Do you use a dryer, or hang your laundry out? (natural, cities)

[southdown]

As a Brit, I am accustomed to hanging laundry out to dry in the back yard - and if it's wet out I'd hang it on racks in the house.

I own a dryer, I just use it as rarely as possible. If I was in a rush (I have 3 kids, and I work) I'd put the socks and underwear in the dryer, but still hang the bigger items out.

An American friend (from LA) nearly died laughing watching me hang the laundry outside, and since living here in the US I have seen no washing lines outside.

Please tell me I am not alone in my desire to dry my clothes naturally - for free?

[tulegirl]

You are not alone.

I do both - I love the way my towels and bedding smell when I have them on the line. I do use the dryer in the colder months - helps heat the back part of the house.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by southdown

Please tell me I am not alone in my desire to dry my clothes naturally - for free?

You're not alone, it's just fallen out of favor here in the US. Also, many neighborhoods have rules that prohibit dryer lines in the backyard...yup .

The lines are unsightly, I suppose, and people don't want to see laundry hanging in their neighbor's yards. So many new neighborhoods have banned the practice .

[charolastra00]

I would love to hang out my laundry. However, since I live in a dorm, there's barely room for *me* in the room, much less all my clothes! I'd definitely hang out a line if all of my clothes wouldn't be stolen (and, at this time of year, freeze).

[groove1]

I live in one of the worst cities for allergies (pollen) in the US, so I use a dryer. Hanging clothes outside here is rare.

[SkiChick]

It's getting to be the upper 30's to lower 40's here and now hang my laundry out to dry. Although last nights laundry didn't make it outside so I hung everything up on hangers and hung it to dry on the shower rod. I begin work at 6am so I don't have time to hang laundry in the morning so I have to hang it out the night before and then take it down when I get home from work. Little things such as socks and undies I generally throw in the dryer along with bathroom towels because little fuzzies tend to stick to them.

[southdown]

Originally Posted by riveree

Also, many neighborhoods have rules that prohibit dryer lines in the backyard...yup .

The lines are unsightly, I suppose, and people don't want to see laundry hanging in their neighbor's yards. So many new neighborhoods have banned the practice .

I wondered if that was the case - how terrifying.

I lived in a very smart middle-class area of England, a 'conservation' area in fact, because of all the lovely Victorian houses around. We were trusted to hang out our laundry without offending anyone! What is going on here???????

[Barkingowl]

We use a dryer.

[Alter]

At least 6 months a year I hang things outside. I live near the ocean and in the winter month it is very damp and stuff would take a couple of days to dry outside. I manage to hang most of clothes inside during the winter, use the dryer for towels and sheets during that time.
I've been doing it a couple of years now and I actually enjoy it. Kind of peaceful to take a little break and go out back. I thought it would take more of my time but it doesn't.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by southdown

I wondered if that was the case - how terrifying.

I lived in a very smart middle-class area of England, a 'conservation' area in fact, because of all the lovely Victorian houses around. We were trusted to hang out our laundry without offending anyone! What is going on here???????

Ha! I know, it's silly! It's not like that everywhere, but in the newest neighborhoods it often is...lots of rules in the new neighborhoods!

Groove brought up a good point though, I could not hang laundry outside right now either - it would be covered in yellow pollen dust in minutes .