Do people still line dry their clothes?

When most people think of line dried clothes they recall observing their mothers constantly packing wet clothes in baskets back and forth throughout the day. They remember the anticipation of watching for the coast to clear so they could play hide-and-seek between the sheets as they gracefully flapped in the breeze. Most of us can still recollect the fresh smells that lingered for hours in the summer winds. The sweet aromas were a comforting reminder of the love our mothers must have had for us to work so hard on our behalf. We know why women hung laundry in the early decades of the nineteenth century- But why would anyone choose to do it today? With the high capacity appliances, and laundry mats available, drying laundry is now a piece of cake compared to the line method. Most people would agree that the thought of hanging out the laundry sounds like back breaking work. Who would want to line dry their laundry in this day of age?

Yes, line drying clothes is not completely a thing of the past. Of coarse there are several places in the world where washing and drying clothes are done the hard way- hand washed and line dried. But even here in america, you can find clothes lines still doing the job modern appliances were made for. Clothes lines are still made and sold, and come in several portable versions that make drying clothes possible anywhere today. Most people use clothes lines to simply save money. Line drying laundry can significantly reduce the electric or gas bill. Drying clothes outside in the summer months can save you even more when the heat of the dryer can cause the air conditioner to work harder. There are several high efficient appliances that need less power to operate, but not everyone can afford to make that investment. Unfortunately, today's economy is forcing more americans to rethink the way we live and use energy everyday. More people are trying to go green and make a smaller impact on the environment. Large families admit that it is a huge help to hang laundry outside to dry. They can wash several loads in one day, and never be waiting on the dryer. This not only saves money, but it allows them to dry heavy loads of clothes like; blue jeans, towels, comforters, and heavy bedding in less time.

Some people like the feel and smell of warm soft laundry tumbled with dryer sheets right out of the dryer. The downfall to using the dryer is the lint that your dryer is collecting is actually fabric from your clothing. The dryer creates more wear and tear in the long run. How does line drying compare? Line dried clothes dried in the wind and heated by the sun are actually more sanitized. The UV rays the sun produces can kill bacteria and prevent harmful mildew from forming, therefore providing a healthier environment for your skin. The sunshine can cause some clothes to fade. You may need to dry some dark clothing in a shaded area. The sun can fade stains on light colors and whites, and save you from buying bleach.

Most people who refuse to line dry their clothes don't like the thought of putting on a stiff pair of pants, or a wrinkled shirt with clothes pin marks. The truth is, you can prevent that from happening. Using a liquid fabric softener that can be dispensed during the rinse cycle is the best way to get soft lined dried clothes. When it comes to hanging clothing you will find clothes pins work great for some clothing, and others not so good. If you have button up pants or jeans, you can simply unzip the zipper, and button the clothing directly to the line. This will allow more air to flow through the pant legs, speed up the drying process, and prevent several broken clothes pins. If you are worried about wrinkled button up shirts, place them on hangers. You can fasten hanger hooks directly to the clothes line and secure the hangers with clothes pins to prevent them from falling in strong winds. If ever you have a problem with wrinkles you can easily iron them out.

You can enjoy line drying your families clothes for all the reasons listed above. You will love the fact that it will get you out of the house for a breath of fresh air in between chores. It never hurts to soak in a little sunshine any chance we get throughout a busy day. As silly as it may sound, you can feel good about the way you are conserving energy in such a small way everyday. You should feel even better that you are saving your families hard earned money and the environment all at the same time. The greatest reward will be when you get the privilege to snuggle up with your loved ones in the fresh clean linens your small contribution provided.