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Drying the washing.

(240 Posts)
Caramme Wed 29-Mar-23 10:40:31

It’s overcast here in N Cheshire this morning but I have risked putting my washing out on the line. Fingers crossed it will dry as I am fed up with damp stuff hanging around in my spare bedroom. These days my neighbour, also in her early 70s, and I are the only people who do actually hang washing outside. I assume others use tumble driers but I am wary of the costs of running these.
Last summer, one of my new neighbours who had just moved into a new build semi next-door-but-one said, ‘Oh yes, you’re the lady who puts her washing outside. My gran used to do that, but it doesn’t look very nice does it? No one wants to look at someone else’s washing. And it’s unhygienic.’ I was rendered speechless. Perhaps that was my first experience of passive aggression. She has ignored me ever since. For the record I do not ever put underwear on the line and my garden is relatively private. It upset me at the time as it was so unfriendly. I dried everything indoors for the rest of the year. I am wondering if I am doing the right thing by starting to dry my washing outside once more. It is just unacceptable these days?

Doodledog Wed 29-Mar-23 16:30:43

My back garden is only overlooked by neighbours if they are upstairs and making a point of looking, in which case good luck to them - they need psychiatric help if a view of my 'smalls' is enticing.

I sometimes dry my undies in the dryer if I'm in a hurry, but my husband always hangs them out - I once found him pegging them up singing 'knickers on the line' to the tune of Strangers in the Night.

Norah Wed 29-Mar-23 14:01:46

Caramme

I don’t put my underwear out because I am a DD cup. A bit of wind and they’d be off across the Cheshire plain like a couple of barrage balloons. Since I still have a condenser boiler and an airing cupboard I just lob them in there.

First: Neighbor is stupid and wrong.

Second: I've your bras but larger, nobody cares who has half a brain. Because of the enormous price of my enormous bras, I prefer them to dry on a hanger, in the cupboard, not getting stretched and ruined. If I were you I'd put out my old bras (I haven't de-cluttered all bras yet). I'd probably purchase very colourful thongs, put out DAILY with enormous bras.

Third: Get a life - her.

kircubbin2000 Wed 29-Mar-23 13:57:02

It used to annoy my elderly neighbour that she could see the washing on the line belonging to the neighbours in front,whose back gardens faced our front ones.

IrishDancing Wed 29-Mar-23 13:54:09

Hang your washing out OP, it’s one of life’s pleasures! Also tumble drying is bad for the environment and very expensive. I can’t see anybody’s washing lines from my house/garden but my neighbour can see mine from her conservatory and for that reason I hang my underwear on a whirly peg thing in the middle behind larger items - she probably couldn’t care less! smile

NanaDana Wed 29-Mar-23 13:46:34

Why focus on the bilious opinion of such an unpleasant total stranger? Why should you care what she thinks? Also, I would take the fact that she hasn't spoken to you since as a distinct positive. A shame you missed the opportunity to immediately respond: "I think you're confusing me with someone who gives a toss for your opinion". That's the sort of sharp retort that such unwarranted rudeness calls for. As for wondering whether or not you should hang your washing out again, why are you even hesitating? I like Georgesgrans idea of buying a massive pair of bloomers. Perhaps get some men's long-john onesies to hang alongside them.

NotSpaghetti Wed 29-Mar-23 13:33:12

Chestnut my 3 adult daughters all hang washing out as I said earlier. Two are in their 30s. They have all been hanging laundry out since they left home in their 20s (if they had a garden).

My sons are much more inclined to use a tumble dryer.

HeavenLeigh Wed 29-Mar-23 13:30:48

That’s hilarious🤣🤣 I wouldn’t take any notice of anyone who told me it was unhygienic to hang my washing out. I hang all my washing out and I certainly don’t hide my knickers or my Dh pants we wear them we wash them and they go outside to be dried! I couldn’t care less about any neighbours seeing any of my washing! and what’s more I don’t stare at other neighbours washing on their line either, I would have had a few words with her though after I’d finished laughing at her

ParlorGames Wed 29-Mar-23 13:25:39

The moaning neighbour would have got short shrift from me too. I would have told her not to look at my washing if it offended her so much!

There's nothing like drying the laundry outside and everything gets pegged out here, even knickers and bras.

SueDonim Wed 29-Mar-23 13:24:17

My dd in her 30’s hangs out her washing.

Chestnut Wed 29-Mar-23 13:19:29

Caramme doesn't mention the age of the neighbour, I'm assuming much younger? Asking a lot of grans will get the same answer hang your washing out because I imagine anyone in their 40s onwards would be used to doing that. It would be interesting if you asked the same question to people in their 20s or 30s. Maybe they would agree with the neighbour.

Patsy70 Wed 29-Mar-23 13:13:41

Sorry you have such an unpleasant neighbour, Caramme. I love being able to dry my washing in the garden when the weather’s fine. It smells of fresh air. We no longer have a tumble drier, not environmentally friendly (a bit like your neighbour!) 😊

NotSpaghetti Wed 29-Mar-23 13:06:10

GrannyGravy13 that's interesting.

