Louisiana weather is still so mild at this point that hanging hasn't been a problem at all! I haven't used the dryer any for my clothing or our household items like linens. (My husband still uses the dryer for most of his and the kids clothes'...they are not down with the crunchy towel factor just yet!)
What I love about line-drying:
*it forces me to slow down and enjoy myself: I truly like hanging my clothes, enjoying the breeze, smelling the fresh air, etc. The extra time it takes doesn't bother me because it's relaxing.
*no bumping and clunking of the dryer
*saves $$ and energy
*I like the fresh air smell of my clothes. I am using a homemade washing soap, so I also enjoy the lack of flowery chemical smell on my clothes.
Challenges:
*my cats! They have some major hairball/yakking problems and I seem to be washing blankets constantly. Thankfully we have a lot of small/thin fleece type things, so they dry super-quickly on the line.
*I have to stay on top of things. Can't save up tons of laundry and do it all in one day due to it taking time and room on the line to dry.
Troubleshooting:
*I hang my shirts on hangers, then hook them over the line. That way they dry in a natural shape.
* I try to get my clothes washed and hanging early to take advantage of the sun.
* I hang stained stuff in the sunny spots, but our yard is so shady that I'm not sure this will be a good stain-removal system.
Credit: istockphoto
Any experiences or tips?
4 comments:
I haven't had a dryer in about 10 years, so I definately am happy to impart some tips! I hope you're comfy! LOL!
I do a combination of line drying and rack drying, because - as you mentioned - weather does not always cooperate or I miss the sun due to getting clothes out too late in the day.
In the winter, it's easy to hang your clothes on drying racks and put them near (but not TOO near - fire hazzard) the heat. Don't worry about turning off the heat when you leave the house or go to sleep because it's so dry in the winter that most of the time, many of my clothes dry overnight if I put them on the racks by 5pm-7pm. That allows you to not bump into them during the day (if you have limited space) and just have them up at night.
I have a few large racks, that way I can do 2 loads at a time (and that does not include the line outside, which holds about 2 loads...but of course weather permitting).
Yes, you do have to organize yourself. I often do undergarments in the tub or sink (they join me for a bath if I need one, or just in the sink if I don't). Then I often hang those on a small, stretchy line I have in my bathroom...unless the weather is good, and then they go on a smaller rack outside.
We wear things like jeans and sweaters a few times to save on laundry - we reuse towels a few times, etc. I just get in the habit of each night separating my clothes as I change. Things I can wear again go into a certain pile in my room, undies I toss in the washer, sink or tub (depending on my mood/needs) and then: immediately needed or often used go right into the washer or into a pile right before it. Those that I won't need for a while go into a 2nd pile further from the washer.
Everyone knows that if it's "important", they need it to get into the washer or right beside it at least 48 hours before need. In an emergency, I've used a hair dryer to finish off an item that was needed right away. Hung up in a very sunny window on a clothes hanger also will speed up an item needed sooner.
Enjoy!
We don't have a dyer either, and while I don't LOVE it, my clothes do seem to last a little longer. And if you dry things nicely, they rarely need ironing.
Line drying just gives a nice fresh smell. I remember this as a kid not present time. I should do this in the summer.
I recently moved to a place with a dryer after living years without one. I hate it! I'm saving up to get one of those portable clotheslines because I love line drying so much!
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