Wishful Homesteader

the benefits of line-drying your clothing

From my inbox...

The Benefits of Line Drying Your Clothing
by Amy Allen Clark
Get the smell of mountain freshness and April showers the
natural way

There must be something great about drying your clothing
outside as it seems all of the laundry detergents aim to get
that fresh smell in their detergents. I see promises of
fragrances filled with the smell of mountain freshness and
April showers. What is not to love about that? Did you know
that it is possible to achieve that just by line drying your
clothing outside? With a simple clothesline and some
clothespins, you can save your family money and achieve the
scent that every detergent company is trying to capture.

If you live in a subdivision, it is important to first check
the guidelines of your homeowner's association to make sure
that you are allowed to put up a clothesline or if you are
even allowed to dry your items outside. Since many
associations are strict and can mandate house colors, drapery,
and whether your garage should be open or shut, a clothesline
may also be on the list of big no-nos.

To begin line drying your clothing, you will need a good
clothesline. The most important thing to make sure of is that
the clothesline is pulled very taut so the clothing does not
cause the line to sag when you hang the clothing. The only
maintenance you will need to do after hanging your clothesline
is to make sure that you wipe it down once a month with a damp
rag. This way, the line remains clean and doesn't get your
clean clothes dirty in the process. I wipe down the line every
time I use it, just as assurance to me that my clothes will
not get dirty.

You will also need clothespins. Clothespins come in several
different varieties, but I prefer the plastic kind, as they
are not hard on your clothing and come in bright colors,
making them easier to find for unclipping. I buy my plastic
clothespins at the dollar store, over in the laundry section.
Whichever kind you choose, make sure that you keep them in a
place where they will stay clean and dry. I have a small
plastic tote with a handle that I use to store them in, which
helps me keep them in good condition and helps me to find them
when I need them.

There are many great benefits to utilizing a clothesline. One
of the best benefits of line drying your clothes is that they
will last much longer than they would if they were just thrown
in the dryer. Did you ever think about how much lint is in
your dryer when you are done drying it? That is actually all
of the worn-away fabric that would have remained on your
garments if you had line dried them. Zippers cause snagging on
clothing when tossed in the dryer, but when line dried, your
garments will remain intact.

The other added benefit is that you save yourself some dough
in the process. Did you know that electric dryers are often
among the top energy-users in a home, followed by
refrigerators, lighting and water heaters? Not only will you
save on your electricity bill, but you can also save on
laundry products. The sun is a natural whitener, so no need to
buy any bleach. Static cling is created by clothing rubbing
together, but if your clothing is hung out to dry, it is not
necessary to buy any dryer sheets.

The most important element of line drying is hanging them
properly. Proper hanging will reduce the amount of ironing you
need to do and will maintain the shape and colors of your
fabrics. The basic rule of thumb is to hang the clothing
upside down to help avoid stretching in the material where it
might be noticeable. Another basic rule is to hang your
colored clothing inside out to maintain the color of the
clothing. With whites, you will love that bleaching effect of
the sun, but you don't want this to occur with your colored
items.

Before you hang your items be sure to first shake out the
wrinkles in the fabric. I give each item a shake until I hear
it snap. Once you hear snapping, you will see the wrinkles
begin to loosen from the fabric. Pin the item up on the line
and smooth it out with your hand. These small steps will save
you a lot of ironing time and I will do anything I can to get
out of ironing!

Shirts and socks can be hung upside down, to insure that you
will not have noticeable clothespin marks. Jeans and towels
should be folded in half over the line and then pinned once.
Halfway through, you can flip these items and dry them on the
other side.

There are items that can be a bit trickier to hang, but are
easy once you know how. Sheets, for example, can be folded hem
to hem. You will then fold three to four inches of one hem
over the line and in at both ends. Pin the corners of the
other hem a few inches inside the first two. The sheet should
then open towards the wind so it will blow like a sail,
assuring you of even drying.

I have never been brave enough to hang my unmentionables out
on the line, but I figure that I am saving money by putting
the items that take longer to dry on the line and the rest of
these items can go in the dryer for a quick tumble. If you are
braver than me, however, you can create a wall of clothing on
each side and then place your undergarments in the center,
making it difficult for the neighbors to see your items.

If you find the items to be stiff when dried on the line, you
can throw them in the dryer for a quick tumble. I use the
touch-up setting on our dryer to loosen any wrinkling and to
make sure the clothes are still nice and soft.

I hope this article offers some helpful tips for saving your
family money and enjoying the truly wonderful benefits of line
drying your clothing!
___________________

Amy Allen Clark is a stay-at-home mother of two wonderful
children. She is founder and creator of MomAdvice.com
(http://www.momadvice.com). Her website is geared towards
mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on
a budget, and that are seeking work-at-home employment. The
author resides in Granger, Indiana and her hobbies include
reading, writing, and cooking. Please visit her money-saving
blog where she offers even more tips for ways you can save
your family money.

Take the Next Step:
Want to start line drying your clothing? It's a wonderfully
frugal thing to do, but first check the guidelines of your
homeowner's association if applicable to make sure that you
are allowed to put up a clothesline or if you are even allowed
to dry your items outside. Unfortunately, some may not allow
it.

Untitled Comment

{ 03:58 PM, Monday, March 24, 2008 } { Posted by southernbelle }

I enjoyed reading this. It may motivate me to hang my things on the line more often.