Pretty cool. I bought one of those clothes line racks that opens like an umbrella, but I'm having trouble finding the motivation to use it after the initial usage.

The problem is that it's a bit of an eye sore in the back yard. From what I understand, Europeans have no problem with clothes hanging out to dry, but Americans think it looks trashy.

In four years, the hedge line of evergreens that I have planted will fully screen our yard from the view of my neighbors, but in the mean time, I feel a bit squeamish about putting the clothes out. (my neighbors have very neat-freak yards)

Good for you!
It is definitely the way to go from any perspective -
Financially: cheaper on electricity, makes your clothes last longer, makes your actual dryer last longer (from lack of use)
Environmentally: this is obvious

AND... the sun-dried laundry SMELLS so much better than the hot-tumbled-tortured & scorched-air laundry!!!

One caveat is you REALLY have to vigorously shake out the dried laundry to help with the "eviction" of temporarily visiting "critters" who've hung out in the nice, safe folds.

Else... who gives a flying rodent what the neighbors think! They're the ones missing out!

Dave

How much washing do you do?

Estimating an electric dryer at 4,800 watts, at my current summer electric rate of about $0.13/KWH, it'd cost ~$0.62 per hour of run-time (and keep in mind that's with the heating element active continuously ... which it doesn't work that way, the heat cycles on/off to maintain a target temperature and there's a cool-down period at end of the cycle). $50 covers 80.5 hours of running time. Giving an average load 1 hr of drying time (most loads should be less than that), that's 2.66 loads per day.

Personally, I average about that many loads per week.

Carol, Do you live in a city or more of a rural area? I'm all for hanging clothes to dry but in our area, for example, our front porch floor gets covered with dust pretty quickly after cleaning. I'd be afraid our laundry would end up dirtier ...unless hanging it vertically would prevent some of the stuff in the air from sticking. Your savings is BIG!

Wow!
$50 is a HUGE difference.

I'd like mine to go down like that... then it would only be $10!
But then, mine won't since I don't do nearly as much laundry as you must - we are just a family of three now.

Congratulations!
I hope you spend the savings on something fun.

Another problem w/ hanging laundry is that you have to check it thoroughly for bird poop. And then re-wash the poopy things.

Plus, I've always found things dry very stiff, and I have to run them thru the dryer on fluff to get rid of lint and make them feel softer. So it's really a pain and I've quit bothering.

We air dry quite a few clothes on a line in the laundry room -- cleaner than outdoors. I fluff some of them in the dryer after they are dry for a few minutes to soften them and get the wrinkles out.

When I was a poor graduate student living in an apartment with no laundry facilities, I would wash all of my clothes and linens every few weeks at the laundromat and then bring everything home and hang it to dry. I just used wire hangers and hung stuff on every possible place. Much cheaper and quicker than trying to dry my clothes in the laundromat dryers at a buck an hour.

I like that "college days" story. I actually tried washing my stuff in a big bucket in the bathtub followed by hanging the stuff all over my apartment, too.

I didn't do that in college, but in my 30's I moved into a a house full of "alternative" people... and was influenced to try to the bathtub trick.

About the "stiff" air dried clothes... I actually love that feeling! It feels crisp and clean.

One of my pet peeves are clothes that have been through clothes softeners... they feel oily or waxy to me.

I just read a blog somewhere (can't remember the name of it) by a guy who did an experiment: he unplugged all of the electrical appliances in his apartment and lived without them for a period of time. The one he missed the most was the washing machine -- washing clothes by hand in the bathtub, he said, was incredibly time-consuming, and they didn't really get clean, so he and his wife went around feeling grungy all the time.

We never use fabric softeners here, btw. I usually put half the recommended amount of detergent, too, and wash pretty much everything in cold water. The clothes still get clean, as far as I can tell.

I like the stiff feel of line-dried clothes, too, and so far have only had one bird-poop incident.

It's hard to say how much washing we do, because our Asko machines have a much smaller capacity than the typical washer. Between the two of us, we end up doing about 5 or 6 small loads a week. Some weeks we do more if we've washed the dogs or bedded down a sick cat or changed the bed linens. Most of our clothes are cotton and take a long time to dry.

