Line drying clothes or alternatives to a dryer

[Southernmiss]

My dryer broke today. In my unprofessional, non-mechanical mind I think it's something to do with the on/off switch.

I am getting ready to go out of town tomorrow and really don't have time for the repairman or running to the laundromat right now. DH will be home this evening and can look at it, but he's not mechanical either. The dryer repair may have to wait a week or two.

So, I have hung 5 loads of laundry out across our chain link fence to dry since I haven't had a clothes line in 20+ years because DH didn't like scratchy towels.

I kind of like it--the not using electricity, doing something in a simpler manner and just being outside! ((It's a sunny 57 degrees today.))

Since it's been so long since I have hung clothes out in quantities like today, I googled tips, etc.

Disboard readers do you have any tips or other ideas for hanging out laundry to share??

 

[North of Mouse]

I always hang my nice clothes up to air dry. I haven't had a clothes line for years either, but I do air dry my 'summer' sheets also, not the winter flannel ones.

The added benefit for immediately hanging our nice outer clothes is not having to iron them. No matter what anyone else says, the clothes from the dryer have 'that' look without an iron touch-up. Not all come out that way, but a lot of all cotton ones do.

I'm with your dh though on the towels, like them fluffy from the dryer.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I use folding "line" dryers for about 75% of the time. In the basement in winter or rain and outside in the nicer weather.

My only advice is to "snap" the clothes to get wrinkles out before hanging them on the line.

 

[tennisfan]

Everything gets line dried or dried inside except towels which I use a dryer

 

[lynxstch]

My dryer broke today. In my unprofessional, non-mechanical mind I think it's something to do with the on/off switch.

I am getting ready to go out of town tomorrow and really don't have time for the repairman or running to the laundromat right now. DH will be home this evening and can look at it, but he's not mechanical either. The dryer repair may have to wait a week or two.

So, I have hung 5 loads of laundry out across our chain link fence to dry since I haven't had a clothes line in 20+ years because DH didn't like scratchy towels.

I kind of like it--the not using electricity, doing something in a simpler manner and just being outside! ((It's a sunny 57 degrees today.))

Since it's been so long since I have hung clothes out in quantities like today, I googled tips, etc.

Disboard readers do you have any tips or other ideas for hanging out laundry to share??

No tips on line drying, which I do all the time in the summer..but I have a suggestion on the dryer repair. Do a search online for your make of dryer and the problem. There will be a ton of solutions. I even found a you tube video that showed me step by step how to repair my problem!

My washer stopped draining out the water last week. I looked it up, found out it was the pump, which was pretty simple to repair. I bought the part myself, and installed it in 15 min..and voila..I saved the $50 service charge the appliance guy wanted, and I paid $20 for the pump instead of the $60+ he quoted me over the phone. I also replaced the belt as long as I was at it..$12 compared to $40!

Good luck with the repair!

 

[Zandy595]

I put clothes on hangers and hang them inside the house to dry (on door frames and on the edge of my kitchen island bar). Saves electricity and I don't have to iron.

I don't hang clothes outside because I remember all the bug/spiders that used to get on them when my mom did that. I also don't want them to fade in the sun. DH has allergies/asthma and the pollen that would get on the clothes from hanging them outside would really bother him. Oh, and my HOA doesn't allow clothes lines.

 

[sksjasams]

I put clothes on hangers and hang them inside the house to dry (on door frames and on the edge of my kitchen island bar). Saves electricity and I don't have to iron.

I do this too with my clothes. I put DS's and DH's in the dryer, but I hang everything of mine except socks and undies. I put them on hangers and then hang them along the frame of our big closet until they dry. Clothes last a lot longer, with less fading.

 

[pat fan]

I have a dryer but rarely use it. In the summer I have an outside clothesline with six lines. Love it. In the winter I have two fold up wooden clothes racks that I have set up near our wood stove. Tell hubby the towels are only scratchy the first time you use them (we re-use towels, maybe you don't) then they are pretty good. I don't even use fabric softener. Sometimes I'll throw vinegar in if I want a little more soft (works pretty good).

In the summer I wash at night (non-peak hours) and then hang them up on the line and when I get home from work the next day they are dry and ready to take down! If you want to build a good clothesline, get a couple big fence posts of even better an old telephone pole cut in half for the two end. Nice and sturdy. I am also slightly lazy. Some people have cute bags for their clothespins and bring them in every night or whatnot, I don't Just leave the pins right on the line. I replace them every 3-4 years, but they're so dang cheap, I don't mind

 

[Baliezer]

I line dry inside my house and use a rolling garment rack in our laundry room. When it gets really cold, I have to throw the clothing in the dryer for a minute to get the process started, otherwise the clothes will not dry fast enough and develop a mildew smell.

 

[Janepod]

I used to line dry, but stopped when my son's allergist warned against it. If you have someone with seasonal allergies, ragweed, grass, etc., you might want to reconsider. But otherwise it's great!

 

[Southernmiss]

No tips on line drying, which I do all the time in the summer..but I have a suggestion on the dryer repair. Do a search online for your make of dryer and the problem. There will be a ton of solutions. I even found a you tube video that showed me step by step how to repair my problem!

My washer stopped draining out the water last week. I looked it up, found out it was the pump, which was pretty simple to repair. I bought the part myself, and installed it in 15 min..and voila..I saved the $50 service charge the appliance guy wanted, and I paid $20 for the pump instead of the $60+ he quoted me over the phone. I also replaced the belt as long as I was at it..$12 compared to $40!

Good luck with the repair!

So I had a few minutes and googled the problem. It was an EASY solution. Yay!

I do like the idea of hanging the clothes out more often now and this just may have been the prompt for me to do so!

Thanks for sharing your replies everyone.

 

[Muushka]

One more reply???

In the winter months I hang the clothes inside to add moisture to the house. I can't believe what a difference it makes.

In the summer I hang them out side, who needs moisture in the house in the summer?

Some completely dry, others, no. In any event they all go into the dryer for a nice warm fluffy finish to their day.

My clothes don't get the rough treatment of being dried in hot air, my dryer will last longer than I will
and my electric bill is happy.

 

[ellone]

I have a clothes line in the basement that I just use for the kids' clothes. Dryers set stains, but if you line dry them you have another chance to get out the stains...and with my kids there have been many times where I missed a stain they got on their clothes.

 

[Disney Doll]

Certain things I air dry. Certain thing I dryer dry.
I have a folding clothes line that I use outside in nice weather to do some air drying. It can hold about a load of clothes.

I also have a fabulous drying rack in the basement where I can dry a ton of stuff.