We added a clothesline a few months ago. Guess what? We knocked $30 off of our electric bill. What?!?! Oh yes, we are beyond thrilled. My poor dryer sits untouched most days. I still give it a little love once in a while, but for the most part it sits idle. I love seeing my family's clothes out hanging to dry. It just brings a happy feeling to this mamas heart. Speaking of that, I need to go get the clothes. Have a great day lovelies and hey maybe a clothesline will be your answer to saving a few extra bucks this month :)
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$30 a month can really add up! That's awesome! Might need to iron more though right? I hate ironing! LOL! :)
ReplyDeleteNot really I actually never iron. Surprisingly everything comes out pretty great. The iron and me are not on speaking terms:> haha
DeleteWow that's pretty impressive! Very cool!
ReplyDeleteI love air dried clothes!! I love the smell they have from being outside vs. being dryed in a dryer! :)
ReplyDeleteHelen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
$30 is impressive! Great idea.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up my parents used to make me hang our clothes outside and I used to whine and cry about it until I grew up and had to pay bills!! It is great to learn to appreciate things like that! 30 dollars is awesome!!
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Danielle!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Since you're using a clothesline, I invite you to check out my latest post about my laundry space....I made a little clothesline, too. :)
www.thepolkadotshoes.blogspot.com
Thanks I am heading off to read it now:>
DeleteOkay, I tried this once. Our clothes came out "crunchy" and smelled like... my kids smell after they run around for hours in the sun. You know... that "outside" smell? Or maybe it's just me... ;) Anyways, how did yours turn out? I would love to save that much money... but not if my clothes make me gag. Maybe if I used liquid fabric softener? Anyway, I miss you! Want to do a Grinch playdate this year?
ReplyDeleteHi lady! You can totally do fabric softener. We don't though. I always forget. Everything comes out great without it though. I love the fresh smell. I use gain powder soap or make my own. I am not sure if that makes a difference.The towels are not fluffy, but I don't mind. We totally want to do a Grinch day too. When were you thinking? Text me:>
DeleteGreat on the $30 savings!!! I have tried hanging stuff outdoors and the smell makes me sick. I have a very sensitive nose so that may be part of the problem. I also find clothes "crunchy", but deal with it. I'll sometimes throw them in the dryer for a few minutes to fluff them up a bit. I by no means hang dry everything, but try to hang many things. One way I avoided a little of the outside smell is have my husband hang a line in the garage. Works great!
DeleteI love clothesline, I love everything about them--just the sight of the clothes hanging there, moving in the breeze. The fabulous smell of clothes hung on the line, especially the sheets! There is just nothing to compare to the scent of air-dried sheets. And saving money is a nice bonus. (I would suggest a clothespin bag for your clothespins, so much easier than a container on the ground.)
ReplyDeleteI know right! I keep thinking I need to make one. It would be a whole lot easier:>
Deletemy mom always used a milk jug. She cut the handle and hung it on the clothes line, a good wind gust would knock it off but otherwise it worked great. Also, cut a hole in the side for the clothes pins to go in.
DeleteWhen I was younger, I carried my clothes to the line, in a little red wagon - it was great! I'm so glad the younger generations are enjoying this great way to dry clothes. (I now live in a neighborhood that doesn't allow clotheslines - not so great.)
ReplyDeleteso cute the red wagon and total bummer you can't have one now:<
DeleteI have clothes lines in my basement to hang clothes to dry. My washer and dryer ore in the basement so it seemed convenient to just put lines down there. That way I can hang clothes all year round and not just spring and summer (I live in Northwest Iowa, winters can be harsh). Towels I will toss in the dryer for 5 minutes or so once I take them off the line, but 5 minutes is better than an hour to fully dry them!
Deleteokay I've been telling my husband I want to do this next summer. Sadly we are in the middle of our wet season here at the coast so its a no go till doing or summer but its great to find new ways to save. I do have a question, how do you prevent the clothing from getting "crispy". My friends mom used a clothesline and their clothing was always quite crispy.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! A clothesline is on my list of things for spring. Love them!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting one asap. I love the feel of a scratchy towel. I know I'm weird. lol
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome!! We use our drying rack in our basement a ton! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, just had to laugh at this post its amazing that living on the other side of the world we do diffrent things, here in NZ all my freinds do as our parents have and hang our washing out on the line to dry unless its raining lol.
ReplyDeleteCant say I have much trouble with crunch clothes unless its been a really hot day and ive left them out all day long but with 3 little ones one load goes out and as soon as its dry another is added, towels yes sometimes but if you are concerned a quick tumble in the dryer and they are all fluffy again.
And I agree I iron less then if I used the dryer just give any wrinkly clothes a shake and they will be great (DH work shirts dont even need ironing this way shhhhh)
Anyway thanks for all the money saving tips Ive learnt over the year of reading your blog.
forgot to say the wrinkly clothes are wet when you give them a shake lol or just hang them out straight away and they dont have time to get wrinkly : )
DeleteSo fun meeting blog friends from all over. My hubby served a mission in NZ. He loved it there and we hope to go back someday together. Such a beautiful place.
Deleteok, so I live in a condo, and am fairly certain that outdoor clotheslines are a "no no". anyone out there have a good idea on a solid clothesline that can be attached between 2 walls in your condo for drying clothing? a retractable type? one that really works and isn't a cheap waste of money?
ReplyDeleteAnn in Everett, WA
Fiance and I attached hooks to paracord and looped it around the railings on our balcony. Not permanent, so no damage that would come out of our security deposit. And we can take it down when company come over.
DeleteHere are 2 links for diy clotheslines:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-5-indoor-clothesline-and-w-80550
http://lifehacker.com/5518615/string-an-indoor-clothes-line-for-cheap-and-space+efficient-drying
This link has many ideas for clotheslines--search through for what interests you:
http://www.instructables.com/tag/type-id/?sort=none&q=clothesline&offset=14
And this link has great ideas in the comments:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Lazy-Line-Dry/
If you are looking for gadgets, just google "indoor clotheslines"
HTH
I live in Québec, Canada. We have MAX 5 months to use clothlines in a year. In winter, I use a drying rack that can be folded between uses. I found mine for $15 at WallMart and can hang a full load on it. I use hangers for shirts and hang them on to it maximize the space. I NEVER use my dryer in summer, and during winter I use it for beddings since my rack could hold only one sheet at the time and laundry would take forever. I fold the rack and store it between my washer and dryer inbetween loads. And I wast no time folding shirts : I just take them straight to the closet when dried ! Cloths are more 'crispy' when dried outside, but after 5 minutes wearing them, you don't feel it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI love your blod, Danielle !
We always use lines here, something were brought up with, when I can't use the line, it goes on an clothes horse/airer/drying rack, (whatever everyone calls it!) or radiators. Only if I have loads to dry or its urgent do I use the dryer.
ReplyDelete