Posted in Homestead

I just read the Fall edition of The Old Schoolhouse magazine.  I was flipping through over lunch and stopped to read Lisa Vitello's article entitled, The Many Blessings of the Clothesline.  I chuckled and smiled as I read through the article; thoughts swirling around my head about how often I try to encourage people to hang their laundry.  Lisa has written an excellent article detailing her personal joy from hanging laundry on a line, as well as some of the more cost effectiveness of this practice.  I'd like to take a bit of space here to expand on her article, because this is of much importance, in my humble opinion. 

To get the full benefits of hanging laundry, from a cost effective standpoint, one should hang laundry in such a way that it needs no further care, other than folding.  It is possible to do this with any item. 

With pants, you want to hand them upside down.  This will be the only time you will use 4 pins per item (unless you are tolaking bedding or towels).  By hanging pants upside down, the weight of the wet fabric will allow the pants to dry  without wrinkles, so no ironing will be needed.  Begin by grabbing the waistline and giving it a good shake or two.  Then turn the pants upside down and grab the side seam of one leg.  Attach with a pin.  Do the same for the other side of the same leg.  Now, repeat with the second leg.  The only exception is that when you get to the last pin, you will want to have your next item ready so that the pin is holding the last seam side of the pant leg and the next item to be hung.

Likewise, shirts should also be hung inverted, for the same reason.  In addition, hanging in this position will help the shirt to retain its shape.  However, if you have a sotton shirt that flairs our, you may not want to put the pins exactly at each end, but an inch or so in.  Begin by turning the shirt upside down and giving a shake or two.  Then take on seam and attach with a pin.  Now, run the shirt along the line and secure with next pin (which will likely also hold the first side of the next item).  By keeping the shirt taught, you will reduce wrinkling even more, and thus no ironing will be needed.  The exception might be if you have a sleeveless shirt (like a tank) that you might opt to hang right side up, if some wrinkling is not important.  You might choose to do this to save line space on items that aren't necessary to have completely wrinkle-free.  For button up shirts, you will want to use a few more pins, as with pants, for a wrinkle free finish.  Turn the shirt upside down and shake.  Then take one end and pin.  Next, take the second seam and pin (remember to keep it taught against the line).  Do this for the next seam and the final edge.  To keep sleeves from being riddled with wrinkles, hold the base of the shirt and give a little tup on each sleeve once the garmet is hung. 

Socks should be hung in pairs, so they can be folded together as soon as they come off the line.  Undies and bras can be hung one pair to a pin or one side to each pin, adjoining several pairs together in a row.  Your hanging style will depend on your preference for undergarments when you put them on.  

Even work clothes can be hung on the line and require no extra care with these simple tips.  Remember, if you want your laundry to stay wrinkle free, it must be folded or hung up as soon as it comes off the line.  With towels and jeans, you will not want to forget to add fabric softener to your wash, so they do not become stiff.  Well, that is, unless you prefer stiff towels (my nanny did).   

I cannot express strongly enough how this can make a sifference to a family.  We cut our electric bill in half by not using a dryer.  BUT we also save on our clothing budget.  Why?  Firstly, the clothes do not become faded as quickly (unless left in the strong summer sun for too long).  Secondly, all that lint in your dryer lint trap are fibers from your clothing.  This is what weakens seams and fabric allowing for holes.  It is like shaving a bit off your fabric each time you put them through a dryer cycle. 

Lastly, I know that in many states winter is in full gear.  As long as temperatures are not freezing, you can still hang on the line.  If you want to be a zealot, add a little salt to your wash cycle and your clothes will not freeze in very cold temps.  If that doesn't suit you, consider running a line or two in your basement.  When I lived up north, I had 5 lines in my basement and was able to be dryer-free year round! 

Save money each month and on your clothing budget...hang your clothes!

These are my thoughts.