Clothesline: Why You Need One
Have you ever thought about getting a clothesline for your backyard? If you install the line in the backyard, you can start hanging your clean clothes after finishing a load of laundry in the washing machine.
It’s a fantastic way to get clothes to dry with ease without wasting energy in the process. But, if it’s not something you’ve thought about doing, now is the perfect time to get your clothesline installed.
Sure, you may have a dryer in your home that you use for all kinds of items. And, while a dryer can come in handy for drying bath towels and heavy comforters, you don’t need to use it for everything. If you’d like to use less energy, save money, and keep your clothes in excellent condition, start using a clothesline.
If by chance we were to lose power, I would like to know that I can at least have clean underwear by washing clothes by hand and have a way to hang them up on wooden clothes dryers or a clothesline.
How many of you remember as a child helping to hold the clothesline bag filled with clothespins? I can still picture the sheets blowing in the wind that my mother and grandmother hung on the clothesline.
It was a simple setup, there were strong metal “T” shape poles in the ground, one on each end and several rows of wire strung across from end to end. As kids, we would run through the clean sheets when our grandmother wasn’t looking. Life is good with memories.
Have you thought about how to wash your clothes if you lose power? I started out with buckets and a plunger-type deal and then I found a portable Lavario washing system. It’s a game-changer. You may want to look at one of these.
I have washed jeans in it, it’s that sturdy. It can even handle a few bedsheets. I love clean sheets, so this was important for me to physically try washing king-size sheets, one at a time. Lavario Portable Washer, currently unavailable.
Here is their website, you may want to sign up for their emails if they have discount codes to save money. Lavario Washer Website
In case you missed this post about my clothesline, Best Clothesline-What Kind Should I Buy?
Clothesline: Why You Need One
Waste a Lot Less Energy
One of the most significant issues with gas and electric dryers is that they waste a lot of energy. Do you feel like you’re spending a lot more money on energy expenses because you’re running the dryer after doing loads of laundry? If so, you’re not the only one.
Most people look for different ways to cut back on costs. For example, if you’d like to save some money, consider getting a clothesline. You can buy the heavy-duty rope and set it up in your backyard with ease to make the process of hanging your clothes that much simpler for you.
Saves You Money Down the Road
While it does require more physical energy to hang clothes on a line than it does to toss them in the dryer, you may not mind the effort that you’ll need to put into this process, especially if it means saving money in the long run.
It’s a chore that you can look forward to doing when you know that hanging clothes on a line will keep them in much better condition. When you’re spending hard-earned money on different garments, you want to take the best care of them to keep them from getting damaged.
Avoid Dealing with Shrinkage
There’s a good chance that you’ve noticed the dryer can cause some clothes to shrink. Have you ever had that happen to you? If so, you know it’s frustrating when you want to put on something you love, and it suddenly doesn’t fit the way it used to before you put it in the dryer with other clothes.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to predict which items will shrink and which things won’t, which makes the situation much more frustrating for those who use dryers after washing their clothes in the washing machine.
If you’re tired of dealing with shrinkage, a clothesline can solve that problem for you. The clothes won’t shrink when you’ve taken the extra time to hang them on the line instead of putting them in the dryer.
If it means no longer worrying about what might not fit you in a couple of weeks, it’s worth it.
No one wants to spend money on items that suddenly become too tight because of the time those clothes are spent in the dryer.
Keep Your White Clothes Looking White
Did you know that using the dryer on your white clothing can eventually alter the appearance of those white garments? The white may no longer look bright and clean. Instead, it can start looking a bit dull and dingy.
If you don’t want that to happen, a good solution to the problem is to start hanging your white clothing, such as t-shirts, shorts, and even white socks. You’ll notice the difference it makes once you begin hanging them up instead of tossing them into the dryer with everything else.
Enjoy the Fresh Scent
When hanging your clothes in the backyard on a clothesline, they have a fresh natural scent. Who needs dryer sheets? Those dryer sheets often contain toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin.
