Hello
I have just moved form the UK to LA. We are moving to a new home and need to buy all the appliances. Now in the UK I have never had a dryer- just dried clothing on radiators or outside on washing line. I am just dry clothes outside all year round. Friends with babies say dryers do make life easier as washing is every other day but am just wondered if i get organised is it poss to just dry outside-we have so many big purchases to make- thinking what do we really need?
ANyone else in LA manage fine without a dryer?
Thanks
thanks- yes with 6 kids i would be having a dryer for sure- think we will see how we get on without. The place we are in now has one and it is amazing- it does make washing sooooo much less of a chore- maybe we will get one in a few months when all other new stuff has been bought.
Thanks everyone- that has answered my question. As I do not know the weather cycle out here I was just wondering if it is technically possible to get stuff dry outside 12 months a year, which it seems it is, if you have a clothes line. We will be in a place on a hill so the air quality should be okay. If I had stayed in the UK , I would have got a dryer with the baby on the way as whilst i did dry my clothes outside it was a complete chore- sometimes it would take 3-4 days for clothes to dry as they would get wet in rain and have to be on radiators for several days, when we were home in the evening.It was a pain and I hated doing the laundry and when you are working 55- 60 hours a week the last thing you have is much spare time to keep on top of chores.
I just have not seen any clothes on lines out here which is really different and wondered if there was something I did not know - i.e the climate prohibits it. Perhaps it is the apartment/smog factor as people have suggested.
I have to admit I have never known laundry to be as easy as it is now- having a dryer in our temporary housing. It is a bit of a revelation and I see why people have them but environmentally I do feel uneasy about the price we will pay for this ease.
We are trying to get as much as we can on craigs list( including all the baby stuff)- my husband thinks i should have a new washer ( as well as one of those energy munching american fridges that dispense water and ice)as i will be doing all the laundry and domestic stuff as i will be at home all day for the first time in my adult life)but as long as a second hand one works I am fine with that- the space does not fit a stackable and one appliance must be gas, the other electric. Gas dryers seems more expensive- over $400.
I am just tying not to overspend as now we only have one salary, the price I will pay is maybe having to get a job and i would rather go without and have the choice of staying home with baby.
We also have a dish washer at the moment-which is a luxury we will not have in new home.The US salutes the easy domestic life we are finding- i have never seen a double fridge in the UK.There is a decadence to it, seductive yet you cannot escape the knowledge you are contributing to the environmental problems we will face.
Thanks for all the input- much appreciated.
Hi, S.,
I've lived in countries where most people don't dry their clothes in a dryer. You can live without a dryer in Los Angeles. However, since the air is fairly polluted in this city, if you want clean clothes, you might not want to line dry.
Lynne E
Hi S.,
I too am from the UK (20 years ago!) and we never had a dryer, it wouldn't have occurred to us, I think it was a huge luxury in those days.
The issue here is firstly, you won't have radiators - different kind of heating system (you probably would only have them on three months of the year if you did).
Secondly the air is so dry and dusty here that, depending on where you are going to live, I think you'll find the clothes don't stay clean outside.
You may get a free one on Craigs list - we gave ours away.
Good luck.
Some days it is very humid here and that makes it hard to dry things outside. I have three kids and I can't imagine not having a dryer. I would call it a necessity. Just make sure that it's gas not electric (they're more expensive to run here!)
My dear --
I have not yet read any of the other responses to this query. I am writing simply from my own beliefs/ attitudes/ experiences.
You do NOT need a dryer in Southern California.
Just the act of reaching and stretching to hang up your nappies (et al.) will improve your physical well-being.
You might even want to consider doing kegel contractions or other rhythmical exercises while hanging clothes.
The people who say you NEED a dryer are speaking from not knowing any other way to be. People here take a lot of modern improvements for granted; they have never experienced alternatives to what they are used to.
Clothes that have hung to dry SMELL better than clothes from the dryer; fresher, cleaner. The artificial scents one can add to dryer loads are intended to __replace__ the natural fragrance that comes from line-drying.
Also, little bundle-o-joy will observe and take in the concept of being outside in the (hopefully) fresh air on a regular basis. He or she will be interested in watching and learning how clothes go out wet and come back dry.
An early science lesson. If you're in one of the desert communities, the clothes will dry so fast, you'll be amazed.
One possible snag in this scenario may be where you live.
There are some communities that do not ALLOW line drying.
They think it looks lower class, inelegant.
Sighhhh . . . . .
Wishing you well w/your little bundle-o-joy
and good health and joy to all of you.
S.
grandma in Long Beach
I couldn't imagine life without a clothes dryer, but then, I have 6 kids. If you're used to hanging your clothes and don't mind it, try it for the next few months and see how it goes. If after a couple of months it's unbearable, buy a dryer!
Try to go without. If you find you need one, buy one used on Craigslist. My friend got her for $45.
Hi S.,
Yes, you can live without a dryer absolutely. I started taking my laundry out of my parent's dryer when I was 13 and can count on two hands how many times I've had to resort to the dryer since, even when I lived in Montreal and washed my daughter's cloth diapers. Imagine the huge amount of energy we would save in this country if all us citizens used the line as much as possible. We U.S. citizens are filled with consuming and waste, look at the state we're in now. Our carbon footprint per capita is disgusting. I say bring your UK values with you and set a good example to your friends and neighbors.
Cheers,
Wendy
Dryers are not that expensive, even new. The washer is the really expensive piece of equipment. You don't have to buy top of the line with dryers. The less expensive versions tend to do just fine and and last just as long. Line drying is a luxury in this country. I live in an apartment, so there isn't land space outside, nor extra space inside. When I "line-dry," my entire apartment gets draped with laundry and it's not too practical for daily living. The good news with dryers is that if you remove and fold or hang your clothes promptly, you probably won't need to iron them. Welcome to LA!
If it is at all possible purchase a dryer with your washer. If space is an issue look into a stackable duo. I had one for years and it was fantastic. Now with a bigger family, we have a HUGE set. It is so much easier for me to get my laundry done and put away then to wait for the weather to dry my line and iron. I also found, in the beginning that we lived with less because I didn't need more just in case clothes. Now three kids later, living with less is out the window!
Good Luck!
I love drying on the line. Wouldn't have it any other way. I do have a dryer for emergencies on rainy days.
