Eyesore or Environmentally sound?

Go for it!!!

In some countries you see sheets hanging outside in small hotels even. Some countries NEVER use dryers.

I love the smell of fresh sheets that have been hung out on the clothesline and I hang them whenever I can, but never when I have guests. My clothesline is mostly out of sight but not completely so I don't take the chance that a guest would be bothered by it. I also have the Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer. There is no way the washer could hold 16 pairs of jeans and get them clean, like they advertise. I do smaller loads and use the HE detergent and it's fine.

our washer is a G E extra capacity and the dryer is a super capacity.. we can wash one full size sheet set plus 1 set of towels at one time.  I like to dry my towels separately, tho.  We have 5 guest rooms and when we are full and flipping rooms from 1 night stays I am so thankful for having 3 set of everything for each room.  The washer and dryer were fairly new when we got here (going of 3 yrs now) 

So it was your brother......................knew there was a reasonable explanation for the washing machine door lock

 I don't know, the sight of the things drying on the line wouldn't bother me at all but I think I must be in the minority...growing up my mom line dried EVERYTHING and while the smell is nice it does not make up for the crinkly, tough feel.  I love the feel of stuff fresh out of the dryer, soft and fluffy.

I have a Bosch front end loader commercial washer that is fantastic! I would love to have a Bosch dryer too. I will work on convincing the PTB that another dryer is the way to go.

I was out most of today and we had an absolutely torrential storm hit. If I had sheets out on a line, they would have been ruined. Lesson learned.

 Cabrio is great, but NOT for large heavy quilts (when wet)...nothing works well to wash or dry them really...they always go off balance and you end up messing with them.  I spent yonks yesterday to get that quilt done, now it is hanging over the laundry room door to dry.

I think you also need to ask yourself if the guests you get are like the PTB? If so, you have your answer. If not, gather some hard evidence that bookings will go up if you show a line of sheets drying on your website.

There is an innkeeper here who posts photos on FB of her sheets drying in the sun and she gets raves about it.

Unfortunately, just to explain for our o/s innkeepers, in this country it is looked down upon to dry laundry naturally (therefore the comments orig made by the PTB mentioned by FD).  It is not that way o/s for the most part, it is common sense to use the sun.  This is an area where I actually feel guilt putting stuff into the dryer when it is hot and dry outside. So I can understand both sides of the equation.

It is the same notion when you hear innkeepers upset when guests hand wash items and hang them out, it is just not done here.  

As long as they are not interfearing with where people are walking as well as I popped round to my neighbours and she was hanging out at the back and I had to climb under sheets to get in which as a guest I wouldn't be impressed with.

Like "One Day" I hang B&B items in my basement. Towels I dry for 30 min (6 bath sheets per load) then finish drying on the basement lines. Come out fluffy this way. Other items are dried this way but mostly bath sheets. This works for me being a "green" B&B. Iam in the middle of town on 3/4 acre, so outside drying is not an option. I have public streets on 3 sides of my property.Mary in Bridgewater.

We do our best to be an environmentally responsible business and have a Gold award for this, so the dryer is a last resort. Therefore I don't have a problem with guests seeing bed linen on the line, I agree with birdwatcher though, I don't think it's appropriate for guests to see personal clothes out, particluarly underwear.

Having said that we are a 3 room B&B, and I can appreciate that for people with more rooms line drying is time consuming. Also, guests can see our line, but it's not immediate visible when you come up the drive, although given our green policy I wouldn't have a problem with that if they could.

I appear to be out-numbered, although I DID say backyard.

I did not take offense with you FD. Just sticks in the craw sometimes the way "some people" have to look down their snooty noses at people who are just trying to get along and save money. It really does not take me long to hang sheets and I fold as I take them down so that is no biggie. You have to do as the PTB determine, whether it makes more work for you or not. I am grateful that I AM the PTB! At least as long as it does not conflict with DH.

I guess I must be weird.  Last summer, I helped the owner hang the sheets while we discussed which part of the beach across the road belonged to them.  I can't imagine with current energy issues that anyone would have a problem with line drying!

It all depends on what you are willing to let your guests see. I don't see a problem with just sheets hanging outside, now if there are personal clothes I would not do that unless there are no guests. I see your point about the sheets which are quick drying. But also the "cloud" coming and running out there to either get the sheets in or lettting the rain drench them a second time. I've done the clothes line thing, and yes it takes alot more work to get them in but if it frees your dryer for towels I don't see the harm in it. Specially now that everything is "environmentally" sensitive..even tolilet paper....so what is the problem!

 We have an upstairs balcony "solar dryer" & use it for 99% of our laundry & I would venture to say that it is not easier. We live on a small island & didn't have a working dryer for a few years. We do now, but it is electric & takes much longer to run a single load through than to hang it all in the sun (plus more environmentally & economically friendly), but not easier.

Our guests cannot see the laundry hanging.

 FD we all have this same question to ask, I will step out of the shadows and ask it:  "Have you ever line dried your laundry before?" I mean more than hand washing?  Running out to retrieve it all every time a cloud rolls past...ironing, again, not saving energy or time to have to iron everything.

First let me apologize for the use of the aforemetioned inappropriate discriptive terms used by those other than myself. That statement does not reflect my own personal views. Sorry for any offense.

Second, let me explain why I think it would make my life easier.

I do laundry constantly. I average 6 to 8 loads a day. There is only one washer and dryer. The dryer is a 10 year old Neptune and has seen better days.

If I could use the dryer only for the towels and hang the sheets, I feel it would free up a lot of time for me. At the completion of the towels, I can toss the sheets in for a few mins on fluff and Iron only as needed.

do you have a dry basement?

Run lines in the basement..........My own utility room which is off the den is not a finished room.......In winter I used to put all my sweatshirts and sweats on hangers and hang them on the plumbing pipes.

Just last week I went to Bed Bath and Beyond to pick up the folding clothes drying racks........I personaly have only used the dryer twice........for a quilt and bed sheets.

Hey...........it's a hotter summer here than it has in like 8 years..........AC running 24/7..........I'm turning frugal as I age......

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking "EASIER???!!"

I love sheets fresh off the line myself.  

But I seriously do not see how this would make your life easier.  It's a lot easier to toss those sheets right in the dryer and take them out while they're still warm.

Would I do it at an inn?  Depends entirely on the setting.  I can certainly see some places getting away with it.  

But for most inns, no I don't think it would work.  

And I'm guessing that since the owner vetoed the idea, the demographics at your inn would not be a good match, FD.  

i agree with catlady.  i find carrying loads of wash outside, hanging it to dry, bringing it in, then folding and putting away a lot more work than using the dryer.  just a little personal laundry i might like it, but not inn laundry.  sheets and towels and various items for multiple rooms!  wow!  now an heirloom quilt or two i could see ....

it is great for the environment, great for the laundry i think (as long as you don't have seagulls that use it for target practice)  but the owners have the say on this one. 

some people don't want to see laundry hanging outside ... as a guest, which room would have a view of the laundry?  judging from the 'snob zoning' rules against clotheslines, your guests might not like it.  besides, you know they think all chores are magically done by the housekeeping fairies!