The heavily perfumed products can leave clothes smelling good, but is it worth it if they’re not good for you or your skin? Absolutely not.
If you want to wear clothes that feel good and smell even better, hang them on the line in your backyard. The fresh breeze will give them this naturally incredible smell that you’ll look forward to each time you do a load of laundry at home.
Keep Your Clothes in Better Condition
While dryers are convenient to use at times, they can take a toll on your clothes. You may not notice it initially, but the dryer’s cycle is rough enough to cause holes and other issues to develop, making your clothes no longer usable.
If you feel like you’ve gone through your fair share of clothes with holes and rips without realizing the reason behind it, it’s likely due to the heat from the dryer, along with the roughness of each cycle.
It’s often even worse when you need to use the dryer multiple times for a single cycle, which can quickly happen when the dryer is no longer working properly.
Clothesline: Why You Need One
It makes sense to get a clothesline for a number of reasons. It’s an excellent way to conserve energy, spend less money, and keep your clothes in the best condition possible.
It may seem like extra work involved because you’d need to hang your clothes on hangers and place them on the clothesline to keep them from getting too wrinkled, however, the additional steps involved are worth it when saving money and getting your clothes to look and smell their best.
Clotheslines Available
I bought this one from Lehman’s: Premium Clothes Drying Rack Large
Eartheasy (.com) sent this one to me: Breezecatcher Clothes Dryer
Honey-Can-Do 5-Line Retractable Outdoor Clothesline
Brabantia Lift-O-Matic Rotary Dryer
Don’t Forget The Clothespins
I wrote a post back in 2015 in which I compared clothespins. I bought some from Ace Hardware, they broke within a week.
I bought several at Walmart, they were so bad. It’s the old adage, “you get what you pay for,” right? Well, here are the pictures of 3 that I compared.
The best clothespin is in the middle, they are made by Kevin’s Quality Clothespins Set of 50, they remind me of Amish-made quality. Here is a YouTube I made for EarthEasy with the Clothesline they sent me. Breezecatcher Clothesline
Final Word
Finally, if you don’t already have a clothesline hanging in your backyard, now is the perfect time to invest in one. Sure, you can’t use it on rainy days or when it’s snowing, but it’s ideal to use any other time throughout the year, as long as the sun is shining.
If you’re ready to save money, dry your clothes with fresh air, and keep your clothes in excellent condition, be sure to buy the line and install it. You can put the line anywhere in the backyard!
Once you try this method, you may no longer want to go back to use a traditional dryer again. May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Baby Laundry AdobeStock_118707833 by Africa Studio
My place came with the pipe Tposts and line tighteners so all I had to do was put up new line.
I love hanging my sleeping bags and coveralls. Keeps the dryer noise down and keeps my stuff from getting perfumed up cause this is my hunting stuff.
I also have a bluebird and a finch that nest in them every year which is a lot better than the yellow jackets I grew up with in ours. In late fall I have a red tail hawk that sets on it and eats gophers and moles he spots from the perch. He’s not afraid nor impressed with me so it’s cool to watch.
It’s not as convenient as a dryer but it’s sure nice knowing I’ve got it.
Hi Matt, I love hearing this!! There is something about watching birds or small animals of nature in our own yard. We have doves occasionally show up in our yard, quail are fun to watch with their little babies running across our back wall. We had an owl show up on our neighbor’s picnic table, he told us to outside to see it. We have hawks, ravens, and even some golden eagles. I love nature! Oh, I forgot we have roadrunners, they love to run around after they catch a lizard. Life is good! Linda
What about coyotes? Are they Wiley?
Hi Karl, my husband said yes, they are Wiley coyotes!! We have to watch our pets! Linda
I have a BreezeCatcher type clothes line. Not yet installed. We need some concrete to keep it upright in the ground. We have sand in our yard. I can’t wait to get it ready to use. I love the smell of line dried clothes. Yummy fresh.
