I’ve mentioned before that, in spite of almost daily rain and high winds, most Orcadians hang their laundry outside to dry. In fact, I have just learned that, in the north of Scotland at least, the umbrella-style lines are called whirligigs (your piece of useless information for the day – you’re welcome). Those who don’t have access to a yard with a line have racks hooked on to their radiators, or hanging from their kitchen ceilings, or standing in the bathtub. But many do have a dryer as well.
The washing machine is almost always in the kitchen. My Grandma’s was, as is my uncle’s, and mine. Few houses have basements and unless you’re building brand new, or doing a reno like my cousin, not many people have laundry rooms. In my house, the dryer is in a large cupboard in the centre of the house. The closet has neither drainage nor exterior venting. This is also fairly typical in the UK, and while the solution to the lack of venting is to simply leave the closet or kitchen door open while the dryer is running, UK appliance manufacturers have found a way to address the build up of water that accumulates from drying clothes.
The photo on the right shows my dryer with a removable 5 kg plastic tank that needs emptying every 3 or 4 loads. You draw the long, flat tank out of the dryer, carry it (level and steady) to the kitchen sink, and empty it down the drain (left). I’ve never seen anything like this back home, but it works a treat here.
