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HOW TO DRY CLOTHES OUTSIDE

If you’d like to reduce your energy use or costs, drying your clothes outside
rather than in the dryer is a great way to do so. Sunlight is a natural
sanitizing and bleaching agent, and line drying keeps your clothes in better
condition than drying them in a machine. An added bonus is the sweet smell of
sun-dried clothing fresh off the clothesline!





CREATING A SPACE TO DRY YOUR CLOTHES

Check your local regulations. In some places, clotheslines are forbidden on
balconies and in backyards because the sight of clothes hanging out to dry is
considered "unsightly" and liable to bring down property prices. So, you'll need
to know the local rules first, including that of the local homeowner's
association.
If you live in an area where this is an issue, you might like to join those
advocating for relaxation of such rules so that you can save money and energy
too.


INSTALL A CLOTHESLINE





This can be as simple as one you put up yourself by stretching a nylon rope
between two wooden posts. There are also retractable clotheslines,
freestanding-frame rotary (umbrella) clotheslines, and pulley clotheslines for
loading clothes from a fixed location.
A variety of materials, such as paracord, plastic rope and cotton or Hemp
Cording will work well for a clothesline.
Be careful about which trees you use for the ends of your clotheslines. Conifers
drip sap, and some are common roosting places for pigeons.





KEEP YOUR CLOTHESLINE CLEAN


If your clothesline is not wiped down regularly, it will accumulate dirt, sap,
and other soiling over time. Naturally, this can transfer onto your "clean"
clothes, so to prevent this from happening, give the clothesline a quick
wipe-down with a kitchen sponge and a bit of detergent and water every month and
allow it to dry before using.
Also clean the clothespins regularly, as they can sometimes get dirty, or even
build up soap residue. Throw out broken ones, and remember that you can never
have too many clothespins, so replace them regularly as well.



ADD A CLOTHES RACK

These days, there are excellent foldaway rack options available made from lovely
new materials that won't snag your clothes. Alternately, you could put a table
near the clothesline for items that must be laid flat to dry rather than hung
up.
An old folding table can be easily turned into a sweater-drying stand. Simply
remove the table top and replace with nylon netting (or a similar waterproof
surface).The beauty of this is that it can be easily folded away when not in
use!






GET A CLOTHES HORSE

This can be used for a variety of delicate clothing items or for small loads
that you'd like to place just outside the door, on a porch (with a waterproof
floor), or to catch an unusual patch of sunshine in your yard that might not be
big enough for the clothesline.
If there is a child around, choose a clothes horse with safely-spaced rods
instead of potentially dangerous strings.
The clothes horse has the benefit of being portable, so you can even "chase the
sun" if you like as the shadows move around your yard.





CHOOSING CLOTHESPINS

Use metal clothespins for items that won’t stretch. Stainless steel clothespins
are ideal for sheets, towels, play clothes, and any other items that won't pull
out of shape or stretch.Metals pins can easily secure bedding and other heavy
items and they won’t rust or decay.
Stainless steel clothespins last the longest.
Use wooden clothespins for sturdy items. Sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and
sturdy clothing such as denim can be hung with wooden clothespins. Delicate
clothing or items with lace, beading or other trim should not be held by wooden
clothespins, as they can catch and tear the fabric. Wooden clothespins can also
develop mildew, so be sure to allow them to dry before storing them.
Use plastic clothespins for cotton and stretchy materials. Plastic clip-on pins
are best for underwear, t-shirts, knit items, and stretch wear. They won’t stain
or catch on your clothing, and lighter items will be held securely by plastic
clothespins.
Store your clothespins indoors. The outdoor elements can deteriorate your
clothespins quickly. Allow them to dry after use, collect them in a plastic
container, then store them indoors, such as in the laundry room.





HANGING ITEMS TO DRY

Run an extra spin cycle if your washing machine has one. This will help drive
excess water off and save time. Otherwise, simply wash your laundry as usual.
Then, remove the clothing from the washing machine and take it to the
clothesline in a laundry basket. If a shorter drying time is not needed, save
the cost of electricity for the extra spin if the laundry can be left on the
line longer.
Use a plastic clothes hanger to dry delicate fabrics. Place the piece of
clothing on a plastic hanger and clip the hanger to the clothes line to prevent
the hanger from blowing off the clothesline. Be careful using hangers on the
line on a windy day, as the hanger might blow off, or the item slip off the
hanger.
You may need to pin the clothing with great care to the hanger, and only ever
use plastic hangers to avoid staining.
Hang towels. Hang towels by folding them over the line one end and pinning each
end. To help achieve a softer dry, shake towels a lot before hanging them on the
line, with a "snap." Doing this loosens the pile. Do it again when removing them
from the line.
Towels that dry faster on the line can feel softer, such as hanging them out on
a windy, warm day.
You could give them a quick 5 minute tumble in the dryer before hanging them up
or after bringing them in off the line.
Adding vinegar to the rinse cycle might also help to reduce towel stiffness.
Hang sheets. Hang sheets by folding hem to hem, pinning one hem over the line,
then pinning the other hem to the corners of the first hem, just a few in/cm
inside the first hem corners. Have the sheet open toward the wind, to allow it
to billow like a sail, and run your hands down the edges to ensure it is hanging
square and even.
Widthwise is best for hanging items such as sheets, tablecloths, and flatwork
because it takes up less space on the line and puts the stress on the warp yarns
(the yarns that run lengthwise), which are stronger than the filling yarns.
Hang blankets and other heavy items across two lines, or more, as needed.
Always hang pillow cases and similar items with the open side down. 






HANG PANTS AND SHORTS

Pants and shorts can be line-dried. Hang shorts and pants/trousers by the
waistband on the line if you want to minimize wrinkles.
Hang tops. Most tops can be hung on a clothesline. Hang t-shirts by folding the
hem a little over the line and pinning on at each end.
When hanging 100% cotton items, don't pull or stretch the wet clothing and pin
it, as this may cause items to widen.
Hang dresses and skirts. Most dresses and skirts can be line-dried, although you
may want to use a hanger to reduce wrinkles. Hang dresses from the shoulders if
straight, or from the hem if it has a full or gathered skirt.
Hang straight skirts by turning over the waistband and pin each side; hang
gathered or full skirts by the hem.
Hang undergarments. Hang socks by the toes, bras by the hook end, and fold the
waistband of underpants over the line and pin either side onto the line. Fold
handkerchiefs in half over the line and pin at each end.
Hang colored clothes in the shade and whites in the sun. To keep your colored
items from fading, you should hang them in the shade. White clothing and linens
can be hung in the sun, which will naturally bleach the items. Alternatively,
you can hang colored items inside out to preserve the fabric dye.
Attach clothespins in discreet locations. To prevent clothes pin imprints on
clothing, try to pin the clothes in discreet locations. If you hang clothes with
care, line drying can often result in clothing that dries without wrinkles,
saving on ironing time.
To conserve clothespins, overlap garments and use one pin to hang the end of one
piece of clothing and the beginning of the next. This can be space-saving on the
line as well, although don't do it where the overlapping would prevent drying on
thick items. Use caution when overlapping colored items to be sure the dye
doesn’t bleed.
Rotate the clothes. Different clothes and fabrics dry at different rates. If you
need to free up line space, check regularly for dried items, remove them, and
add new wet items to the line for drying. Sheets are a great thing to get off
the line quickly, as they'll dry fast but also take up a lot of space.





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