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Please ignore my multicolored towels. We go through towels like crazy around here so if I see towels on sale I grab a couple. I really don't care if they match my bathroom decor as long as there is a clean one when I step out of the shower! I do have matching ones that hang in my bathroom that everyone knows are just for looking pretty but under the sink you will find just about every color there is out there!
Not too long ago we decided to do some things to go a little more "green" around here. Putting up a clothes line was one of those things. The first load I hung on the line looked great hanging out there and I had visions of my clothes being like those on the Downey commercials.
I went out with my basket to gather my fresh clothes and they were as stiff as boards! The pants could have walked to the house by themselves and the towels felt like sandpaper!
I started reading to find out what I needed to do to make my clothes a little less board-like. Otherwise, the line drying was going to come a screeching halt. I couldn't stand scratchy clothes.
These are the tips I found that make my clothes and towels feel and smell good straight off the line.
- I cut my laundry detergent by about half and add 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar per wash load of clothes. This helps to break down the laundry detergent that causes that stiff feeling. I find that my clothes are just as clean and smell great plus I save on detergent.
- I also give my clothes a good "pop" before I hang them on the line and when I take them off the line. Just grab whatever you take off the line and sort of snap it to loosen it up a bit.
- The more wind you have on wash day the softer your clothes will be. The wind whips them around and helps them to dry quicker and softer.
- If they need just a little softening, throw them in the dryer for just a few minutes after taking them off the line.
I love line drying my clothes. It's amazing how much you can save on electricity without the dryer running all day plus you get the added benefit of being outside and enjoying the beautiful day!
If you line dry, tell me your tips or tricks.
If you don't line dry but have the room to put up some clotheslines, try it! Mine is attached to two trees in our backyard. Nothing fancy but it works.
17 comments:
I've been wanting a clothesline but am not sure where I'd put it right now. When you talk about detergent and vinegar, are you using homemade detergent or store bought? I was wondering if there's a difference in the clothes "hardness" from using one detergent over the other. Thanks for the tips!
I love my clothesline!! I have one side attached to my house, it goes across my deck and attaches to my privacy fence. It's removable so when the laundry is done, the line comes down so it doesn't look as redneck. LOL!! Oh yes, and it's on pulleys. I can't reach the line once I step off the deck.
I use homemade laundry soap and the vinegar. I wonder if it's the detergent vs. soap (homemade) that leaves the clothes stiff?
My towels I always pop in the dryer for 10 minutes to get the lint that always seems to be on them......if not, it goes on my skin after a shower.
I love your multi color towels!! That's what mine used to look like!! Now that there are just 2 of us, I keep 6 towels (that's what fits in the washer). When the last one has been used, a load of towels is washed!
I LOVE a clothesline and do use it all summer long. BUT...we live in the Pacific Northwest and it is rainy here all winter...and too cold to dry outside. Don't you LOVE the smell of the sheets and towels??
Blessings,
Camille
I try to hand as much of our laundry out as I can. I love the smell of clothes dried outside. I haven't tried the vinegar yet but I intend to. The temps. are cooling down here but I still line dry, especially on windy days. I figure it's a penny saved on the electric bill that way.
My line is strung up between 2 apple trees and I love it in the summer months! I read in some parts of this FREE country, especially some of the new housing developments, it is against code to have a clothesline! talk about taking away some VERY BASIC freedoms!!!!
Kristen, I use store bought detergent but I have been thinking about trying homemade.
I have heard that too Carmen! We get yelled at for using too much electricity, then we're not allowed to try to conserve it!
I love to line dry...I have one stretched on my back porch so I can use it year round..I didn't know that about using half the detergent...and I do throw them in the dryer for just a few minutes to soften...good post....
I finally got a clothes line at the start of summer, I've been begging for one for years and the hubby wouldn't put one up for me. I hang alot of clothes on the line to dry. I don't mind anything else being stiff but my towels they do go in the dryer for a few minutes to soften them up abit. I love my clothes line and it does help with the electric bill. I just had clothes hung out on the line yesterday, but here in my part of KY the sun didn't want to shine and the wind died down as soon as I got the first load of clothes hung on the line.
I was told to shake/snap all the laundry before hanging or putting in the dryer. They dry faster that way. I didn't know about the vinegar. I'll have to try that. I have two retractable clotheslines in the loft to use in the winter. Most of the heat goes up there, so the clothes dry quickly. The different colored towels look so pretty hanging in the woods.
I always use the dryer, but you make me want to reconsider. Great tips about the detergent.
-FringeGirl
What a cool post! Your multi-colored towels are pretty. I am going to tell my hubby that I need a clothesline.
So great that you posted this because I have asked hubby for a clothesline for xmas! (Romantic & exciting, I know). I'm so glad you gave me some tips. I'm thinking of adding vinegar to my wash too.
I've had a clothes line for a few years now. The towels always feel kind of rough when I bring them in, but everything always smells so good.
Boy, are we on the same page here! I have fond memories of my grandma's and my mom's wash days. The lines were full and hung neat as a pin. Come read my memories on the old clothesline when you have time...joy c.
http://grannymountain.blogspot.com/2009/07/old-clothesline.html
Well this is a great post. I used to line dry but for some reason my clotheslines are now bird feeder holders!! LOL!!!! Well I gotta feed the birdies!!!
Can't you just see all our flags hanging out there Oakie? Someone had a pic of that from the GetAway. I still miss all you gals!
I love line dry, makes to clothing smell so much better. My Mother always snaps her clothing before the clothing goes on the line and after. Never knew why, thank you for the information.
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