We live in a rural area and the clotheslines are hidden from view, so I don't have to worry about soot or the neighbors. Most of the neighbors here are environmentally-minded anyway, so I doubt they'd complain. I love seeing laundry hanging, seems strange that it bothers some people. My sister lives in a development where the HOA actually forbids it! I know I'm reading too much into it, but rules like that make me feel that something is truly wrong with America. Maybe we deserve this energy crisis.

Ok, I'm amazingly curious now. Do you know how much your cost/kw-hr is? Because my entire electric bill is approximately $40/month (when I am not running AC) which includes drying clothes for 2 (plus weekly washing of the blankets/furniture covers which collect the perpetual dog hair) in an electric dryer which is not new and my guess is not super-energy efficient. Plus, since the two people are myself and roommate with essentially separate everything, there are two televisions, two computers, two phones, etc (only one fridge, though) which are all used/charged separately... so it is somewhat mind-boggling to me if it has really been costing you $50/month for to dry clothes for two...

Does your electric company check your meter every month? Maybe they have been over-estimating for a few months and finally checked it and this last bill is the correction.

As others have said, fifty bucks for drying clothes is a lot. There has to be something else going on.

"The problem is that it's a bit of an eye sore in the back yard...In four years, the hedge line of evergreens that I have planted will fully screen our yard from the view of my neighbors, but in the mean time, I feel a bit squeamish about putting the clothes out. (my neighbors have very neat-freak yards)"

You're thinking too much about what others think! It's not like your undies are out there 24/7... just a couple of hours a few times a week. Maybe you'll be the trendsetter on the block (green is trendy right now!)

There's also an in-between: I dry thing like sheets, dishtowels, knit skirts/tops/shorts, underwear/bras on the outside line when possible here in western Oregon, but like my bath towels and t-shirts fluffy from the drier. Even in winter, percale/cotton sheets dry quickly over the shower curtain rod, but I'm glad summer is arriving for the smell of outside dried sheets! Every choice has an impact on the environment (and your electric bill), and you don't have to unplug *all* your appliances to make a difference. Balance in all things...

I've used an outdoor line for eons. It wasn't until this past fall that I got serious and rearanged things in an un-finished room in our basement and put up enough line to hang our laundry there, so I enjoy the savings as a 365 day a year option - not to mention you can hang your wet clothing at night, if that's more convenient for you. Prior to that I used several drying racks if the weather didn't cooperate.

We added a ceiling fan/light to help move the air. We also have a long bar where we hang our clothes that we dry on hangers on the back wall. Now I use the basement set up much more than outside. No problems with wind and weather. No sun fading clothing. No birds "bombing" the clothes. No bugs hiding in sleeves. No allergens clinging to clothing. No trying to beat a rain shower home to get the clothes off the line.

About the same time I started using the indoor clothesline, I also switched to Charlie's Soap for laundry. I was so impressed I purchased the 1280 load 5-gallon bucket of it (should last us 3.5 years). WHAT a great product. It rinses out so well, it all but eliminates stiffness in line-dried clothing. I also use distilled white vinegar in the rinse. Towels are just as soft and fluffy line dried as they are when dried in the dryer. It's just going to take a short while of using Charlie's to get all your old products out of your clothing - both detergent and softener.

Another tip... Don't use the fastest spin cycle on your washing machine if you plan on line-drying the clothes. The additional moisture in your clothing works well with gravity to pull the wrinkles out of your clothing and you'll have less wrinkles from a slow spin cycle to begin with than the fastest spin.

-Grainlady

Grainlady,

What is "Charlie's Soap"? I have used the vinegar in the rinse and it does work well.
I like the idea of line drying, but I didn't like the "stiff" feel either.
I do air dry several things, maybe I'll get some poles as well to put outside.

Well this thread has done my heart glad!

I've lived in this house for 17 yrs. now. I've never owned a dishwasher, microwave, or dryer. And I think there is a grain of truth in the old adage that you never miss what you've never known.

I have a 17 yr. old top loading washing machine. When it conks out I'll replace it with a front loader, but it's PAID for and the 2-3 times/wk. I use it I'm OK with its inefficiency.

