Which means that my washer and/or dryer seem to run almost non-stop all day long.
When I got our electricity bill last month, it was waaaaay too high. I am one of those turn-off-everything-freaks too. So I decided to do something about it.
I did some research on the internet and found out that using your dryer can account for up to 10% of your electricity bill. I found this great article about line drying and I decided to try it. I think it's wonderful when frugality and green living go hand in hand.I already had the drying rack so I decided to try it for a month before I invested in a clothesline. It actually is working out really well. I was worried that I would be spending a lot more time doing laundry, but I'm not. I only do one load a day. I wash in the morning, hang the clothes and let them dry in the sun. In the afternoon, I throw everything in the dryer for 5-10 minutes to fluff them up and get rid of any wrinkles. I fold or hang everything and then I'm done for the day.
The only exception to this rule is towels. Towels that are dried outside are very crunchy and we like our towels soft. I do these loads at night, right before I go to bed, because the power is cheaper then. When I wake up they are ready to be folded and put away. If it's a rainy day, I just bring my drying rack inside and let them dry that way. It just takes a little longer.
Do you line-dry your clothes? Am I missing anything? I would love to hear any tips or tricks of the trade.
Oh, and by the way, my bill came down almost $100 this month!:)
7 comments:
In the super warm days I have found that it takes less time to line dry than the dryer.
If you are pressed for time dry one load on the line and another in the dryer, still using the dryer but for only 1/2 the time.
For towels I line dry them and then throw them in the dryer for about 10 mins w/ a softner sheet, they fluff right up and get nice and soft, no more crunchies.
Don't leave your items out too long, they'll get sun bleached in weird areas and you'll get tye dye looking shirts.
I only dry towels...I have a drying rack in my sunroom/tiny living room (we can't hang laundry outside per the homeowner's association). I fluff everything in the dryer for 5-10 just like you. I've been doing this forever! It saves on electricity and on spending money on clothes. Seems like mine and my daughter's clothes always shrink in the dryer.
Did you receive your package??? I mailed it out on Oct. 6. Hope you liked it!
Hugs!
Kim
Congrats on the savings! Wow, that is an amazing amount.
You may want to make sure that your community will allow you to install a permanent outdoors clothes lines. I know that some communities in my area don't allow them anymore. They grandfathered in existing clothes lines, but don't allow new ones to be installed.
I miss my childhood days of seeing laundry drying outside in our neighborhood. There was nothing like getting in bed at night and smelling the fresh sheets that your mom had just been brought in from the clothes line!
If you can do it, I say go for it!
Blessings, Tracy
Line dry unless it is raining (as it is now). Our electrical bill is $75-$120 less when I line dry. It's a bit of free therapy too!
WOW! I'm amazed at your savings. I use the dryer for everything but really want to try to cut down our bill. I think I'm going to have to give it a try (minus the towels).
Thanks for the info!
I love hanging my clothes out to dry. It is great. I do throw everything in the dryer for a little fluffing up. One thing I find is that towels do well if you don't leave them out too long. Bring them in while they a just a little damp or just dry and I put them in the dryer with the dryer balls. They fluff up so nicely and the dryer balls are reusable. I purchased mine at an outlet for less than $5.
Ruth
It's unfortunate that people got out of the habit of using clotheslines. They save so much energy, and it is kind of peaceful to hang the clothes.
We live in an apartment and don't have a clothesline, but still air dry our clothes using this laundry drying rack - being round it works really nice under a ceiling fan!
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