Long ago before anyone had ever heard the phrase spin cycle, every home had a clothesline. Oh the days when energy was cheap and solar power wasn’t even a proper phrase. The days when our children would play outside, lying under a line of clothing gently swaying in the summer breeze. The days before we trapped ourselves in the house waiting for the sound of a beeping mass of metal to tell us when to get up and get the laundry. Yes the day before mechanized drying units… a.k.a drying machines.
Okay, so you may have heard it before…but have you ever considered the possibility? On average, costs for drying clothes in a conventional dryer can range from $120 to $250 per year. Some bigger homes, estimate up to $1500. While such large numbers may be somewhat exaggerate, it is still money you can save. Plus when you add in the occasional repair charges, you might be wondering, “is this the way it’s always been!”
Did I mention the cost of clothing? They sure don’t last as long as it used too and it is not because our kids are sitting in front of computers instead of playing in the dirt. In the midst of being continually heated, slammed and scrubbed against spinning walls and other clothes, the fibers become broken and tattered in the dryer.
Also, dryers are enticing environments to some of the most unwanted bacteria. The dark muggy lair is the perfect place for their growth. Your dryer, however, has the power to permanently set a stain in your favorite white blouse. On the other hand, the sun has natural drying qualities (who would have imagined) and it is free. Moreover, the sun can remove stains from white clothes and those ultraviolet rays that millions of us fear can actually kill bacteria and dangerous growths such as fungi. Can you believe it? The power of nature and it is priceless!
Yes and you may be concerned with the time and space you need to hang dry… but there are options. You can set up a line from pole to pole, put up a T‐post, or a fancy umbrella clothesline with arms that can fold down. You can even set up a retractable line that disappears when not in use. The possibilities are endless, and you don’t need a big backyard or even a porch for that matter to hang dry your clothing. Place a retractable line in a garage or laundry room or adjust a drying rack neatly over a bathtub or shower stall. You can put shirts and pants on hangers and hang them on a rack. You might as well! You’ll have to put them on hangers anyway. Why spend your precious down time chaotically running back and forth to the dryer or waiting at the laundry mat until your clothes are done. Use the time spent hanging your clothes to relax in your own home. Hanging clothes is a no brainer. Think of it as time to be with yourself. It doesn’t have to be work.
Unfortunately there are many communities in this nation that do not allow for clothing to be hung outdoors, thereby stopping people from saving money, time, health, or environmental improvement. If you happen to live in one of these communities consider petitioning for a change.
Looking for more ways to save money and go green? Check out our other articles on saving money by limiting your bottled water consumption, housecleaning with vingar and natural oils, and painting your home with environmentally-friendly chemicals.
