How do people dry clothes without a balcony?

[PPQ_Purple]

I live in a city in Europe where balconies are usually the norm. But I rarely ever see anyone using them to dry clothes. Indeed, doing so has historically and still is seen as somewhat of a faux pas and generally associated with a negative stereotype toward first generation migrants to the city. Like, no true "citizen" would ever do it. Only [insert mildly negative adjective] country bumpkins that don't know how to behave in a city like a civilized person. I have no idea if this is more widespread than my own city but it is an interesting thing to share.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Really, a thread. My granny had a washer that was basically a tub with the lid that you removed by sliding it off. Because there was a rolling pin attached to the top so you would take out the clothes and wring them out. From there she would either put them on a short line she had on her enclosed rear porch or take them into the line in the backyard. I also saw her dry clothes with an iron.

Other more handy folks had clothes lines set up on a pully so they could hang all their clothes out from one spot, sometimes a porch. My personal method before I was married was to let the clothes stay in the washer for a few days and if they were still damp, I'd scatter them around the house.

Then there is dry cleaning.

I just this year took down our clothesline which doubled as a run for my rottweilers. They have passed. We still have a couple of bags of clothes pins. Clothes drying outside on a line are just the best.

We had one of these for a while: The wringer acted like the spin cycle on more modern machines and removed most of the water. It was a portable washer and hooked up to the sink. You just had to watch your fingers when using the wringer.

 

[Core Imposter]

Yep, that's it.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Ours was pink though.

 

[Smellincoffee]

People just wore wet clothes back in the day.

This sounds like a Dad answer from Calvin and Hobbes.

 

[Gori the Grey]

Why thank you.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

You just had to watch your fingers when using the wringer.

I speak from experience when I say that if you do get your fingers caught in it, IT HURTS.

(I was helping my grandmother and great-aunt do the laundry)

 

[Zardnaar]

We had one of these for a while: The wringer acted like the spin cycle on more modern machines and removed most of the water. It was a portable washer and hooked up to the sink. You just had to watch your fingers when using the wringer.

View attachment 698654

Had one of them into the 90s.