I hang the laundry on coathangers and they're artfully draped along the top of the crown mouldings over the doors and windows. I also use my grandmother's wooden, folding rack for "dainties". In the winter I time the laundry with the peak operation of the woodstove. The interior is humidified at the same time the laundry is dried. I routinely use the boiler room, too. A pair of jeans dries in under 3 hrs. in there. As long as the sun and wind is free I'll use it! neighbors be damned. I don't leave my laundry outside for days, it's easier to harvest it from the bureau than the clothesline, afterall.

When we moved into our new home some 17 yrs. ago the neighbor quickly took down her "illegal" clothesline. We went right over and told her to put it back up because we fully intended to flout the "rules" and use one, too, lol.

We use awnings to keep our home cool, too. I was shocked to learn that many "homeowners' associations" have banned those, too. Clearly, Americans have some very big, very important lessons to learn... the same ones they "missed" in 1973. I'm thrilled that you've experienced such a nice savings... now, DON'T SPEND IT, invest it!

JMO

Oh, my $50 has been spent already, on groceries and petroleum products. There's no investment going on in my household this year, other than in real estate (paying the mortgage).

Actually, I did invest in software to improve my job skills. I guess that counts.

Hello again, pipersville Carol,

To change the subject ... you were "downsized", "outplaced" ... (read "hung out to dry" - yourself - similarly to your laundry) last year, weren't you?

How have things turned out with regard to that?

Have you been able to find another satisfactory position?

I hope so. And that things are going well, otherwise, as well.

Good wishes to you and family.

ole joyful

The only explanation I can come up with is that we turned off our oil heat AND stopped using our electric dryer during the first week of April (it broke).

Well, I would guess that there was probably a fan of some sort on the oil heater...right? ...that got turned off at the same time that you quit using your dryer. That might explain part of the $50 drop in one month.

Maybe you had a little electric supplemental heater somewhere as well?

Sue

I've noticed my gas bill is less when I use the clothesline. I don't mind doing it, but the line is very short and I cannot always get everything on it.

Can you imagine this: My son lives in a "planned community" which will not allow clothes on the line. Ridiculous!

Socks,

We, as a nation, have to begin conserving energy. "Rules" against things like clotheslines and awnings must be challenged! Tell your son to go speak to his homeowner's assoc., and make it clear that he wants a clothesline as a cost saving measure! Read our reaction to how quickly our neighbor took down her line, lol.

As long as homeowners allow "homeowner assoc.'s" to curb commonsense we will careen down the slope of energy waste. Now is the time to stand up and refuse to submit to such stupidity. Use commonsense, and practical day-to-day accounting to make your case. But don't allow that sort of foolishness to prevail.

I get the feeling that lots of people are jumping on the bandwagon of conservation.

Of course, they are doing so for economic reasons, but I suppose that's what had to happen.

I'm starting to have fun with it ... seeing how far I can go with various methods of conserving water/electricity/gas.

I'm hearing conversations about saving energy from people who one wouldn't normally consider this stuff... so maybe there is a mass movement.

Yes, the clothes line thing is ridiculous. Surely, they will see the light with some reasoned argument.

There's way too much preoccupation in this country w/ what the neighbors are doing. People have forgotten how to mind their own business. So help me, no one's *ever* going to tell me what kind of curtains I can hang in my own windows, or forbid me from putting a flowerpot, clothesline, or gargoyle in my backyard.

Is the neighbor burning tires outside your windows? Then you have a legitimate beef. Drying clothes or playing badminton? NOYB.

It IS your business (and your neighbor's business) when you CHOOSE to live in a neighborhood that has rules like that are already in place.

If you don't like the rules, don't move there!
There are plenty of other houses available....

We have a gas dryer and live outside Chicago, so nice weather is few and far between. I started reading about line drying and thought I was saving us money when I put a few loads on drying racks on the porch instead of the dryer on a nice day. DH calculated I was saving pennies doing this and the clothes were hard and the towels like sandpaper. I use Charlie's Soap too so it wasn't residue. Oh well. It felt good anyway.

