New Article: The Benefits of Line Drying Your Clothes
We have a new article up! Please visit my new article on
the benefits of line drying your clothing. There are some helpful pointers for how to hang your laundry and the reason why this will save your family so much money.
Please be sure to check out this article and let me know what you think! Do you have any of your own tips that have saved you time or money when doing this?
Sound off: Do you dry your clothing on a line? Outside, inside, or both? Please share!
Labels: Frugal, MomAdvice News
15Comments:
Stephanie
"Outside as much as possible all year long! :)"
Leanne
"This is a great article. However, if you have allergies or children with allergies to outdoor pollens of any kind, line drying can actually bring those pollens indoors making seasonal allergy symptoms worse. Just something to keep in mind. I love my clothesline! Some neighborhoods also have covenants barring clotheslines."
Molly
"I have only just started line drying my clothes. My clothes line was my mothers day gift. I've really loved it so far and I hope to see a difference in the eletricity bill in the future.
My towels are always so stiff, though. My hubby wants me to use fabric softener, but I don't want to do this. After they are dry, should I tumble them in the dryer for a bit?"
Elizabeth
"I line dry spring through fall. One thing I do here in the city is to pin our "unmentionables" to the clothesline with sheets/pillowcases over them. The sheet fabric lets the sunshine and air through, and it means that my boys change their sheets more often so that the neighbors don't see their undies!"
mama k
"I use my clothesline for diapers year round. (The sun acts as a natural bleach to get them white!) For the rest of the laundry I line dry or use a drying rack as much as possible. Though I do rely on the dryer much more in the winter.
BTW, in leu of fabric softener I add 1/2 to 1 c. of distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle to help rinse out any residual detergent buildup that may make fabric stiffer. I also usually toss diaper and towels in the dryer when they are just barely damp for like 5-10 minutes. That fluffs them up and makes them soft."
Karen
"I do mine indoors as I have really bad allergies. Since the third baby, it seems I am allergic to everything outdoors:("
Amy
"Molly- I think if pop them in the dryer for ten minutes after you have line dried them, you will see a different in the softness. You will still save a bunch of money, but you won't have that stiff-as-a-board feeling to your towels.
Thanks for all your comments, everyone!!"
sf mom
"My husband puts our clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes BEFORE he hangs them on the line. This greatly reduces wrinkles and we never have stiff towels or jeans.
He also puts "unmentionables" and socks on a drying rack on the porch. Our backyard here in SF is so private anyway that very few neighbors would see it. I think it's easier for him to use the rack than to hang each piece on the line! :)"
Kimberly
"My dryer broke about 3 weeks ago, so my husband went out and bought a retractable clothes line. I have been using in ever since. I didn't know you should hang colored clothes inside out, thanks for the tip. I hope to see a decrease in my electric bill next month ."
The Thrifty Blogger
"I hang them outside too. I've never hung towels or jeans in half and then reverse them, that's too much work. (lol) Yes, they're close to the ground, but you can use a "forked" long branch or pole, and push it up into the clotheline and hoist it right up there high! :)
Also, I could not live in one of those places you can't hang your clothes outside, or you have to be cookie cutter perfect. Yikes, I'd never fit in.
And, yeah underwear goes better on those drying racks, rather than flying in the breeze, especially if you've got company coming. :)"
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
"I hang the pants up by the cuffs, and pull the pockets out so that they can dry. Then again my clothesline is plenty high enough."
"We hang our clothes out as soon as it gets warm enough. We saved 10.00 elec bill on the first month I got them outside. I too have dried them to fluff at the end while they are still a tad damp. I hate stiff towels too. I am a big believer in liq fabric softner, despite the cost. Thanks for the article, Amy!
Jakesmom"
"A couple weeks ago, I made laundry detergent, using borax, washing soda, laundry soap (Fels Naptha, etc) and water. Recipes can be found on line.
I was amazed at how soft the laundry is, even when hung on the lines outside. I hang everything outside. I have four lines, and hang the "unmentionables" on the inside lines, and sheets, towels, etc. on the outer lines. My husband likes his jeans with creases, so I hang them from the bottom hem, crease them with my hands, smooth them, and when they are dry on the outside, I hang one leg on a parallel line so the inside of the legs can dry. They come off the lines looking ironed.
Smoothing with the hands, after shaking out wrinkles does often eliminate ironing, especially if there is a breeze. Love hanging laundry."
Audrey
"I add about half a cup of baking soda to the wash water along with the detergent and even the towels come out soft. I've heard that white vinegar in the wash cycle will also do the same. I've never turned the colored items inside out but absolutely agree with giving everything a quick "shake" to release the creases. My line doesn't go up very high so I use a "prop" in the middle which gets it way up there! I think there's no finer sight in my garden than the line of washing blowing in the wind."
zafiro80
"This is wonderful i have been wondering how to make my towels come out softer. Ever since i had to stop buying one deterget (it has softener built in..watkins has wonderful stuff) b/c of shipping prices i've been sans a good softener. But i'm going to get Mrs. myers and try the vinegar thing and see how it turns out."
