How to Choose a Clothesline

Line drying saves wear and tear on clothing.

Hanging laundry on a line to dry is not only energy-saving, it gives clothes a natural clean smell. And, if the sun is shining, you'll get extra benefits with whiter whites. In addition to saving energy since you’re not using a power-generated clothes dryer, using a clothesline saves you money. The U.S. Department of Energy reports it costs about $80 a year to operate a dryer so an inexpensive clothesline will soon pay for itself.

Things You'll Need

• Desire to hang laundry outside to dry
• Purchase and install the clothesline best suited for your needs

Instructions

1. The pole-to-pole clothesline is sturdy and popular. Wire, thin braided rope, or vinyl cord are suspended between two poles. The poles may be in a shape of a cross so multiple lines can be attached. It is always ready to use. However, always being exposed to the elements means the line gets dirty and needs to be wiped off before use. Because it’s a permanent obstacle, it's not the best choice for small yards.

2. The retractable line can be installed on an outside wall of your house or other building. The cord is pulled to hook onto another side of an L-shaped house, another nearby building, or a pole. Because the line retracts when not in use, it takes very little room and the clothesline remains clean. A retractable line is not as study as other clotheslines and may sag under the weight of a large load of wet clothes.

3. An umbrella clothes dryer inserts into a base that is cemented into the ground. This type of line can be removed and folded like an upside-down umbrella for indoor storage. One model of umbrella clothes dryer spins with breeze to help clothes dry faster. Umbrella clothes dryers are sturdy and work well in confined spaces. Because they are compact, hanging large items, like sheets, is challenging.

Tips & Warnings

• True Story: The clothesline at my house was not installed until we were here a year. After three months of using the clothesline to draw clothes instead of using the gas dryer, the gas company sent someone to my house to check the meter. Gas usage was so low, they thought that there was something wrong with the meter! Definite proof that the price of installing a clothesline is balanced off by the savings in gas (or electric) to run a dryer.

• If possible, plan wash days around the weather so you can hang clothes on non-rainy days.

• If your umbrella clothes line starts to drag when you are opening it up, you can lubricate the pole with furniture polish from a spray can (e.g., Pledge). Doesn't take much; just srapy a small amount on the pole and then rub it around the pole by hand or with a cloth.

• There are drawbacks to hanging clothes outside. For pollen sufferers, the pollen floating in the air may cling to the laundry, further aggravating symptoms.

References

• Consumer Reports: Are Clotheslines Making a Comeback
• Project Laundry List: 10 Reasons to Line Dry