Line Dry Clothes
A simple way to reduce energy use is to harness the power of the sun to dry your clothes! Line drying saves money and extends the life of your clothes. Plus, there’s nothing like the fresh smell of line dried clothes.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Line drying clothes is a growing trend, and for good reason! Line drying:
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Saves energy and money
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Is low cost and easy to do
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Extends the life of your clothes by reducing heat damage, shrinking, and wear and tear
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Offers a chance to enjoy a few moments outside in the sunshine!
Curious? Just try it out. You can purchase a clothesline and some clothespins for $20 or less, try a few loads and see how it goes. Quick-drying items like athletic wear or other lightweight clothes are a great place to start. Find more tips on getting started below.
1Set up your clothes line
Tips for getting set up:
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Invest in a clothesline and sturdy set of clothespins.
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Start off with a retractable line.
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Look for a 35 foot long line, which is the right amount for an average load of laundry.
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Find a location with some sun exposure, some shade, and good airflow. Stay away from trees that can drop sap or leaves on your clean clothes.
Right to dry rules. If you live in an apartment or HOA, check for any restrictions on the use of outdoor clotheslines. However, be aware of your rights! There is a “right to dry” movement and 19 states have laws protecting your right to line dry outside.
If you’re in one of these states, you are free to line dry and apartment owners or homeowners associations cannot restrict you: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
2Hang it right
Here are a few tips for using you new clothes line:
Ban the wrinkles. Before you hang your clothes, shake them and then use your hand to smooth out major wrinkles. Then follow this rule: if you wear it on top, hang it from the bottom; if you wear it on bottom, hang it from the top.
Whites and colors. Hang whites and lights in the sun to brighten and hang darks in the shade to prevent fading. If you don’t have a shady spot, turn dark clothes inside out.
Use clothespins! It might be tempting to just toss your clothes over the line; however, they will take longer to dry and come out with fold lines in weird places. Leave some space between clothes items to help them dry quickly.
Stay soft. To keep your clothes soft, you can add a half to three-quarters of a cup of white vinegar per wash load, just before the rinse cycle starts (the vinegar odor disappears as the clothes dry).
Don’t leave clothes out on the line for too long. If they are still not soft enough, try a good quality fabric softener or throw your clothes in the dryer for a few minutes on fluff when you bring them in.
Shorten drying time. For faster drying times, use your washing machine’s fastest spin cycle to wring out as much water as possible.
3Take it indoors
If it’s rainy outside or you don’t have space to hang your clothes outdoors, you can still dry clothes inside. The main trick is to find a spot where they won’t be in the way! Luckily, retractable lines or foldable clothes racks make good use of small spaces and can be put away when not in use.
Find a spot. Look around your house to find a place for a clothesline or drying racks. Some good options are a clothesline in the basement, a retractable line in the shower, folding racks in a spare room, and overhead lines or a wall-mounted rack in your laundry room.
Dry overnight. Most clothes can dry overnight and then the drying rack or clothesline can be put away during the day.