Do you use a dryer, or hang your laundry out? (cost, energy)

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

We prefer to hang them outside. Our clothsline supports are two old telegraph poles that used to be on a railroad right of way. They look neat.

Obviously, we'd be banned in an urban environment for such an eyesore!

[Magnolia Bloom]

Florida law now prohibits HOAs from banning clotheslines, xeriscaping, solar, etc. The HOA can still retain some input re: placement, etc., just as with cable dishes. Several other states have passed similar legislation.

I hang a good half of my clothes out, but use hangars and a clothing rack and wheel it out on my deck. Also have a retractable line in the garage/laundry room and use that for undies or when it is raining and I can't use the rack.

I have scoped out the spot in my back yard that I will be installing a line big enough for sheets and towels. Now I see that I need to check out the "solar systems" that you all are using to see if a simple clothesline will suffice .

[Marlow]

Can the umbrella drying racks handle sheets? What do you do? Just hang them around the edges?

[southdown]

Originally Posted by Marlow

Can the umbrella drying racks handle sheets? What do you do? Just hang them around the edges?

Yes they do - and depending on the size of the dryer - you may have to go around more than one side to hang big sheets.

If it's a warm and breezy enough day, I find I can hang the sheets folded double - same for duvet covers.

[Marlow]

Originally Posted by southdown

Yes they do - and depending on the size of the dryer - you may have to go around more than one side to hang big sheets.

If it's a warm and breezy enough day, I find I can hang the sheets folded double - same for duvet covers.

Warm and breezy describes where I live so that should not be a problem. We used to hang sheets doubled over on the clothesline when I was a kid, too.

I have fond memories of playing at my mom's feet when she would hang clothes when I was very young. We used a clothes line exclusively until I was in middle school and Mom bought herself a clothes dryer.

[wanderintonc]

The last place we lived, we had two loooong clotheslines-I loved that!!! Now I don't have even one, but as soon as we buy a home, I'm putting up lines. I use a dryer in winter, but starting around now, April, it's clothes-line time!

[amberamour]

MaryJanesFarm Farmgirl Connection - Using a clothesline
Found this interesting thread on the topic.
(Sorry if the link breaks!)

[recycled]

Over the weekend in southern cal temps were unusually warm for April, low 90s with humidity at about 15%. I put a couple of loads of wash out to dry on the folding rack and my clothes lines and they were dry in about an hour. Some items were almost crispy. I really like the benefits of solar drying on linens and towels. Sunlight is a great germ and bacteria killer - don't know if it's better than chlorine bleach, but if I can do without one more chemical that's all the better.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I do both but the only things that will dry here are smaller things. Florida has such a high humidity that something will mildew before it drys properly.

I tend to hang things like shirts and of course some delicates.

At the moment, I have an electric dryer but when I replace it which will be sometime in the next few years, I want to get a gas dryer and a front loading washer, I understand the front loading ones use less water.

[HighPlainsDrifter73]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

I do both but the only things that will dry here are smaller things. Florida has such a high humidity that something will mildew before it drys properly.

I tend to hang things like shirts and of course some delicates.

At the moment, I have an electric dryer but when I replace it which will be sometime in the next few years, I want to get a gas dryer and a front loading washer, I understand the front loading ones use less water.

I bought a new washer and dryer set about 3 years ago. I'm just the opposite and don't want one of the front loading washers. That's why I bought then before you couldn't get top loaders anymore.

Ya, they are supposed to use less water, but they are considerably more expensive. Also, since they use less water, does that mean that the cleaning may not be as effective. You can't get something for nothing.