hang my washing out weather permitting. I suppose because my mother did. However the children never use their washing line.
The comment about the Witchita Linesman made my Saturday. I wish I’d thought of it.

Revilo Sat 16-May-20 10:12:59

I always hang my washing outside makes the wash smell nice also better for the environment

Seefah Sat 16-May-20 10:14:58

PS I have very neat clothes rack, a common type in Europe, to dry washing in the sun which I make sure is hidden and can’t be seen by passers so I guess I’m not free of my programming lol