I have recently moved into my first share house, exciting as it is, there are a few household duties which I have to learn- making it a bit daunting as well. Amidst learning to cook cheap meals, cleaning mould from the walls and figuring out ways to shower with the fickle hot water system, I think it is also time I learn how to do laundry properly and in an environmentally friendly way.
Luckily, we have a washing machine, which makes things easier. Even luckier, we DON’T have an electric dryer! But we do have a perfectly located clothesline. However, being in the city, finding space for a clothesline for most people is tricky.
Drying clothes on the line is better in so many ways; it will cut your electricity consumption to dry clothing down to zero!
Here are some tips on how to do it perfectly!
For houses without clotheslines:
- All you need is strong rope to tie between two trees or poles. For tightening the line, without having to untie and retie the rope, you can buy tighteners at a hardware store that attach to the line.
- Make sure you pick a great location, so that no one will run into the clothing, and also consider how far you will need to walk to get to the line.
- Avoid putting the line under trees that will drip sap, or have birds above it.
- If there is not much space in your yard you can buy a retractable clothing line. Some fold out into a rotary umbrella shape, others stretch multiple lines between two “T” posts.
If you don’t have a yard at all:
- Choose a well-ventilated space and open the windows wherever feasible.
- Use indoor clothing racks
- These racks retract to save space, when not in use.
- You can even buy ones that perch over your bathtub.
- Larger items such as sheets and towels can dry draped over a door, banister, or a shower rod. Tablecloths can be dried right on the tables they cover.
Hanging your clothing:
- Aim to have your whites drying in the late afternoon, when the sun is at its brightest. However, plan your laundry based on the sun's peak wherever you are.
- Watch the weather, if bad weather is coming your way try using your indoor drying devices, or dry under an outdoor shelter if you have one.
- Pull the item smoothly after hanging to eliminate wrinkles.
- Put items that need to retain their shape on hangers while still damp and let them dry while hanging, this will pull the collars and pockets into the correct positions.
- Place heavy items near the ends of the line to reduce sagging, which can cause the supports to come loose.
- Sunlight can cause some colours to fade, so dry bright and deep-dyed colours in the shade, or turn them inside out.
- Hang T-shirts by the tails and socks by the toes so clothespin marks won't be visible.
The Benefits of using a clothesline:
- It's cheaper! The sun is free; you will save a lot of money not running your electric dryer!
- It whitens your whites!
- it is gentler on your clothing!
- It reduces wrinkles! Remove the clothing immediately from the dryer and "snap" it before hanging.
- Eliminates static cling
- Sunshine is a natural germ- and odor-killer and can help bleach out stains.
- It's good exercise!
- It is therapeutic!
Join the outdoor clothes drying revolution and relish in the sun. If you already do all this then that is great! I know these tips are going to help me, especially trying to conquer living out of home for the first time.