Hanging out laundry to dry

[Auggietina]

I just bought a clothesline and I hung out my first 2 loads of laundry to dry on this beautiful day.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Are there certain items that you don't dry outdoors?
2. The clothes were a little rough feeling (like the towels) is there something that I should be doing to make them softer?

One thing...they smelled wonderful!

Thanks!

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

If you dry jeans outside it is best to hang them by the pants leg. DH hung them by the waist and they dried bent.

 

[Nutsy]

I never hang good clothes outside nor jeans for that matter & I always turn things inside out. Reason being, the sun fades your garments as will a tumble dryer, so always turn things inside out.

To make them softer, try adding some fabric softener during the deep or final rinse.

Also hang socks by the toe, that way the elastic will stay in tact & hang t-shirts upside down or pop them on a coathanger.

 

[grinningghost]

Double up on the fabric softener. Sheets and pillowcases dried in the wind are heaven to sleep on!

 

[always quiet]

I prefer not to hang out socks and undies. Not for 'personal' reasons...more like I do not have the patience for THAT many pairs of socks!! I would need a line just for them!

I always use fabric softner and if the towels or jeans feel a bit stiff, just throw them in the dryer on low for about 5 mintues...the banging around in there softens them right up.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Originally posted by always quiet
... just throw them in the dryer on low for about 5 mintues...the banging around in there softens them right up.

I used to do this Only wish I had a clothes dryer right now. Everything must be hung and I'm glad it's been warm outside. I can get much more done in one day - more room to hang and it takes less time to dry than in the basement.

 

[slo]

I personally don't hang anything outside to dry (to many trees and to much bird crap), but my mom used to when I was a kid.

The only question I can answer is what not to hang outside. My mom never hung white shirts, pants, or shorts outside because one year Japanese beetles stuck to them and when she removed them they left a stain. I remember her being sooooooo disappointed.

Enjoy that outside fresh scent!!!!

 

[N.Bailey]

Just wait till you hang your sheets out then crawl into bed that evening with them on your bed. It's almost like heaven!!

Gotta admit, it doesn't happen too often here because I'm too lazy to hang them out.

 

[Celluloidgal]

Please don't hate me

(...puts on heavy armor...)

I don't like clothes that are hung out to dry. Mom grandma did. My mom did. I think they smell like "sweat". They are always stiff as a board. I'm glad I live in the age of the clothes dryer. Sorry.

 

[MaryJ]

I have been known to hang just about everything outside except towels. I just like the fluffy way they get in the dryer. I once had a friend that said that whenever she got in bed after the sheets had been dried outside, it was sure to get her "in the mood!"

 

[Celluloidgal]

Originally posted by MaryJ
whenever she got in bed after the sheets had been dried outside, it was sure to get her "in the mood!"

No wonder my Grandma had 6 kids!!!

 

[Disfan1]

I always hated drying clothes outside too because of the bird poo. For every load I did, I had to re-wash about half of it by the time it was dry!! I was SOOOO glad when we could afford a dryer! I did like the smell when the items didn't get "dirty"- it just wasn't worth the hassle.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Celluloidgal
Please don't hate me

(...puts on heavy armor...)

I don't like clothes that are hung out to dry. Mom grandma did. My mom did. I think they smell like "sweat". They are always stiff as a board. I'm glad I live in the age of the clothes dryer. Sorry.

I agree...I hate my clothes hung outside and I would never do it...they get bugs on them and then you bring them into the house and bird droppings on them...to gross...I like to keep my clothes in the house and dry them without bugs or mess...I like that fresh out of the dryer smell and feel!

 

[cinmell]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
I agree...I hate my clothes hung outside and I would never do it...they get bugs on them and then you bring them into the house and bird droppings on them...to gross...I like to keep my clothes in the house and dry them without bugs or mess...I like that fresh out of the dryer smell and feel!

Add me to the list of people who hate to hang clothes outside to dry. My mother used to do it and I would rewash all my clothes that were hung out to dry (I told her I would wash my own clothes but she insisted). I prefer the soft fluffy feeling and downy scent of my clothes when they are dried in the dryer.

 

[always quiet]

Spraying them with Downy wrinkle releaser before you wear them also helps with the stiffness in the jeans.

Another good reason to hang clothes outside is they don't shrink! The kids grow out of their clothes fast enough without the dryer adding to the problem!!

 

[RumpleMom]

Just a word of caution, if your family has allergies to pollen hanging the laundry outside increases your exposure to pollen. My friend had to stop hanging clothes out for this reason. Pollen count is highest in the early morning.

 

[Jeafl]

Our homeowner's association forbids you to hang clothes outside.

Being my rebellious self, I do occasionally hang a few shirts over the backs of my lawn furniture. They tend to shrink in the dryer, so I sneak outside and lay them on the backs of the chairs for a few hours. Shame on me.

 

[Celluloidgal]

Originally posted by Jeafl
Being my rebellious self, I do occasionally hang a few shirts over the backs of my lawn furniture. They tend to shrink in the dryer, so I sneak outside and lay them on the backs of the chairs for a few hours. Shame on me.

I think when you hit middle age, you get rebellious (just kidding)

 

[Jeafl]

LOL Celluloidgal!

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I usually hang my colored clothes outside. My whites I put in the dryer...too many little things to hang!

You gotta double up on the fabric softener and use a good softener, not a store brand one.

The jeans are stiff, but after you put them on and wear them for a little while, they soften up.

I agree about the sheets. There's nothing like getting in bed with fresh sheets that were hung outside to dry!