TIPS FOR USING A CLOTHESLINE TO DRY YOUR LAUNDRY
Here are a few tips from the team at Hangers Cleaners.
Let’s get started.
For starters, it’s important that you hang each garment properly. A shirt pinned to a clothesline by the shoulders will develop unsightly bumps. Sheets not securely pinned with a small fold hanging over the line might fly away in a strong breeze. Garments hung too closely together will take longer to dry.
The best rule of thumb is to hang a garment upside down. Make sure to pin each garment from a place where a clothespin mark won’t be noticeable.
If you are serious about line drying your garments, you’ll want to set up a permanent clothesline. In Arkansas, our summers tend to get pretty humid. Don’t line dry your clothes outside if it is extra humid that day. It’s best to have a second, indoor option for when you need to dry laundry and the weather is bad.
What kind of line do you use? Nylon and plastic lines last longer, but they require cleaning. They have a tendency to collect dust and pollen which will leave a mark on your freshly cleaned clothes. Cotton, or a coated laundry line, is best.
Drying your clothes out on a clothesline is good for them.
Drying your clothes on a clothesline is usually a great way to take care of your garments. As always, check the care tag before putting your clothing out on a line. Some items that are easy to stretch out might require laying flat to dry.
The sunlight is a great natural whitener for your lighter colored garments. The fresh air will keep them from smelling stale.
If you are worried about the sun fading your richly colored or black garments, simply make sure to hang them in the shade.
Avoid wrinkles by shaking out each garment before you hang it up. Fold them as soon as you take them down from the line. No ironing required. Another great way to conserve energy.
When to not dry your laundry outside.
Don’t hang your laundry out to line dry if it’s stormy. Keep an eye on the weather. An overcast sky doesn’t mean much to your line-drying clothes. But we recommend having an action plan if it starts to rain. Rainwater isn’t clean water. If your clothes get soaked they will need to be washed again.
When there is a high pollen count keep your laundry inside. One of the negative aspects of drying your laundry in the fresh air is that some of us are allergic to the fresh air. For the most part pollen and other allergens will leave your laundry alone. However, if the pollen count is particularly high, keep your laundry indoors.
Some condos and apartments don’t permit line drying. Clothes hanging out to dry changes the aesthetic of your complex. Some think clean laundry hanging out to dry adds to the aesthetic. It depends on where you live.
