How do I dry washing on a line outside properly?

Evaporation depends on air movement and the dryness of the air far more than on heat, which is why a cold breezy day dries washing better than a still warm one. Outdoor drying also gets you something no appliance provides: ultraviolet light, which fades stains, kills bacteria and removes smells.

What you'll need

• A line or rotary airer
• Pegs
• A cloth to wipe the line

Step by step

1. Judge the day by the wind, not the sun.A dry breezy day at ten degrees dries a load faster than a still humid day at twenty. Moving air carries the moisture away, which is the rate-limiting step.
2. Wipe the line before you use it.A damp cloth along its length. Lines collect grime, algae and bird mess, and it transfers to the first thing you hang.
3. Get the load out of the machine immediately.Washing left in a drum creases and starts to smell within a couple of hours. Hanging it straight out is the point at which most of the ironing is decided.
4. Shake each item hard before pegging.One firm snap opens the fabric out and removes a large proportion of the creases set by the spin.
5. Put whites and stained items in full sun.Ultraviolet light bleaches gently and finishes off tannin, sweat and turmeric marks that survived the wash. It is free and there is no chemical alternative that is as kind to the fabric.
6. Keep dark colours out of direct sun.The same UV that whitens cotton fades dye. Hang darks inside out, or on the shaded side of the line.
7. Space items so air moves between them.Overlapped garments stay damp along the overlap and dry unevenly. Half a line properly spaced beats a full one crammed.
8. Hang heavy items at the ends.Weight at the centre of a line makes it sag and everything slides together. Towels and jeans at the ends, light items in the middle.
9. Bring it in before the evening.Once the temperature falls, dew forms and dry washing starts absorbing moisture again. Late afternoon in and finish off indoors if needed.
10. Watch for pollen and insects in season.In high pollen season, line drying is a poor idea for anyone with hay fever, and bedding in particular should be dried indoors.

Tips

• Wind alone will dry a load on a cold dry winter day. Frozen washing eventually dries too, by sublimation, though it takes considerably longer.
• A rotary airer with a cover lets you keep washing out through a shower, which turns an unreliable day into a usable one.
• Bringing washing in slightly damp and finishing it on a hanger indoors gives the outdoor benefit without the stiffness.

Common mistakes

• Hanging dark clothes in full summer sun — Ultraviolet light breaks down dye. A few long sunny sessions visibly fades black cotton, and the fading is uneven because of how the garment hangs.
• Leaving washing out overnight — It reabsorbs dew and can end up wetter than when it went out, and overnight dampness in still air is how outdoor-dried washing acquires a musty smell.

If it doesn't work

Questions people ask