Clothesline issues

[Adaline'sMama]

Ok, so we are what I think the be the last few weeks of this clothesline, and we are having some drying issues.

-DH doesnt want to build a new one until spring bc he says we wont use it in the winter. Last year (our first year hanging clothes) we didnt use it, because I was pregnant and the way to get downthere is by going down 20 steep stairs. I feel like I know other people who have hung their clothes out in the winter. Anyone?

-Currently, my clothesline is not in the most sunny spot. The new one will go up in a different spot.

-We do have a dryer, and I probably will use it for clothing. I only use the dryer early in the mornings when the stove has burned down and its cold. I try to time it this way so that we let the fire go out, so we can clean out the ash and I supplement heat with the dryer (the exhaust for the dryer is filtered and stays inside).However, I will not be using the dryer for diapers.

- I use prefolds, covers, and pocket diapers. For the past week, it has taken 2 full days to get them dry out on the line. I am afraid that once we are drying inside all my diapers will be super stained because they wont be sun bleached. I feel like this is a good enough reason to go ahead and put the new clothesline up. But, for right now, how can I get these diapers dry? Im about to just put the prefolds in the dryer and hang the covers.

-I want to hang an inside clothesline that is high enough where our heads wont hit the clothes (Id have to stand on a chair to hang clothes). Mainly, because there is more heat up there and we have a limited space, so I dont want clothes taking up most of our space all day. How fast does wood heat dry clothes?

-Last one, I promise. It seems like the diapers would just freeze if I hung them outside to dry. It also seems like the BG and Thirsties covers would lose their elastic if I hung them close to the stove. Anyone btdt?

TIA!!!

[Teenytoona]

I don't know the answers to all of this. But a few years ago, I was asking about hanging things on the line in winter, and someone even posted a photo of a frozen line of diapers. Apparently they can dry on the line, I think they even said the diapers seemed fresher, too. I can't find that link, of course. boohoo. But I reckon you'd have to bring them in to finish it off. Hopefully someone who's BTDT will post. I never tried it because our dryer and indoor basement line worked well enough for my needs. I don't think I'd put the covers too close to a heat source.

[1jooj]

It also might be less expensive to buy a stash of flats than to use the dryer on prefolds all winter. Flats dry super-fast.

I'm way north of where you are, and a lot of people here hang laundry to dry on the line. Yes, stuff freezes stiff, but it does still get mostly dry in time (the cold air is far less humid) and with a quick tumble, it finishes. The hard part on the coldest days is getting stuff on the line before it freezes in a lump in the basket. Also, chapped hands--but there are a lot of chores that contribute to chapped hands.

[Paigekitten]

I still haven't figured out the perfect winter drying set up, but I didn't have a dryer last winter. I hung outside unless it was raining or too cold. When I had a lot of laundry I'd hang it in the garage, but the diapers took AGES to dry. We heat with wood too, and what I want it racks or a line in the house because the clothes and diapers dry very fast even in another room. The diapers were not as white as they could have been, but any stains seemed to have sunned out again during the summer.

[treeoflife3]

My grandma didn't even own a dryer growing up and she lived in Tomah, Wisconsin which if you know anything about the area gets really freaking cold in the winter. She says they hang dried through the winter outside. They'd have to bring things in frozen of course but they'd thaw and finish drying in maybe 10 or 20 minutes.

[Adaline'sMama]

Thanks!

Im glad to know you can dry outside in the winter. Hopefully we can get some kind of rack set up for the diapers though. Its good to know that my wood heat will probably dry the diapers from another room, because it would be mighty cramped to hang in the room that the stove is in. The heat is pretty dry though.

I still have to hang a new line outside. Any cheap ideas on how to do that?

[treeoflife3]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama

Thanks!

Im glad to know you can dry outside in the winter. Hopefully we can get some kind of rack set up for the diapers though. Its good to know that my wood heat will probably dry the diapers from another room, because it would be mighty cramped to hang in the room that the stove is in. The heat is pretty dry though.

I still have to hang a new line outside. Any cheap ideas on how to do that?

My husband built ours however I'm not sure how much it cost. He juts got some cheap wood beams and boards and built T's. added some hook thingies for the line and tied the line in.

However, if you go this route, make sure you dig fairly deep and cement both ends into the ground. Smart guy that he is, he didn't do this and mine leans in a bit now haha. Also, I wish I had non stretchy line because it bends no matter how tight we try to tie it.