PS I found this collapsible clothes line which I think it quite cool but the price is too high to justify it.

Here is a link that might be useful: clothes line

What particularly amuses me about homeowner's associations (we deal with them regularly where I work) is that so few of the "neighbors" even know each other, but boy! don't they ever turn out when someone wants to do something that is "in violation of the by-laws". Cracks us up to see them sitting, straight as arrows in their chairs, looking straight ahead. I know all my neighbors by name, I know their cars, and I even have keys to several of their homes! I know their pets (no kids nearby, but I know their grandchildren and often don't recognize them year to year). And "they" say New Englanders are cold and aloof. :)

We routinely make presentations on lateral arm awnings, deck canopies, and loose frame window awnings (which are usually "banned") and the waiver is usually granted. And all the rest of the "neighbors" start calling, too, lol. A good, thoughtful presentation, backed up by facts usually overcomes the fears and misconceptions.

Watch out, luann... it's a movement! and it may threaten your "neighborhood", too. ;)

Ummm... we have had covenants in my neighborhood WAY before I moved in. They were established in 1966!

And I knew about them before I moved in.

I'm putting a line in the basement.

If your clothes are "hard" after line drying, pop them in the dryer with a couple of tennis balls and tumble them on AIR (no heat) for about 5 minutes.

I tried the tennis balls but they kept knocking the door open ever five minutes.

Things like towels or dungarees are sort of stiff when they're freshly laundered and have dried naturally, but a quick "snap" before folding them seems to take the bulk of it out, much the same way a windy day on the line does.

We like the feel of crisp, line-dried clothes, it tells us they're freshly laundered. But we haven't had a dryer since we moved in here, so we've probably just gotten used to it. Funny, huh?

This doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition. I usually run my towels through the dryer -- but my jeans, underwear, sheets and socks go on the line. There are days, that the dryer is the only way to go. But I try hard to use the line in the warmer weather as much as possible.

Right now -- there are 4 loads of laundry on the line and one load in the dryer. Its like kids ....... you pick your battles!

Ontario has just passed a law making it illegal to tell anyone they can't have a clothesline. I think it's wonderful. It overrules all Municipal bylaws, community rules, etc.

We love out clothesline. I'm going to try the vinegar in the rinse, if I can catch it. I uually put clothes on to wash before going to bed or to work.

I have found that hanging blouses, etc on hangers to dry keeps me from having to iron so much or use the dryer to get rid of wrinkles. Hangers can go on the clothesline with things on them, if it's high enough. Saves space on the line, too

I would never put my good knitted tops, sweaters or undies in the dryer. It quickly ruins good clothes.

15 years ago, I bought one of those large wooden drying racks. It holds about 1 large load of laundry, but sometimes I hang extras over the railings (or large towels, sheets). It is well-used, and a bit worn for wear, but still sturdy and going strong. It is portable and can be moved into or out of the sun, or inside if it's starts to rain. When I'm done with it, I fold it up and put it away!

I used to hang dry about half the laundry, but about six months ago, I decided to stop using the dryer altogether. Because I only do 2-3 loads a week, this probably hasn't made much of dent in the electric bill, but I don't care. Every little bit helps.

The clothes will last longer, because the dryer ages them faster, they smell great, and they are easy to fold because they are neat and organized hanging on the rack. I usually set up the rack on the deck which is right next to the bird feeding area. I cannot recall ever getting bird poop on the clothes in 15 years. Maybe lucky? And I like the feeling of the scruffy towels when they are dried outside - invigorating!

Ole' joyful, thanks for asking about my current situation and how I'm faring after being laid off.

I had a birthday last week, and for the first time in decades it was actually a HAPPY day. I'm realizing that I'm actually... happy lately!

Working long hours at my full time high-pressure job really WAS making me miserable.

I've been cobbling together just enough freelance work to keep the bills paid and afford health insurance. Summer is turning out to be a busy time, but I still get the odd Monday or Thursday off.

Best of all... I don't have insomnia caused by work pressures any more!

My husband said the other day that I seem like a different person (in a good way, I think!).

All in all, it has turned out amazingly well.