When we moved house, admittedly years ago now, I asked my neighbour if they minded me putting my laundry out on a Sunday. I know in some areas it's still not the "done thing". As a new person in my community I didn't want to upset people.

NotSpaghetti Wed 29-Mar-23 13:01:15

Shelflife - hanging the washing out is by far my favourite domestic job.
I love doing it and if I find my husband doing it I do rather tend to take over I'm afraid.

Unlike some others I do also hang out my enormous bras - much larger cups than DD Caramme and I've yet to have any blow away!

I bought pegs recently and had lots of choice - wood, plastic, soft grip, recycled, jumbo etc. I found them in Ocado, Asda, The Range, Waitrose and Sainsbury's as well as online should someone still be looking to buy some.

SachaMac Wed 29-Mar-23 12:52:41

I always hang washing out if it’s fine. Sadly it’s raining heavily here today. On Monday I dried all my bedding outside, much prefer things to be dried on the line. I remember having lines of nappies blowing in the wind when I had my first two babies, disposables were in when I had my 3rd.
I have noticed some of my younger neighbours never seem to peg their washing out, I have often wondered why?!

GrannyGravy13 Wed 29-Mar-23 12:46:38

I haven’t hung out underwear for the last 20 years as our neighbours are practicing Muslims and I will not do anything to offend them. (Best neighbours we have ever had)

SueDonim Wed 29-Mar-23 12:44:06

Caramme I’d have doubled down on hanging the washing out, not stopped altogether! Do please hang out your laundry if that’s what you want to do.

If you’re not causing a disturbance to anyone, why on Earth shouldn’t you do as you wish in your own place? And it’s hard to imagine how laundry can cause a disturbance!

Gillycats Wed 29-Mar-23 12:43:45

Stupid woman. There’s nothing wrong with hanging out washing. I’m puzzled about the unhygienic bit. It’s exactly the opposite as the clothes are getting a good airing. It’s also the most environmentally friendly way of doing it too. I just think she’s a very sad person with no life. If she says anything again I’d ask her why she’s stalking you!x

nanaK54 Wed 29-Mar-23 12:43:04

Caramme take no notice of the crazy woman!
Always dry washing outside when the weather allows and thinking about I don't know anyone who doesn't.

MerylStreep Wed 29-Mar-23 12:39:23

You need to give your neighbour the middle finger 🖕

karmalady Wed 29-Mar-23 12:38:27

My washing goes out, always and my weather forecast is my friend, I look at humidity and if 85 or below for a few hours then it goes out, underwear and all. Yes Aggie, UV is the best laundry friend

I really don`t care who can see my washing. I can see my two neighbour`s washing, always inside and draped on airers in their living rooms. If my washing needs to be finished then I might use my tumbler for 15 minutes but usually it is dry and just needs a final airing. It smells so nice when it comes in

OP put out a load of holey rags, then watch the reaction and laugh

Fleurpepper Wed 29-Mar-23 12:36:49

kittylester

I dry mine on a pulley rail in the utility room as our garden isn't huge but please do hang your washing out.

In our last house, our lovely next door neighbour asked if I would ming not hanging underwear out as 'it upset' her husband. grin

Oh that is hilarious. I imagine it got him a bit excited and that upset HER! Lol.

Just finished a lot of white cotton washing, sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases. Not put them out as the birds are going crazy with Spring amorous fervour, and I fear I'd have to wash again.

We joke with my one neighbour- she is tiny and I am on the chubby side. So we joke about size of bras and have a giggle.

Fortunately I have a large room at the back of the house (ye olde cow barn ... where I can hang everything on a very long line and open windows. Second lot of dark smaller stuff will be out on line soon.

Dottynan Wed 29-Mar-23 12:34:26

Next time you visit a street market have a look for a couple of pairs of the big bloomers and a couple of pairs of thongs. That will give her something to puzzle over. Glad she is not my neighbour she would get told no uncertain terms what to do with her strange ideas.

aggie Wed 29-Mar-23 12:26:47

I’ve just come back from a morning at our Seniors club and taken my washing in , I’d pegged it out before I left and , even though it’s raining it’s fresh and nearly dry from before the rain
Hygiene is provided by the uv which is available even on dull days , and uv kills germs

midgey Wed 29-Mar-23 12:24:13

I always hang my my underwear out ….despite my rude daughter’s remark about sunlight being blocked outgrin

Granmarderby10 Wed 29-Mar-23 12:20:27

Delila in Derby the Wilkos store has suffered a lot of shortages but thankfully seems to be recovering when I went in t’other day.
However the young shop assistant must be so unbelievably out of touch, but I presume if her parents have always used the tumbler she probably thinks clothes pegs went out with the mangle,
There is just no accounting for the stupidity of folk is there?