Laundry Lines, a Low Cost Luxury

At long last we have a basic, 3-row clothes line on our property in the woods. I have always loved hanging up sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and clothes on an outside line. Not only does it fill laundry with sunlight (a natural disinfectant) and make it smell amazing, I get another reason to spend time outside. Fresh air, peace and nature are my preferred companions during one of the most monotonous household chores.

The practical side: Our clothes dryer runs on propane, and our propane tank is very small. We don't use propane for heating, we have a pellet stove, plus electric heating for that. Our Propane gas is used primarily for hot water and cooking. The dryer is an appliance that uses up most of our propane, so a clothes line is a no-brainer, and seems like a great way to conserve money. I always say, any time we're saving money, it's a form of abundance.

With an abundance of trees, we hung ours between an Oak and Cedar

The beautiful side to hanging clothes, which is rarely mentioned, is how good it is for you. Instead of just standing in one place, in a boring laundry room, hurriedly tossing wet clothes into a hole, you carry a basket while walking yourself out into the clear light of day. Natural light does wonders for your mind, plus you get all that natural vitamin D. The basket can be a design that you love, too. It doesn't have to be a bulky plastic one, I prefer a straw or wicker basket myself. It can be a sweet experience for both the body and mind. Taking in the moment is a gift; a true luxury. I don't see hanging laundry as 'hard labor' any more than a walk in the park or a stroll up the road. It's enjoyable when we do it consciously, without hurry. I breathe the fresh air, feel the breeze on my face, listen to the birds chirping, stand still a moment or two and commune with nature in a way that stimulates my body and feeds my soul. Later, when I get everything off the line, I fold immediately into the basket (instead of just pulled out of a dryer into an overwhelming pile- who likes that pile?), making for a more enjoyable and efficient folding experience. Sometimes, I throw dried towels and jeans into my dryer for a few minutes afterward if they end up too stiff, but overall there is nothing like air-dried laundry.

If you have to use an electric dryer, did you know gas dryers are considerably less expensive to operate? When shopping for a  dryer, ours cost about $99.00 more than the electric dryers we looked at, but the overall savings has more than made up for that initial expense. If you use an electric dryer there are some facts you may be interested in.

Energy Costs
The typical household does over 400 loads of laundry per year. Even more in larger households. Sheesh, no wonder we get so tired of doing laundry! That amounts to significant electric bills. Gas dryers are 25%-50% less, but the cost can still be substantial.

Energy Resources Consumed
Did you know that your one household electric dryer requires nearly 900 pounds of coal burned every year? That's just for a single clothes dryer. Wow!

Carbon Emissions
An electric clothes dryer equates nearly 2300 pounds of CO2 emissions each year. An older, mature tree consumes about 50 pounds each year, so it takes about 46 trees to offset one household's CO2 emissions. This sounds crazy to me, which is why we will stick with using a gas dryer on rainy or snowy days. 

Wear & Tear on Clothing
Did you know that using a dryer, electric or gas, causes fabrics to wear out much faster than drying in sunlight? In my personal experience, clothes and sheets have lasted at least 2x-3x longer due to line drying. Another huge cost savings!

Now for the fun part-

Designs/The Creative Side
Are you interested in having a clothes line of your own, but you think it might be unsightly? Get creative! Clothes lines come in many, many designs, and you can even come up with your own. We have kids and pets, so desired multiple lines (we have three rows). We're in the middle of a national forest, so created a cute theme between two trees with ours, using only two short 2 x 4's, plus hooks, rope, and paint, costing a total of less than $12.00. Look online if you have trouble coming up with ideas, but I'm posting a few favorites I found that might help inspire you.

Classic design. Natural finish, potted flowers, and small clothes-pin basket on a hook with multiple lines. Eyesore? no way, this is adorable!

Pulley line. I've never tried one of these laundry pulleys, but they look very simple and convenient. You can stand in one place while pulling clothes to you.

Rustic pole line. Depending upon the style you like, you can use just about anything for a post. Old logs are great for that rustic, farmy style. I like how they made it a double line, despite how skinny the post is.

Inside line. For those in apartments, or you just don't like outside lines, there are many options for indoor drying. This is one of the most innovative I've seen, and it appears to fold away when not in use.

Bean pole laundry line. This is my personal favorite, incorporating food and clothing in one! You could place flower pots with flowering vines or roses there as well.

Here's a built-in laundry line, right on the home!

This is such a pretty touch, I'm planning to do this with some Pine or Cedar branches on my line. Who says laundry lines have to be conventional or boring? The most mundane things can have such beauty.
















The most important aspect to any laundry line is that you should love it, or you won't use it. Make it a joy, enjoy your time outdoors, and reap the reward of sweet smelling laundry that didn't cost a dime to dry!