Where do you line dry your clothes?

[marglo]

Fran, I might very well hang ours if I had to pay that much every month!

Our monthly bill (budget plan) is only $43! It was recently lowered from $82 but still I guess even $82's not bad! The reason it dropped is because we snowbird in the winter and no electricity is used. We have a gas furnace and a gas water heater (my dh worked in HVAC until recently and installed this) and the furnace is used only if the temperature drops to freezing to protect the pipes and the water is turned off.

I was just surprised how many of you air dry your clothes! I remember my mom doing that and when I was first married in southern CA, I did it, but I haven't for a very long time.

[larosa7357]

Hi Marglo...Boy...I can only dream about the cost of your electric! .

Between the electric, gas price increase and impending oil price increase , I think it's time to leave Long Island.

I still live in the same town I grew up in, but things have definately changed. I just can't see spending this kind of money just for the necessities. We've been contemplating a move upstate New York...hopefully in the very near future. Salaries versus inflation just doesn't "cut it" anymore.

Fran

[Razzy]

Marglo every bit counts even if you only hang your delicates at least your hanging some clothes and saving some money.

Razzy

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by Razzy

Marglo every bit counts even if you only hang your delicates at least your hanging some clothes and saving some money.

Razzy

That's how I see it - sometimes I line dry things indoors that are bulky (towels, jeans) to get most of the water out and then finish them for a bit in the dryer.

[Razzy]

I found that if I use the spin cycle on my washer multiple times I get more water out of the clothes and they dry faster on the line and in the dryer.


Razzy

[PrincessPerky]

I am pretty sure they arn't allowed around here, but then I don't tecnically have one, I have a outdoor swing, one of those freestanding metal frame ones, I use the top cross bar like a line to hang hangers on it. (but I always put 'unmentionables' inside - same closet as above)

And I do see a difference in the electric bill, but I also see a difference in the softness, .

Course I was telling DH last night we really don't have much to complain about, our electric hardly ever broke $100 even without cost savings habits. (of which we have a few more than just 'line' drying')

[Razzy]

Lehman's sells a Clothespin Circle Dryer, the one they sell is a bit pricey and I have gotten plastic ones at the dollar store for a dollar and have use one for 4 years. I would recommend buying one or two at the dollar store for small clothes and if you really like them then consider buyine a big one from Lehman's.

Razzy

Here is the description from the catalog.
Clothespin Circle Dryer
Dry lots of clothes in a small space
When you dry your clothes on a line you know how much space it takes - especially for small items like socks, handkerchiefs or baby clothes. Our clothespin circle dryer gives you lots of drying space within a small area. 22 or 32 clothespins hang from the aluminum circle and steel chains. Hang the entire circle from an existing clothesline, from the shower curtain rod in the bathroom, or from a hook on the ceiling in the laundry room. Oversized plastic clothespins hold laundry securely. Rings and chain won't rust. USA made.

[jaksilee]

I have a plastic small circle dryer that I use for underwear, 1 floor drying rack that I use for pants and a wall hung rack for my shirts. I do dry all my towels and sheets, because I can't stand the crinkly hard towels!

[Gailete]

After our stackable washer/dryer died, thus losing two appliances in one fell swoop, my hubby went out and got a combo washer/dryer. Weird, it washes the clothes then drys them. It was an expensice machine, but hoping it will last. It uses far less water when washing clothes and less energy when drying. That being said as long as the weather is good and I feel okay, I hang the laundry on our traditional 4-line clothesline. I can get about 3-4 loads on at a time. I also hang more fragile tops/skirts on hangers over the washer and if needed in the winter hang stuff on the shower pole, on the backs of chairs, etc. I would like to get a dryer rack too, but all I ever see is the real cheap ones. I had one once and it feel apart in no time.

We had a $85 electric bill this summer and I about choked, not sure I would survive a $200 one! That big bill was after scorching record heat where we had the 3 window air conditioners going full blast for days just to keep it tolerable. I hate to admit that I am in that class of people that can't tolerate high heat due to medical problems. We did manage to get the next bill down to $60 so that is something. Things have cooled off enough that we haven't used the air conditioners at all for days and I have been hanging clothes most of the summer so that is really helping the electric bill.

[CheaplyClever]

Originally Posted by jaksilee

I can't stand the crinkly hard towels!

This always works for me, completely line dry the towels and then throw them in a hot dryer for less than 5 minutes. That releases the "crinklies" and softens the towels a bit.

Now we love the stiff, crisp, freshlly line-dried sheets at our house. I'd have a fresh set every night if it wasn't so un-frugal!

[Razzy]

I love my towels the same way, my stiff towels remind me that I did not use the dryer and am saving money.

Razzy

[Fern]

I use a retractable clothes line i got from home depot. A great value. When not in use, it's not int he way of lawn mowing or anything in the back yard as it winds back up automatically when you release the one end.

[Razzy]

That would be useful for anyone who wants to line dry there clothes but not put the line in the yard. You could also put it in the bathroom.


Razzy

Originally Posted by Fern

I use a retractable clothes line i got from home depot. A great value. When not in use, it's not int he way of lawn mowing or anything in the back yard as it winds back up automatically when you release the one end.

It has a great value indeed ... Do you know where can I get something like that?

[mom-from-missouri]

walmart has them for $14.97.

[Razzy]

You might want to call Lowes, Ace Hardware, Tru Value, or Home depot to price them before you go out and buy one.

Razzy

[seaar2000]

I definetly am going to start line drying my clothes. Electric and water where I live went up quite a bit. I just about chocked when I got my electric and gas bill.

I think its better this way Razzy.
Anyway $14 is not much ...

[Razzy]

I think any amount of clothes you hang will save some money. I started by hanging only our undergarments then graduated to were I line dry everything inside or outside.

Razzy

Originally Posted by Razzy

I think any amount of clothes you hang will save some money. I started by hanging only our undergarments then graduated to were I line dry everything inside or outside.

Do you mean like ... everything ?