Laundry Outside

Updated on June 17, 2010
I.C. asks from Hoffman, IL
13 answers

If you don't have any problem with cold winter (it's tropical climate here), would you:
1. have your laundry area outside or inside?
2. have a washer AND dryer, or just washer?

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So What Happened?

Thanx for everyones comment. I think I'll have my laundry area outside (it's going to be under a covered area), AND a dryer for back up. I wish I can put it closer to the bedrooms where all the dirty laundry surface from, but don't have the area for it. Thanx again!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

1. Inside.
2. both.

I live in a tropical area.
If its raining, you don't wanna be having to run outside just for laundry.
So 1. inside.

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S.D.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I am up in michigan and dry my clothes outside as much as possible. so only about 4-5 months a year, and then i have to use the dryer for everything. the only things i don't hang outside are the underwear and socks, becuase i really think by the time i would be done hanging them, i would hvae to start removing them.

I use the dryer when it's humid out, and i dry the clothes outside for the day, and pop in the dryer about 5 minutes, and they are good to go. Also the dryer is nice, if you have done all your laundry outside, and want to fluff up the towels or anything else.

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R.M.

answers from Topeka on

My daughter routinely hangs her clothes outside to dry, weather permitting BUT she also has a dryer in the basement for rainy, cold days. She also uses the dryer to "fluff" the laundry after she has dried it in the basement. There is nothing scratchier than a towel that has been dried on the clothesline...I don't know how I survived with my skin intact, since I was raised before the days of dryers!!! I think my daughter has the right mixture...use the clothesline if you can but have the dryer in waiting for a rescue!! By the way...if you live in a home with a basement or large laundry room you can also have clothesline INSIDE and take advantage of that!!

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J.S.

answers from Biloxi on

outside and both... I have a dryer... it takes away the stiffness...so I run it for like 5 minutes... saves on your electric bill

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B.S.

answers from Springfield on

Inside and both... Even if they are covered you can have a rust issue over time.

K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Yes I would have the laundry outsite, if the washer and dryer could get wet or are well protected from the elements.

Yes I would have an washer and dryer. Even if you hang up the clothes if it is a humid day it will take forever for the clothes to dry and they might get a mildew smell if it takes too long to dry... so a dryer is great for those type of days.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Tropical? Absolutely would I have both a washer and dryer. Tropics = sweat & humidity & seasonal downpours (in my area, it was monsoons, dry ground to 3 feet of standing water in an afternoon). Some days the winds & or sun would work fine... but in all the tropical areas I've lived in... a dryer is n.e.c.e.s.s.a.r.y. or your clothes never fully dry AND you're combatting molds/mildews... and that's during the dry season.

In the deserts I've lived in, I also prefer a dryer... for the simple reason that dryers don't bleach your clothes like the sun does.

Ideally, in my experience...in either situation, the laundry area is inside. In the tropics to keep the bugs and humidity out of the clothes... in the desert to keep the machines from overheating. Vented dryers create very little extra heat.

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S.G.

answers from Savannah on

I've lived in Norther IN and now in lower South Carolina and I've always had a dryer. I did line dry a lot of my clothes in IN and then put them on air fluff in the dryer to remove any dust and what not and to soften them. But in SC, it's is just too humid right now to expect anything to air dry outside!! I do have some summer clothes that I air dry and I used a wooded drying rack in the house for them. When it's spring or fall here and the humidity isn't so bad, I used the rack out on my screened porch and I still toss everything in the dryer to air fluff to removed dust and pollen. I can't air dry all of our clothes where we live as clothes lines are not allowed so most of my stuff does get put in the dryer here.

H.K.

answers from Gainesville on

I have a good sized laundry mini house right off the back of my house. I love to just let the whole deal be out there!
I am in Florida, so I pretty much hang all year long. We do get periods of rainy hurricane weather and I have to use my dryer. I am always thankful that I did end up buying a dryer! My problem with hanging laundry is I have to be very careful that they don't hang too long and get bleached by the sun, this has happened to me....but yesterday they were dry an hour or two after hanging and smelled sooooo wonderful.
You also need to think of times you don't feel well, and where do you want to drag yourself to do your evergrowing mound of dirty laundry? I know during those times I just use my dryer, just to get the laundry done at least.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Tropical in Illinois? You must actually be somewhere else. ;) I lived in AZ and had my washer and dryer inside. I did see them outside at some homes. And some people do only have a washer and dry their clothes outside. I would dry some of my clothes/bedding outside if I and my family didn't have allergies. I dry some things on a line in the basement but not many things, again because of allergies. There is still dust, animal dander, and pollen inside. Less but it's still there.

My elderly neighbor always dried her clothes outside and inside in the basement too. I live in rainy Oregon. She didn't have a dryer.

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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

I think I'd stick with keeping my washer and dryer inside. Where I grew up in Detroit, it was common for people to hang their clothes outside to dry. Now, where I live, we have ordinances against hanging clothes outside to dry. I love the smell of sheets when you hang them outside, nothing compares to that. But, I wouldn't hang my good clothes outside because I don't want them ruined.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

If it's sheltered enough to keep the rain off (garage or car port), it might be ok outside. The washer/dryer need a special electrical plug (220 volt I think) - I'm not sure local building codes would permit that to take place outside. The thing with tropical climates is the humidity. You don't see too many clothes lines in tropical areas because it takes too long to air dry. Most people like washer and dryer inside (basement, washroom, kitchen) because they wash every day or every few days and it's more convenient to have it close rather than step outside. When my son was an infant, sometimes I'd be changing the crib at 2am, and I'd start up a load right away to keep a stain from setting in. Our neighbors were close, and I'm not sure they would have appreciated hearing a washer/dryer running at 2am.

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

my mother was a HUGE hippie about hanging clothes on the line. i suppose if you were determined you could make it work, just depends on how badly you want to avoid the washer and dryer. but we always had a washer and dryer as well (kinda had to in kansas - difficult to dry clothes on the line when it's -10 degrees outside!) but like someone said, with a tropical climate, you get rain and humidity. sometimes LOTS of rain and humidity. if anyone in your household is going to have a job, it's probably a safe bet that at some point you're going to need something dried in less than two days -sooo i would get a dryer. but i am not a die hard hippie either ;) it all just depends on how you want to live your life! how motivated are you? lol....

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