Getting Started with Your Clothesline

With the way of the world currently, a lot of us are doing our best to save money. Using a clothesline can save you money on your electric bill. Here is my tips for all of you Clotheslines Beginners.

Why Use Your Clothesline?

A while back, I wrote about why I love my clothesline. Missed it? Check it out here.

Saving money and doing more “green” things is quickly becoming a more popular way of life. Even if you aren’t currently worried about it, imagine this:

You live paycheck to paycheck. Your washer and dryer are doing just fine. But one day, you open the dryer to discover that the entire load is still wet. The heating element seems to have gone out. (Or any other number of issues that can occur.) You can’t afford to run out and buy a new one. And you don’t even have the money or the ability to fix it yourself.

But wait! All is not lost!! You have your clothesline out back that you can hang your clothes on to dry so they don’t mold and you don’t have to go naked until you can afford to fix your dryer.

My Clothesline is a Life-Saver

The above scenario HAS happened in our household. More than once, unfortunately. Once the sensor went out. And not too long after that, the heating element decided to croak. Both times we managed to fix it ourselves for just the cost of parts, but in the meantime I used my clothesline.

I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to know that no matter what, I have a safety net in place so that I do not have to ruin clothes.

Clotheslines for Beginners

So you have your new clothesline and it’s all installed and ready to go. But how do you actually USE it properly?

Here are my go to tricks for perfecting the art of drying clothes outside.

Clotheslines for Beginners #1. Pick a sunny day (if possible).

Ok, this isn’t always going to work out. I just went and got the last load off the clothesline myself, and it’s pretty overcast outside. I knew I had to go get it because I’m almost positive it’s going to rain soon. As long as it’s warm enough outside, your clothes will dry.

Clotheslines for Beginners #2. Make Sure Your Clothespins are Close at Hand

I do not have a pretty holder for my clothespins. Honestly, I use an old t-shirt that I cut down and stitched the bottom seam closed. I have it hanging on an old plastic hanger I think I got from a shirt I purchased at the Big Blue Behemoth. (You know exactly what store I’m talking about, don’t you?)

The plastic hanger is easily replaceable if necessary, and it slides down the clothesline with me as I hang each garment. It’s cheap, easy and it works.

Clotheslines for Beginners #4. Hang From the Bottom Seam

I’ve seen people bopping around with marks in the shoulders of their shirts from hanging on the line.

Yes, it dries the same. But it looks awful and it isn’t good for the fabric, especially stretchy cotton. I ALWAYS hang my t-shirts from the very bottom seam, using a clothespin on each side. I stretch it out fully, but not tightly. I want it to be able to dry back to it’s nature size and shape.

Clotheslines for Beginners #4. Fluff as Necessary

I know you are hanging your laundry outside in order to avoid using your dryer. But some things that you hang outside are invariably going to end up drying “crunchy” no matter what you use as fabric softener.

Towels and jeans are the two things that I ALWAYS throw into the dryer once I bring them inside. I don’t use heat on them, so I’m not using that much electricity, but tossing them in the dryer for about 30 minutes with a few dryer balls with perk up your clothes just enough that you can’t feel the stiffness that you would otherwise.

Use That Clothesline!

Hopefully this helps you feel more comfortable getting that clothesline set up and in regular laundry rotation. Every little bit of old-fashioned know-how is useful. I want to make sure that no matter what happens, you know an alternative way to make sure that you can still take care of your family and your household. Having a clothesline takes away one of the fears for us.

Have your own tips or hacks for hanging up your laundry to dry? I’d love to hear more about YOUR methods of using your clothesline.