Drying Your Clothes On A Clothesline
We are blessed to live in beautiful northern California and get to enjoy sunny weather most of the year. As I have walked the path of becoming healthier, I have also tried to reduce my impact on the environment. One of new things I have started incorporating into my lifestyle is drying my clothes outside on a clothesline. We switched to a natural, unscented laundry detergent many years ago but were still using the dryer and dryer sheets.
Research studies have shown that the chemicals that are used to scent these products are harmful to our health. Drying your clothes on a clothesline in the sun achieves the scent that these detergents attempt to capture through chemicals.
For starters, you need a good clothesline, attached to sturdy posts (fence or side of house) and hung up very taut. Pick up some clothespins and store them in a container that keeps them dry and clean. Make sure to clean your clothesline once a month by wiping it down.
Drying your clothes on a clothesline has many benefits. Your clothes last longer when dried on a clothesline, a dryer shortens the life of your clothes by wearing them out faster. The lint in your dryer? Yup, it’s your clothes wearing out faster. Using a clothesline not only benefits your wallet by having your clothes last longer, you also use less energy, therefore your electricity bill will be a little less each month. Hanging out your clothes to dry can take a little more time, I’ve noticed that for the average load of laundry it can take me 10-15 minutes to hang it out and pick it up and it is a relaxing way to enjoy the backyard.
Not sure you want to go all out and start drying all of your laundry on a clothes line? Start with a small line and some of your clothes. As you get the hang of it, extend your line or hang another rope. Make sure you watch the weather report and plan ahead. On a sunny day, you can hang out your clothes before leaving for work and pick them up when you get home. Sunlight is a natural sanitizing and bleaching agent, it will also give your clothes a fresh smell.
Here are some tips:
- Large items – sheets, heavier sweatshirts, large shirts – should be hung on the outer part of the line and smaller items in the center.
- Lessen wrinkles by giving them a good shake before hanging them to dry.
- Dark, colored or bright items can fade in the sun, hang these inside out.
- Dressy clothing can be damaged by clothespins, you can hang these on a hanger and pin the hanger to the clothesline.
- Stretchy clothes and some knit garments should not be hung out on a clothesline. Read their labels.
- White clothing – can be left out in the sun longer; this will lighten any stains.
- If you intend to iron some of your clothes, you can remove them while they are still damp and iron immediately.
suneet
Being from the UK where probably 90% of the population dry their clothes on a clothes line outside despite the weather, i always found it bizarre how Californian’s LOVE their dryers…I prefer to save my $$$
VIcki Dello Joio
The smell of clothes when I take them in is absolutely delightful. I love that you point out that the whole process doesn’t have to take much time and it can be a relaxing thing to do. I haven’t used my clothesline enough in the last few month because I haven’t gotten around to doing some maintenance I need to do, but I feel much more motivated now.
Judy Stone-Goldman
We would love to have a clothesline, but in this Pacific NW weather, we have so much wet weather, we’d hardly be able to use it (rain coming down as I write this now). Even this summer, usually a time of sun, we had more damp and gray than anything else. So my husband and I do the best we can to monitor the dryer use. We put clothes in and set a timer to remind us to get the clothes after the least amount of time, and we try to then put another load of drying in immediately so the dryer doesn’t have to heat up again. We always use unscented detergent in the washer and unscented dryer sheets for the loads requiring it. Maybe some day we’ll have the chance to use a clothesline, too.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com
Personal-Professional Balance Through Writing
Rachel
Key word here – backyard
Yet, people in the city manage to find a way, too. I love walking through Chinatown and seeing all the lines of clothes strung between buildings. Oddly enough, I grew up in the country but never have experienced clothes dried on the line .. hmm, gotta buy some wire!
Susan Berland
You are so smart! I remember clotheslines from when I was a kid. Am I aging myself! I gave up dryer sheets a long time ago but I’m not sure I’m ready for a clothesline. I think I’m getting too old for that much work!
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://susan-berland.com
Alara Castell
I love this! I’m all about it being natural. I know when we have our home we can create a space to hang things naturally which will be so great to get rid of the chemicals. Love that you are doing this and sharing. Great tips on how to make it work. Thank you for sharing.
xoxo
Alara Castell
Purveyor of Prosperity & Laughter
http://www.alaracastell.com
Pat Zahn
I don’t line-dry (some clothes inside when that is their care requirement.) Pollen counts affect my comfort level and I’m not allowed to have a clothesline in my neighborhood. I don’t use dryer sheets and don’t understand why people think they need to… At least we have solar panels so I’m offsetting the energy usage…
Brenda Jones
It took me a while to wrap my head around “Northern CA” and “mostly sunny.” I’m from South San Francisco and “mostly sunny” is not a phrase I would think of. “Can see that the sun is out down the peninsula” is more likely, lol. I’m not a fan of line drying and very much like my steam dryer. I’ve left clothes out to dry after a water play or similar and the sun bleaches them out too quickly where we are now and even when I line dry inside, the clothes feel scratchy and even crunchy (maybe I’m doing something wrong?) Plus, with the number of flies and birds, I wouldn’t feel as if my clothes were still sanitary when I brought them back in and would worry about black and brown widows having taken root in something that I would then bring in the house. As for the “fresh scent,” I live near dairies… not a scent I’d like on my clothes. Maybe if I lived somewhere different, it would be different. Can I ask what you do about static? I have a problem with it on some of my “air dry” items unless I toss in the dryer on the air only setting with a “clean and clear” dryer sheet.
