How long does washing take to dry?

[Jo Jo]

This probably seems like a stupid question, but does anyone know roughly how long washing takes to dry outside on a clothes line? I'd love to be in the position where I think, "Oooh*, my washing's been on the line for X hours now - better get the sheets in cos they'll be dry, but the towels will need another Y hours, so I'll get them in before supper"

I know there are various factors that affect how long washing takes to dry, like the type of material, and how sunny/ windy it is, but are there any rules of thumb that people use when judging when to do their washing and how long it will take to dry? Or is it just trial and error?

Also, what's a "good drying day"? I'm guessing it's a day when it's windy and sunny... is that right? And, does washing dry more quickly on a day when it's sunny but not windy, or on a day when it's windy but not sunny?

I'm sure these are all things my mother should have told me. Still, it's never too late to learn.



*hanging washing on the line genuinely does make me go oooh as I haven't had a washing line for the last 20 years. Give it another year or so and I probably won't find it so exciting.

[Moorf]

Hooray - I'm not the only "washing line" virgin

Before coming to NZ I'd never hung washing outside (I know, I know - I don't know how I managed now but was always in a drier or indoors). Now I've discovered the joys of hanging washing out I really am addicted! I love the smell of it and knowing that all the bugs get zapped by the ultra-violet is a bonus. I've been known to stand and watch my bed sheet whizzing round in the wind...

A while back I spotted my neighbour's washing on the line first thing in the morning - it was freezing cold but clear. I thought it was a bit strange - when I next spoke to her I asked why she bothered to put out her washing when it's freezing cold ("surely it goes stiff and doesn't dry?") but she swears that it gets her whites whiter and clothes etc fresher in the cold/sun... she did say they weren't usually bone dry when they came in unless v. sunny day but that she finishes them off on the "flying nun" !! I've got some out today - it's v cold - I shall see what it's like at about 3pm before sun goes too far down....

People always look at me as if I'm a bit strange when I tell them I didn't hang out my washing in U.K

[Jo Jo]

Hooray - I'm not the only "washing line" virgin

Phew - ditto!

[Moorf]

Neighbour says that putting cloth nappies on the line overnight on a clear frosty night is really good for them and makes them uber-white... old wives tale or what?

[YouMeAndThree]

Neighbour says that putting cloth nappies on the line overnight on a clear frosty night is really good for them and makes them uber-white... old wives tale or what?

I use cloth nappies on my youngest (I'm still thought of as an oddity in UK, probably will be in NZ too ) and agree that frost is good for them. It can help to soften them up. However, it's not the frost which gets them white, it's the sunshine. In fact the sun is a great, natural stain remover and I recommend it for all stains (especially as baby food is often orange and their clothes nice and pale )

To me there is nothing better than seeing a line full of nappies or sheets blowing in the breeze ........... sad or what, LOL.

[dilanium]

Do most homes in NZ already have an outdoor clothes line?

I'm not really experienced with outdoor clotheslines as they're illegal in most places I've lived.

[Moorf]

All three places we've been in have had washing lines...

[dharder]

Do most homes in NZ already have an outdoor clothes line?

A lot seem to have those spider web thingies, that turn in the wind (or when a medium sized child hangs off it). Ours broke the other day (surely the wind, because the medium sized children denied all knowledge...), and a guy who was supposed to sell us a new one ended up suggesting he'd fix the old one. Lots cheaper!

We've never really had a drier before we moved here, and we've done twins in terry cloth nappies without a drier just hanging it all inside and outside and on radiators. Sunlight does wonders for stains, btw, espcially on whites.

But here, I guess you really need one, or you might run out clothes before a load is dry!

Daniela

[Jo Jo]

But here, I guess you really need one, or you might run out clothes before a load is dry!

Yes, I'm starting to think we might need a dryer after all. I had one at my last place in London, but never used it - I just used to hang all my washing to dry on clothes racks near the heaters, but that's not an option here. And we seem to have a lot more washing here than when we were in the UK - I couldn't understand it at first, but then my husband pointed out that he used to have all his clothes service-washed at the launderette because I wouldn't let him use the tumble dryer!

[melly]

A lot seem to have those spider web thingies, that turn in the wind (or when a medium sized child hangs off it).
Daniela

The 'spider web thingie' is called a 'Hills Hoist'.

Here's a little bit from wiki about it:
The Hills Hoist is an Australian version of the rotary clothes line, the distinguishing feature of which is a crown and pinion winding mechanism invented by Adelaide based Lance Hill in 1945. This allows this clothesline to be lowered and raised. This style of clothes line was popularised in Australia by Lance Hill and is a common backyard sight in Australia and New Zealand.

Here's the link if you want to read more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hills_Hoist