Washing - Hang It On The Clothes Line In The Garden. In Winter, Too?

[gl556tr]

Even on frosty Winter days, according to a recent radio programme I partially heard, one can continue hanging one's washing on the outside clothes line.
Is this true?
Surely, all the clothes would freeze - but still evaporate? I wonder.
(Must put this to the test!)
But, the clothes will remain wet/damp, surely?

[waterboatman]

Yes, they will, spin them well then put them on an airer by a radiator.

[Smowball]

I have a tumble dryer but hate using it as it takes absolutely ages to get anything dry. So in winter I have an indoor airer which I put the clothes on - if it’s dry I will put it out in the garden for the day, and then bring back indoors when dark. I’m lucky in that I have a big kitchen so I can keep it up and it doesn’t get in the way

[Maydup]

All the time the weather is dry, I use the washing line. I had two loads out yesterday for 3 hours across the middle of the day and it was very nearly dry when I brought it in. It just needs airing indoors, or 5 minutes in the tumble dryer.

Avoid very early mornings and bring it in by 2:30pm as it gets damp again after that.

[waterboatman]

I have a tumble dryer which I use mainly for bedding in the colder months. It's a bit of a farce trying to put double duvet covers etc, on an airer.

[KARL]

If you observe frost or ice on a dry day (nothing falling from the sky) and the temperature remains below freezing, it will shrink and in time disappear. Evaporation takes place below freezing, just put a "naked" ice cube into your freezer and watch it shrink - even the cubes in a tray in the freezer shrink - and all of this is happening where the air hardly moves at all. Yes, your washing will freeze and stiffen but within a very short time it will dry. Tumble dryers are a monumental waste of energy, they were primarily thought up and used for/by the suburban USA market where it apparently is exceptionally plebeian/primitive/"gauche" to have washing out drying, just not done. Have the courage to use the outdoors for drying and your washing will have the fresh smell that is so characteristic of washing dried outdoors.

[Misky1]

Towels and sheets that freeze outside then dry outside are lovely and soft. I don't know why, but I know they are.

[gness]

Karl....the reason many in the USA and Canada use tumble dryers is the weather.
Living there it was either baking hot or bitterly cold and hanging washing outside just didn't work. That was when I discovered the joy of a tumble dryer.
I have a thing about what I do with my time......so even in the UK or Ireland I use a tumble dryer for everything. Dave disagrees so if he wants to hang his things on a line or, in rainy Ireland, an airer that's fine....I'll do something much more interesting with my time..... :-)

[johnk]

I hang out washing in the winter but not in frosty weather, the day length is too short for anything but the best drying conditions.

[MallyJ]

I generally hang my washing out through the year...I particular like it being extra rinsed by the rain...nothing ..IMO.. smells nicer or is softer than washing that has hung outside...not least because you get rid of the smell of washing powder. I can usually tell what products people put on their washing from the smell as they walk past me as is is often over powering. I prefer to smell of my perfumes of choice than washing powder or fabric conditioner. I prefer Chanel to Bold or Aerial

[diddlydo]

I always hang my washing on the line unless it's actually raining. In winter it usually needs to go in the airing cupboard to finish off but that's fine by me. I can't bear wet washing hanging around the house.

[sherrardk]

If it’s got no chance of drying I put it one an airer and stick it by a radiator - can’t use the tumble drier at this time of year (I’m too tight to use it anyway) as it’s where I stash my Christmas presents.