talk to me about line drying laundry - Page 3

[starrmama]

I'm not line drying 100% yet - I just started outdoor line drying last spring. In winter I've been averaging maybe 1/3 of our laundry line dryed. In warmer months I was up to maybe 3/4 line dryed... anyway, just wanted to say I really do like it... waiting for our dryer to break and then I'll be FORCED to just do without lol! I LOVE my outdoor umbrella dryer as well as my indoor large rack (even though they're expensive I feel like they've been worth it), so had to share the links: I have the First Lady from here http://stenicproducts.com/ and this one: http://www.robbinshomegoods.com/index.php?product_id=44

[bcblondie]

Love Love Love the lavender plants under the line idea.

I personally hang everything inside. Dh rigged up a system of loops of cloth ribbon on our laundry room ceiling. Kinda like a clothes line but tacked up every 2 feet or so. That way I don't need clothes pins and all my clothes don't slide into eachother. I mostly use these loops for diapers and towels. My clothes I put straight on the hangers, and when they are dry I bring them to our rooms and hang them right up. One less step! Although some clothes might get shoulder bumps so watch for that

Another thing I like about line drying inside is it keeps the humity level a little higher, since it's pretty dry where I live. (it's been below zero here since october, and yet we've only had to shovel snow once. )

[EricaDoula]

In the summer I have a huge clothesline outside, and we have 3 huge lenghts of thin rope in the basement where we dry mostly everything!

[zech13_9_goforgold]

We have super dry weather (most days) and hot. Anything I need to know about line drying? Should I hang them up at night so they don't try in 20 minutes?

I've been staying at someone elses house until we get a house of our own and the towels are super crunchy. I'd like to try a vinegar rinse but I'm getting a two basin washer. Anyone had experience with them? Here's an article explaining how to use it. I was wondering if I could use the vinegar in the rinse cycle? My friends with this type of washer saves the rinse water and uses it for the wash water on the next cycle. Will anything weird happen if I have the vinegar in the wash water?

Any other ideas about super crunchiness? Thanks for your help.

[njsummer01]

Another for the lavender-under-the-clothesline idea! DH already built me a beautiful clothesline and I am definitely going to plant lavender around it now!

Any other suggestions for good quality, long-lasting indoor racks? I've been drying things inside for a few years now and yet another of those flimsy folding drying racks has died on me. I don't have a basement or dedicated space for this - I just set up racks in our bedrooms as needed. But I definitely need a better solution.

[starrmama]

Oh, yes, I LOVE my indoor drying rack. It is very sturdy, made in USA with sustainably forested wood. They are expensive (I actually lucked out and found mine locally for 50% off) but it is worth the full price IMO. They are here: http://www.robbinshomegoods.com/index.php?product_id=44

[WorldsBestMom]

Line drying is a great way of drying your clothes. There is nothing better than fresh breeze and some sun. Not to mention you save on your electricity bill that the drier would contribute to.

[BlessedOne]

Originally Posted by chinaKat

I'd like to stop using the electric dryer. Can you give me your best hints for both indoor/outdoor line drying?

I'm hoping to avoid crunchy towels if possible.

Thanks!

that is the main reason why I do not do line drying. I hate crunchy clothes and I hate the smell of the outdoors!
But I have friends that just adore it! To each their own!

[Teenytoona]

We have 3 drying racks that I bought this winter to increase humidity in our homes. It's really worked out beautifuul in terms of humidity and ease of putting away. I put one in each bedroom and will put the kids' clothing in their respective rooms to dry. This also leaves them with alot less travel time in putting away laundry. If I get a load in the washer in the am, by the time I'm home from work, I can set it to dry and the following evening it's ready to put away, so a 2 day process. DH isn't fond of line dried towels, but still that leaves us with plenty of saved electricity for sheets and clothes. We have 3 lines outside, but DH is putting a toolshed in that spot and I was thinking an umbrella line might be a better use for our space.

So tell me, those of you who use the umbrella line - what kind do youhave, how big is it and what was the cost?

[starrmama]

I'm probably already on here raving about both my line dryers, but we got one of these umbrella dryers, and it is very well-made and durable and GREAT - I like knowing it was made in Europe, not China, and I can fit about 3 loads on it, and I'm not using its extra line yet:

http://www.stenicproducts.com/catalo...&product_id=23

[Rabbit8]

Oh I love drying my clothes outside on the line. One of my favorite things is sleeping on sheets fresh from the line. Just love the smell.

In the winter I dry them downstairs, where we have a fireplace, on dryer racks. That way I figure they put humidity back in the air too.

As for crunchy towels, if you hang them on a windy day they shouldn't be too bad, shaking them, or tossing them in the dryer for five minutes works too.

[KellyAnnW]

Love all the tips! We line dry in the summer. Hubby loves the crunchy towels. Me? Not so much. But the smell is wonderful!

[Katie T]

I got to hang my first load (actually 4 lol) of the season this week and was giddy with excitement! I know I'm such a dork but there is nothing better than the smell of laundry hung on the line and I crunchy towels. So much so that I hid a couple from DH so I could have them all to myself lol.

[nerdymom]

Oh, I love how much faster my laundry is drying with the windows open and the lovely warm sun shining in!

[swellmomma]

You all have me so excited! I started drying with racks last summer when my dryer broke. I was not permitted to use a clothes line(not even the umbrella type) in the rental I was in, but I just bought a house and one of the features that sold me on it was teh HUGE clothlines that goes diagonally across the whole back yard from the back door. I am so excited to use it starting next week(we take possession on friday). I am going to keep using the racks indoors to dry undergarments and delicates inside(no fence at all on this property and it is in town), as well as everything in the wintertime(hard to dry clothes outside in -30 temps). I am so excited to finally have my clothes line.

[jadekat]

I love hanging clothes on the line! Sadly we have a huge backyard but no clothesline and we are renting. I have a indoor rack that is used mainly for delicates. DH is not a fan of crunchy towels but it doesn't bother me.

[rumi]

nice tips. we always line dry and i guess we are used to the crunchy towels ... we call them "exfoliating towels"
talk about something you could charge money for ...

and i also enjoy looking at clothes lined up and drying.