Photo credit: ajrpix
Since the weather started to heat up in the Bay Area a few days ago, I pretty much put our dryer into hibernation and put our clothes outside to dry. The satisfaction of not using energy to dry my clothes and that sweet smell of sun dried sheets makes my day (I’m easy to please.)
Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way…
- When we first started line drying last summer, we got one of those umbrella rotary clotheslines so that we can move it around the yard and place it in areas where the laundry would get the most sun, shade or wind.
- Starting loads as early in the day as possibles to get the most sun/heat out of the day.
- Washing the heaviest items in the early part of the day to make sure they will dry by evening. Items such as blankets, heavy towels, throw rugs, etc. Sheets generally take the least amount of time.
- Using one half cup of white vinegar in your wash acts as a natural fabric softener. I just pour it where you would normally use fabric softener in the washer.
- Turning colored and dark clothing inside out and out and placing it out of the sun as much as possible to prevent fading. It helps to have movable clothesline or rack so that you can place it in the shade.
- Using proper hangers instead of clothespins to hang button up shirts and skirts goes a long way in prevent wrinkles.
- Hanging shirts and pants upside down will help these items dry faster and relatively wrinkle free.
- Dry heavy clothing on a flat surface or rack to prevent stretching.
Does anyone else have tips for drying clothes without a dryer?
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bean
on Apr 22nd, 2009
@ 7:47 am:
Thanks for the specific how-tos. Hanging clothes to dry has become a lost art. My grandmother might have known those hints and may have taught them to her daughter, but mom certainly never hung clothes to dry as an adult. As a result of that, I never learned how to hang my clothes so they didn’t come in stiff as a board and wrinkled. I love the smell clothes dried on the line but I hated how they looked and felt when I did it. I knew there had to be a better way!
[Reply]
Lovelyn
on Apr 22nd, 2009
@ 12:23 pm:
I line dry my clothes too. Most flats in the UK don’t have dryers. You gave some good tips that I’ve learned within the past year of living here. The white vinegar thing works good too. I just started doing that a few months ago.
[Reply]
Sagan
on Apr 22nd, 2009
@ 12:58 pm:
Awesome tips! I like using a rack to dry my clothes.
[Reply]
Davina
on Apr 22nd, 2009
@ 8:12 pm:
Thanks for sharing these great tips. Alas, I don’t have a lot of space in my apartment to dry clothes. I try to cram as much as I can on a wooden tree in a corner. Towels go in the dryer though, but I use dryer balls instead of sheets.
[Reply]
Gennaro
on Apr 23rd, 2009
@ 8:39 am:
Great practical tips for being green. Vineger is so underrated. It can be used for lots of things including as a substitute for several cleaning products.
[Reply]
J. Money
on Apr 24th, 2009
@ 4:57 pm:
Sooooo cool you live in the Bay area….i so miss Cali.
[Reply]
Carla Rose
on Apr 25th, 2009
@ 7:39 pm:
@J. Money – I love it here too.
@Gennaro – I buy it by the gal at Costco. I use it for almost everything too!
@Davina – During the winter, we hang most things in the house to dry too.
@Sagan – I use a rack sometimes too.
@Lovelyn – Its amazing how soft vinegar can make your clothes!
@Bean – I hated the stiff clothes too so I avoided hanging things out for years! I’m glad there is a better way.
[Reply]
Wilson Pon
on Apr 26th, 2009
@ 8:31 pm:
I’m always washed the clothes in evening, as I didn’t have time to wash it at the morning, as I’m unable to wake up too early, just for washing the clothes, as sleep hours is very important to me, Carla.
By the way, it’s even better to use the organic washing powder than those synthetic types!
[Reply]
Terry
on Apr 27th, 2009
@ 3:00 pm:
Thanks for the tips. Going to try it especially since the weather is heating up. Never hurts to learn more on how to support green and save some money.
Happy Monday!
[Reply]
Carla Rose Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
@Terry – No, it never hurts to learn more…:)
[Reply]
LisaNewton
on Apr 28th, 2009
@ 6:10 am:
What a great post. The other day when I was riding my bike, I passed by an apartment complex that provided clothes lines for some of the units. It’s the first time I’d seen that, especially in the city.
I wish I had taken a picture. Maybe I’ll go back.
[Reply]
Carla Rose Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 8:38 am
@LisaNewton – That’s pretty cool! I would love to see a photo.
[Reply]
Mercola
on Apr 28th, 2009
@ 9:53 pm:
I didn’t know white vinegar can be a softener. Would try that one out for sure.
[Reply]
Carla Rose
on Apr 29th, 2009
@ 10:16 pm:
@Mercola – it works really well. Let me know how it goes for you.
[Reply]
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@ 10:33 pm:
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