If you’ve been around for a while you know I’m a huge fan of line drying clothes. There are times in my life when I use my dryer more. However, I really prefer to line dry them instead. We have six kids now, and I am constantly surprised at how easy it is!
Just in case anyone has the wrong idea, I certainly DO use my dryer. And when my husband is doing laundry he uses it too. But any time you can line dry your clothes it will save you money.
It also saves wear and tear on your clothes. I try to buy fewer items of clothing, but of a higher quality. Line drying them saves me not just the money to run the dryer, but also money on my wardrobe.
Make Line Drying Part of Your Routine
I have posted tips on how to line dry before, but my best tip to make it as easy as possible is to make it part of your daily routine. In the evenings when we all change into pajamas, we put our dirty clothes straight into the washing machine.
The next morning I add any stray items that may have appeared overnight, and I run a load. We have enough people now that it’s almost always a giant, full load.
After breakfast I wash up the dishes and put away any laundry from the day before. By the time I’ve done that and chased some kids around, made some snacks, pulled the baby off of whatever he’s climbing on, done an imaginary Pokemon battle with the seven year old, and let the three year old fly me around in his imaginary airplane the washer is done and I quickly hang the wet things onto the drying rack.
Now the details of my routine may not work for you in your life, and that’s okay. But if you can find a consistent rhythm you will find it much easier to get it done. I don’t even have to think about what to do, and because it’s habit I just start doing it.
Do Laundry Frequently
Even though we have a lot of laundry, because I’m doing it every single day, I only need one drying rack to accommodate our clothes. You don’t need a ton of drying space if you wash regularly.
It also goes much faster because I’m not waiting for a giant pile to stack up. Having a smaller amount at a time helps it all dry much more quickly as well. If you need more tips on how to speed up drying time, check out How To Line Dry Clothes Indoors When Your Dryer Is Being Stupid.
Embrace a Few Wrinkles
Many people like to line dry their clothes to help them be wrinkle free, and if that’s you, great! I however, like to shave as much time off the job as I possibly can. In order to whip through hanging up a basket of laundry I do NOT try to make them perfectly smooth and straight.
My kids are probably going to end up shoving their t-shirts in a rumpled ball in the back of the drawer anyway. (If it even makes it into the drawer to start with!) Unless it’s my husband’s work shirts, I do not obsess over hanging each item perfectly, smoothing out any bumps, or anything like that. It goes up, it gets dry, it gets sorted by person. Boom, bang, done.
If you’ve ever thought about line drying your clothes, but thought it had to be a big production, give it a try! You might be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is.
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barbara
Wednesday 30th of March 2022
where did you get your drying rack?
Kathryn
Wednesday 30th of March 2022
I really like this one from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tR6JRY