all in the wash

Laundry day

Most flats in the U.K. come with washing machines, as did mine. Most do not have dryers, which leads to the proliferation in most British households of portable drying racks. As the machines also only hold loads about one-third the size as North American washers and each load takes an average (no kidding) of two hours (as opposed to the N. American 30-45 minutes) the sight of drying racks is pretty constant.

Clothes lines are available, and I have access to one in a shared courtyard, but clothes lines are not much of an option when it rains every other day.

This drying of clothes anywhere inside the house where there is a wall heater also leads to a very high moisture content indoors, which leads to a constant battle against mould. Britain is mouldy.

I have only seen two laundromats in my Cardiff travels and one was actually outside Cardiff in Penarth.

In the winter, on my walks home from work, I was able to see into windows of other flats, and everywhere, on staircases, railings and racks there were constantly clothes drying.