Comments on: Line-drying the Laundry

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:29:04 +0000

Thanks for writing on this subject. I absolutely love line drying my clothes. In fact yesterday was my first day of line drying season for me. I had not read the tip about re-rinsing them though. I will have to give that a try. As I write this I am realizing that I already do something similar with my kitchen towels and rags. I wait till I have a load full and wash them all together. I will let them soak with detergent for several hours to overnight then run the full cycle. Next, I run a second full cycle through to make sure the water comes out clean. Additionally for regular clothes I have greatly reduced the amount of detergent I use. At my estimates I have reduced it by 50%-60%. I read somewhere that it is the action of the agitation in the water that gets the clothes the cleanest not the detergent. Because of this, it is important not to overload the washing machine. The water needs room to circulate around the clothes. I also like to add some white distilled vinegar to my laundry, especially the whites as it helps to deodorize and sanitize them. The towels I dried yesterday were not nearly as crispy as ones in the past. So I can not be sure if it was the combination of all these factors or one in particular, but since they don’t really take any more time or effort I guess I will continue them.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:19:47 +0000

I put off buying a dryer for a year. I simply used a clothes drying rack instead year round. Then when I had the money saved for one I decided that I really diddn't need it all all. It had been a year with out one. I had nice clean and dry laundry. The best part was that I had $600 saved that I put into a little CD for a rainy day. I note for Bucksome. I do my laundry in the evening then hang it on racks right before bed in the middle of my living room. The room isn't used in the middle of the night and I figure if a burglar wants to get to my 19" tv and 10 year old vcr they are going to have to put the laundry away first. Seriously it works great. I have dry laundry in the morning.

By: Bucksome

Bucksome — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:49:55 +0000

I used to hang clothes to dry just because I love the smell and it was relaxing being out in the sunshine and quiet… alone. It was an escape from two small boys, LOL.

Our condo wouldn’t allow us to hang clothes on our patio and we definitely don’t have room inside. Thanks for bringing back nice memories.

By: Betsy Wuebker

Betsy Wuebker — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:50:53 +0000

If you hang shirts and jackets, even sweaters if they’re not too heavy, inside out you won’t get those little hanger bumps at the shoulder.

By: Passing the French Driving Test–and weekly post picks. « Simple Life in France

Mon, 10 May 2010 15:45:48 +0000

[...] Line Drying the Laundry at Funny about Money [...]

By: Simple in France

Simple in France — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:10:35 +0000

Most people in France line dry. I believe electricity is pricier here . . . or we just perceive it to be (percentage of total budget). I line dry towels along with everything else. . .I don’t really think they’re that stiff.

But I also think you’re spot on–the fewer appliances you have to own/maintain, the more money you can save.

By: funny

funny — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:39:25 +0000

@ Shelley: Wow! Would I love to have one of those in the garage!! I got one of those rolling clothes racks to hold stuff fresh out of the dryer–occasionally I’ve hung things to dry on that. But it takes up a lot of space and sometimes has to be pushed around so I can get at the storage behind it.

Twenty-four hours! Even when we lived on the Persian Gulf, where it was so humid water dripped off the eaves in the morning as though it had been raining, clothes dried in a few hours. Of course, we were hanging them outdoors in the blazing sun. Don’t know what would’ve happened if my mother had hung them indoors.

In Berkeley, my great-grandmother had a folding wooden rack that she used to set atop the big floor vent for the furnace. Hot air from the furnace would come up through that, and the clothes would dry quickly. I guess they don’t build houses that way anymore…the house build around 1900, I think.

By: Shelley

Shelley — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:10:32 +0000

I line dry my clothes on an antique rack that hoists down from my kitchen ceiling – it came with the house. I own a dryer but only use it in emergencies – maybe once a year. I don’t care if I don’t save a lot of money – I like that it is FREE. When I lived in Salt Lake City, the arid climate dried my clothes in such a short time it was unbelievable. Here, it takes about 24 hours as a rule, and I finish off a few of the thicker socks on the radiator.

By: funny

funny — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:44:36 +0000

@ Roxy: I like that theory! More $ saved.

By: Roxy

Roxy — Mon, 10 May 2010 02:14:40 +0000

Since the heat and tumbling action of dryers raise the fibers on fabrics (causing them to look “fuzzy” and faded), line-drying clothes and bed linens also keeps them looking newer longer.