Hi Deborah, what??? Oh my gosh, I love hearing this! I paid a neighbor to dig the whole (rock hard clay) to set the concrete with the deal for the ground. When I was younger I would have done it, not now. LOL! Linda
I can dig the hole, but can’t mix the concrete. I may have to get our son to do it for me.
Lowes has small bags of concrete you just mix with water….very easy….bet you could do it too.
You can purchase concrete that you put in the hole and then add water. It takes a while to cure, but I’ve used it many times and it works great.
I can get the concrete, I just don’t have the strength to mix it.
Hi Karl, oh yeah, I forgot about that kind of concrete. Great reminder, thank you! Linda
We have a clothes line because my husband thinks that Clothes driers are unnecessary and I agree with him. I love when he hangs up the clothes and it starts to rain (Him not so much) because they become so soft and good smelling. I had a clothes dryer’s several times in my married life and always preferred hanging them on the clothes line. There is nothing like going to bed on fresh dried sheets on the clothes line. That goes for clothes hung out out the line.
Hi Jackie, oh, I love hearing your comment, having a clothesline is satisfying in so many ways. I love this! Linda
Good article again.
A good line to use is plastic coated wire. It won’t be wet after a rain. Cleaner than rope. Just wipe down with a wet rag to clean it. Doesn’t stretch like rope. Hardware and big box stores carry it.
Hang and pin knits at the pits. It keeps shirts from stretching out and no clothes pin marks. Don’t stretch out the the knits.
I have a loft where we hung lines for clothes and blankets in the winter. It dries quickly and adds moisture to the air. My personal humidifier.
Sheets are wonderful hung on the line. They smell so good.
I’ve had my posts for 57 years and they are still good. I took them when we moved and reset them. From babies to great grand kids.
Hi Mary, oh my gosh, I love your comment! You’ve had your posts for 57 years and they are still good! Good to know about the plastic coated wire. I can’t remember but it seems like my mom had that. I love the smell of sheets dried outside!!! Linda
What does one do when they live in a HOA Neighborhood where OUTSIDE Clotheslines are prohibited? Considering putting up in my enclosed garage since I don’t own a car…….any suggestions; I do have a small screened porch.
Hi Judy, I live in an HOA right now and they do not allow clotheslines. I put the “sleeve” for my rotating clothesline in the ground in cement and close it after I use it and put the clothesline away. I would use your porch (if the HOA) can’t see it or put one up in your garage. HOA’s are hard. Linda
Hi Linda,
Do you or your readers know if Pants Stretchers are still available? I recall my grandmother putting these adjustable forms inside the legs of my grandfather’s pants so they would dry on the line wrinkle-free. Your article inspired me to put up my own clothesline so if they’re available, those pant stretchers would keep my jeans and cotton slacks looking crisp.
Thanks for your helpful postings.
Sam
Hi Sam, oh my gosh, I remember pant stretchers!!! Thank you for your kind words, Linda. P.S. I found some on Lehmans!! https://www.lehmans.com/product/pants-stretcher-two-pairs/
Try Lehmans in Ohio they have just about everything non electric. Just ordered the washer WI pick it up in a few days it sure will be a god send when the power goes out. My husband is bed ridden and I was dreading keeping all his linens cleaning once all the power goes out. I’m pretty much up to speed on most everything else, so problem solved. Thanks for the info.
Hi TuckerHollow, which washer did you buy at Lehman’s, Washer Wi, which one is this? My dream is to go to Lehman’s someday, it’s on my bucket list. Linda
Linda,
Our place in Kingman came with a T-post clothesline and we used it for years before the decades old post broke off–combination of heavy blanket and high winds. I had to rock-bar out the old post and concrete before building and installing the new one and replacing the lines (they were old and frayed). It was a lot of work but worth it for the scent of air and sun dried clothing. We have never been fans of scented laundry products and always get unscented, additive free types.
In the summertime I use the clothesline almost exclusively as that way our electric dryer doesn’t heat our house.
