One of the most annoying things about wet weather is not being able to dry one's washing outdoors.
We don't have a Tumble Dryer, but we do have a heated indoor rack-dryer, which takes up a lot of space. We also have several radiators that are constantly draped with damp unmentionables.
We have a neighbour in France who hangs out her washing, then simply waits as long as it takes to dry; this can be a week, two weeks, or even more, depending on the weather. I think she has the right idea. No panic!
I miss having our washing line full of flapping sun-dried and warmed clothes. To me it's as much a part of life as eating and sleeping.
I don't like rain. I have plenty of waterproof clothing, and Billy has a towel waiting for him after a wet walk, so we cope with the inconvenience.
It's having that smell of damp washing around the house which is not very nice. Can't Unilever make a washing powder that smells of Apple Pie or Roasting Turkey? It's that 'detergent' pong that I don't like.
Last year we hardly had a drop of rain; this year we're making-up for it.
False economy. Cut your cloth and clothes to your weather. Nine months of the year you live in a country where it [frequently] rains. Buy a condenser dryer [doesn't need plumbing in].
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Draping wet clothes and, presumably, towels over radiators? What a sight and smell. Welcome mould. Still, we all have to die of something sometime.
Keep coughing,
U
No mould or coughs in this house. We only finish the drying process, not from dripping wet!
DeleteOne of the rules where I live is No washing to be dried indoors or outside! The kitchen is too small for a tumble dryer and as the nearest laundrette is two miles away and not on a bus route, I'm not sure what we are suppose to do. I ignore the rules and dry inside with a dehumidifier running.
ReplyDeleteThat seems a bit harsh! I suppose whoever made the rules also owns the local launderette.
DeleteWe have a " cupboard".......it is a normal door's width and depth. It used to house the boiler, so in the winter I could dry clothes on a rack above it. When the boiler moved upstairs a radiator was installed and clothes dry in no time when the heating is on!
ReplyDeleteThat's what we used to call an 'Airing Cupboard'. They don't seem to be included in housing these days.
DeleteLiving here we have had to devise an efficient method for drying our washing indoors as there are so few days suitable for line drying.
ReplyDeleteI hang all the damp clothes on coat hangers on a handy rail in the utility/boiler room then switch on the dehumidifier for a few hours and close the door. It doesn't cost much to run, the tank is emptied down the sink when full and the clothes are dry quite fast.
Best investment we have made!
That sounds good. We are very limited here for space, so we have to cope as best we can.
DeleteJust as well you didn't move to West Wales. It's done nothing but rain. I have a tumble drier.
ReplyDeleteI believe tomorrow will be a nice day, so we'll try to catch-up with all our washing.
DeleteDon't be such a moaning minny Crozier! We need rain to make our plants grow and up here in Sunny Yorkshire, the summer's hosepipe ban has still not been lifted so we need more rain. Pour ye gods!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it in The Fells where they say "If you can't see The Fells it's raining, if you can see them it's about to rain". It's a bit like that with The South Downs at the moment.
DeleteI won't leave my washing outside if it's raining. Too much red dust and heaven knows, what else comes down with the rain.
ReplyDeleteWe're lucky and have a covered area outside. Clothes can hang out there as long as it needs.
We do in France too. Here we have no real garden (see above), and very little indoor space. It's a nice little house, but not very practical.
DeleteI usually dry the clothes outdoors whenever I can and this being Spain we have plenty of good drying days. However, I brought my tumble dryer from England 25 years ago and now realise that I used it regularly until it finally packed up last spring. With an exceptonally hot summer I didn't need to replace it. Now that it's winter and often very damp outdoors I'm off to buy a new dryer!
ReplyDeleteThis last Summer it was very hot in France; everything dried in a couple of hours. If only it was like there here now!
DeleteI have never lived without a dryer. I can't imagine doing so. It is 2025 not 1925.
ReplyDeleteWe lived in S France for over 50 years, and that was the last thing we needed. Here we don't have the space!
DeleteI'm like your French neighbour, mine's been out for about a week now. When it's dry it's dry. Although I did crack a couple of days ago and put a double line out in our stone outhouse so some of it's hanging in there. Never dry washing indoors, it causes unwanted condensation unless you keep the windows open at the same time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you have one of those circular washing lines that stands in the ground, you can buy a giant fishing umbrella to go over the top, I used to have one, it was great for the Scottish climate I lived in!
DeleteIt's all so small here that a circular dryer would take up all of our patio. We cope, but it's not always ideal.
DeleteI've been washing when I can - No longer have a tumble dryer - got an electric rack but not used it so far - I hang some washing on the ceiling above the rayburn and run the dehumidifier which I love - Our house smells of wet dogs - It's Gorgeous - flis x
ReplyDeleteWe have an electric rack, it works quite well, but we only use it rarely. Billy is sitting at my feet, luckily he doesn't smell of wet dog!!!
DeleteThere has to be a better solution.
ReplyDeleteStackable washer/dryer unit?
Combined washer/dryer (one does it all)?
As you state, dampness does have a unique scent and not entirely pleasant.
I have posted a picture of our kitchen today, and as you will see, there is no room for anything more!
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