I've been considering line-drying (certain) clothes for some time now. I thought I wanted to buy a clothes-line, but then after some consideration, decided to just use some cording or rope, or even 'bungee-cords' if possible, to hang stuff on outside.

I don't have it figured out yet - but I'm SURE we have something around here we can rig up...lol.

I have read all the posts here, & noticed the 'couple pennys savings' in energy costs some mentioned.

Well, every penny counts...but what I'm looking for is not only the few cents savings, but the *Wear & Tare* - (aka *mileage* - so to speak) - on my dryer also!

I grew up with washer & hanging clothes out to dry, & I absolutely hated it! "Hanging" wasn't so bad...it was the folding & ironing that came later that I dreaded - for a family of 9! LOL!

But now that "I" have 'control' (haha)...

Those stiff clothes...UGH! But I have plenty that can be hung out to dry.

OH, and before even reading these posts...told family I want a clothes-line that is "IN NEIGHBORS' FACE" - complete with lots of undies! LOL!
Last week, I noticed my neighbor has a clothes-line...but under the shade of the backyard patio, & only a couple little towels on it over a few days. (Not that I'm nosey...we've been doing yard work & 'they've' been rebuilding their patio)

I also 'caught' another neighbor arranging her backyard patio chairs & draping some bedding on them to dry or air out. (She also kept it close to house - under back patio!)

I find it comical that neighbors want to sorta 'hide' it. I want a full-blown clothes-line like we had in the 60's - right smack in middle of yard! Panties, bras & all! LOL

Well, we're in desert on about 1/2 acre, and only chain-link fence btwn neighbors. The DUST factor concerns me some. And the tons of birds.

But the biggie is those strong winds that come out of nowhere. I certainly don't want to see my undies draped on someone's chimney - a mile or two down the road! haha...

ANYWAY...Like I said, the 'mileage' on the dryer...that's worth saving, for certain.

My husband nixed my desire for a clothesline for several years, so I waited until he was out of town, went to the hardware store, bought the cement to set the pole, set it and put it up myself. His excuse was his ex wife used to leave her clothing up after it was dry and it was difficult for him to mow under. LOL

I bought one of those umbrella jobbies. I do take my clothes down when they're dry, and it can be folded up, so he can't complain about mowing. What could he say when he got back? My feelings are, when he wants to start doing the laundry, HE can decide how to dry them. The first electric bill came post clothesline and our bill was down $36. He sits there wondering why it was so much lower. I just said one word........clothesline. I don't even HAVE a dryer now. I don't even like them. I just switched over to a more natural laundry soap, and noticed the clothes are not stiff anymore when line dried (and I like the stiffness, anyway) In wintertime, I hang them in my greenhouse. Why not? BTW, the dh doesn't complain about the clothesline anymore. He's even been known to run out when a rain comes up and take them down himself. ;-)

I love the look of a line of clean laundry flapping the in the breeze. As for underwear, I'm old enough to remember the 'routine' of how to hang clothes. They are put in the center lines. I always hang my clothes that way automatically, with things like pretty sheets to the outside. Force of habit. And I live in the country, nobody can see my clotheslines anyway. What is it with American culture. Nobody thinks twice about parking their bottoms in front of the tube, with advertisements about male enhancers, and feminine products, but their offended by a pair of clean skivies?

This Doonesbury strip is a classic:

-Lena, clothesline scofflaw

Here is a link that might be useful: CA Solar Dryer

LOLOLOL. Love Doonesbury. I guess the laws in Florida (?) now over ride the local statues as far as solar panels are concerened. IOW, the right to cheaper energy and ecological soundness are being upheld for individuals. It has to go in that direction unless you want to be captives of regulated energy sources.

This discussion brings back memories of helping with the laundry in the 1950s. My family of 6 accounted for lots of laundry, and Dad made extra long clothes line props to help hoist the laundry into the breeze. I remember running out with Mom and sisters to strip the clothes lines as the rain just started, and I also remember carefully taking down the laundry when a sudden freeze surprised us on a Saturday. You have to be real careful with frozen laundry not to fold or bend it or you will snap/tear the clothes. In the winter, we hung the laundry across the basement and into the furnace room.