I agree about the importance of good quality clothes pins. The cheap ones don’t hold. Many years ago I scored two large clothesline bags full of old fashioned, industrial strength pins at a garage sale and they are still going strong.
Hi Ray, oh my gosh, you did score when you found some old-fashioned industrial-strength clothespins!! SQUEAL! Having a good clothesline is awesome!! Linda
Good article again.
A good line to use is plastic coated wire. It won’t be wet after a rain. Cleaner than rope. Just wipe down with a wet rag to clean it. Doesn’t stretch like rope. Hardware and big box stores carry it.
Hang and pin knits at the pits. It keeps shirts from stretching out and no clothes pin marks. Don’t stretch out the the knits.
I have a loft where we hung lines for clothes and blankets in the winter. It dries quickly and adds moisture to the air. My personal humidifier.
Hi Mary, having the best line for the clothesline is critical. I love the personal humidifier tip!! Great comment, Linda
I grew up with my clothes being hung on clothes line, when I got a home of my own I had a
clothes line put up. Finally when I bought a bigger trailer and have a nice big deck my friend climbed a tree
and hung a clothes line up for me. I love them and I wouldn’t get rid of mine for anything. Since my latest
line hangs over my deck I don’t have to walk on uneven ground, or muddy ground . I also have a clothes line in my
camping equipment. They are the best thing and good clothes pins are hard to come by.
Hi June, oh not having to walk on uneven ground or muddy ground is a plus!! Your friend climbed the tree, that was so awesome to help you set up your clothesline!! Great comment, Linda
Hi Linda!
Believe it or not I’ve never owned a dryer.. so have been using a clothesline or drying racks for over 40 years. I found two beautiful, heavy racks that I bought from the Amish when we were visiting a friend in Iowa! Also find them at thrift stores or yard sales. And ditto on the old heavy clothespins!! My husband found a whole bag for me at a little tiny country grocery store a few years ago!!
Hi Alice, oh my gosh, you have never owned a dryer, you rock, my friend!! I love everything made by the Amish, it’s always so sturdy! The clothespins are critical, your husband scored when he found them at a tiny country grocery store! Yay! Linda
I haven’t had a drier in many years (the last was the one my mother used). Nothing but clothesline, on pulleys from the corner of the barn to the back door. Winter? I just let things hand longer–sure, they might freeze first, but they’ll still dry. Rain? Our house came with clothesline strung back and forth across the attic–things won’t have the wonderful “sunshine smell,” but they dry just fine (and I can’t believe it’s still the same actual line that was there when we moved in 60+ years ago!) I also have a folding rack I can stand over the hot-air register to dry things (and humidify the house).
I have to try to find the plastic-coated wire that was mentioned. Two days ago I got the second line all pinned up–and the clothesline snapped! (Fortunately I had recently bought some clothesline–and the laundry only dropped onto the daylilies so it didn’t get dirty.)
The clothespins I now use are from Lehmann’s–I believe they’re called “Grandma’s Pegs”–made from recycled round-bale wrapping! They hold well and are easy to rinse off , besides not being damaged if accidentally left out in the weather (metal springs rust, and wood eventually wants to darken and leave marks).
Another benefit to line drying–sunshine does help disinfect things. I do almost daily laundry now (husband’s residual health problems since his stroke) and knowing the value of sunshine (and how much energy ‘d be using with a drier!) I’m glad of my clothesline! Currently thinking of adding one of the free-standing, rotating ones from Lehmann’s…
Hi Rhonda, oh those Grandma Pegs look awesome, here is a link for those who want to look at them. https://www.lehmans.com/product/grandmas-pegs-clothespins/
I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s stroke, life brings us challenges. Oh, I love Daylilies, by the way!! I love how you make laundry sound fun. They may freeze, but they will still dry!! I forgot about the disinfecting, great reminder. Great comment, Linda
Oh, BTW, a plastic-coated line can be used as a stealth antenna…
Hi Gary, oh, great tip! I love this comment! Linda