Donna McCord
I can remember my mom hanging some things to dry outside when I was very little, but then they got a dryer, and she still hung some things out…I always thought the clothes or towels hung outside were a little stiff so didn’t really like the feel of them! I like the concept and think it would be a lovely practice in a perfect world, but I honestly don’t think I would want to risk hanging my wash in my backyard as there are too many birds and trees! I do what I can to use the dryer efficiently and don’t use dryer sheets with most of my wash unless I am trying to avoid static on some items like nylon, etc. But after reading this, I will probably avoid using them altogether!
Molly Perry
My mother did hang our clothes out on the line when I was growing up. I especially remember when she hung out bedsheets and we would run through them–not to her liking though! Living in MN, we have a limited outdoor drying season, unless frozen clothes are in order. Lots of good tips!
Louise Edington
I’m from the UK too and hung washing out all my life and I totally agree with the smell and I KNOW it’s better for the clothes and my health. However! I am SO busy now and doing laundry for a family of four takes so much time. When I use the drier I have little or no ironing and it’s faster. Plus – it’s so cold here in winter that the clothes would freeze on the line – not to mention me whilst hanging lol. So I’m going to be sticking with the drier I’m afraid. I am going to investigate drier balls instead of sheets though as I do know the sheets aren’t good, however, I do need something to reduce static as it’s so very dry here.
Louise Edington
Breaking Through Online Frontiers
http://louiseedington.com
Laurie Hurley
I did this when I lived on Cape Cod believe it or not! I loved the smell of the fresh ocean air on my clothes. We lived one mile from the water and it was usually breezy. I don’t do that here because I have allergies and the pollen flying around the dry air bothers me. Weird -isn’t it? Southern California and I have allergies. Something wrong with this picture, but I like it here so much better! As far as dryer sheets – Melalueca makes one without chemicals that is not harmful to the clothing at all.
Jillian
I was just at Home Depot yesterday and walked by a clothesline “section”. I love the idea…just a few hurdles. Our HOA forbids us to have a line outside (even in the backyard), though I think I could hide it under the patio cover. The other hurdle? The wind that rushes through our backyard at unexpected times of the day. It gets terribly dusty. It’s such a bummer!
I hang as many items I can in my laundry room, my closet, and believe it or not, my office! It doesn’t achieve the same scent benefit, but my clothes do last longer!
Jillian
Jillian Todd Portrait Couture
http://www.jilliantodd.com
http://www.jilliantoddblog.com
Portrait Couture is for every woman who looks in the mirror and can’t see her own beauty.
Sabline
I used to spend my summers in Switzerland. My Grandparents did not have a dryer so all of our cloths were hung out and I can still remember the smell. This may be something I should bring back
Thank you for the reminder!
WW
In Arizona, my clothes dry in 3 minutes! I still have yet to get it out on the line on a regular basis. Thanks for the push and the hint about whites and lightening up stains is a new one! Thanks!
Dr. Mundeir
Julian,
You’re doing what you can by drying your clothes inside – kudos to that!
Dr. Mundeir
Hi Laurie
Maleluleca and also Seventh Generation, I think, makes unscented dryer sheets. Thanks for sharing your comment!
Dr. Mundeir
Hi Louise,
Try looking for unscented dryer sheets – here in the states, there are also dryer balls available. Or you can try adding vinegar in your wash.
Dr. Mundeir
Molly,
What a fun memory to have. Enjoy what you can of the summer weather that you have in MN!
Dr. Mundeir
Hi Donna,
The towels are a bit stiff when hung out to dry, but we have just gotten used to that. Our back yard also has plenty of trees and some birds, and we haven’t had an issue with that. There are natural, unscented dryer sheets – meyers, seventh generation are just a couple of brands that make them.
Dr. Mundeir
Hi Brenda,
The weather can be drastically different on the other side of the Bay! You can give line hung clothes a little softer touch by adding vinegar to the wash, it also helps take care of the static. We hang dry our clothes, and I don’t have an issue with feeling that they are unsanitary, I do give them a good shake to get rid of any pollen or bugs that might be hitch hiking.
Dr. Mundeir
Hi Pat,
If you are sensitive to pollen – definitely do what is best for your health. Solar panels are awesome, I can’t wait till we can get them installed!
Dr. Mundeir
Thank you for your comment Alara!
Dr. Mundeir
Hi Susan,
So glad to hear that you gave up dryer sheets! A clothesline can maybe help keep your joints healthy
Dr. Mundeir
Rachel,
We do see clotheslines hung up all over patios in urban areas of India. Here in the states, things can be little more strict due to HOAs! Let me know how you do with your clothesline!
Dr. Mundeir
Hi Judy,
You are doing what you can and are conscious about your energy usage – that is the key!
Dr. Mundeir
Vicki,
Great to hear! Get your maintenance done and get your clothesline functioning again!
Dr. Mundeir
Suneet,
Great to hear, yup UK and a lot of middle east/asian countries are hip on the clothesline usage. We just need to get more Californians to do this! Thank you for your comment.