Best Tips On How To Line Dry Clothes Outside

Line drying your clothes can save you a nice little bit of money on your electric bill.  It also reduces the wear and tear on your clothes, which saves you money in replacement costs and helps your favorite shirt stay nice longer. 

I don’t always line dry year round, but after a long break it’s so nice to get back to line drying the clothes outside.  

There are times when it’s nice to have an electric dryer (usually being overwhelmed with pregnancy or a baby in my case!) but line drying is so much nicer and cheaper.  It’s like an excuse to go stand in the sun AND be productive AND frugal all at the same time.  Yay for multitasking!

Best Tips for Line Drying Your Clothes

There are a few tricks to line drying that can help reduce wrinkles, speed drying time, and even avoid that crunchy feeling that can sometimes happen.

• Put your clothespins on the shoulder seams of dress shirts to avoid creating wrinkles.
• Hang t-shirts upside down to avoid a funny bump on the shoulder.
• Always use clothespins to speed drying and avoid a fold down the middle of your clothes
• The faster clothes dry, the stiffer they will be.  Try hanging items in the shade during a very hot day, or pin two items back to back to slow down the drying process
• When you pull the clothes off the line, give them a good sharp snap to soften them and encourage and stray lady bugs to fly away
• Fold your clothes as you pull them off the line and then set them into the basket already folded
• Hang your clothesline over an aromatic herb garden to lightly scent your clothes
• A gentle breeze will help your laundry dry quickly without stiffness
• Hang dark clothes inside out to prevent fading
• Hide a retractable clothesline or drying rack in a concealed corner for privacy
• Leave a little space between items on the line to help them dry faster
• Space out heavy items like towels to avoid making your line sag
• Tighten your clothesline regularly to prevent sagging
• Use an apron to keep your clothespins easily accessible
• Bring your clothespins inside when not in use to help them last longer
• Disinfect by hanging items in direct sunlight
• Match pant legs together at the inner seams and hang them by the hem
• Hang your line high enough that your sheets and towels won’t drag, but still within easy reach
• Check the weather report daily to avoid any surprise rain storms
• Remove lint or pet hair with a damp hand or soft cloth
• Keep your hands warm on cooler days by wearing rubber dishwashing gloves

And if you really enjoy the savings of line drying your clothes, you can even do it year round!  Check out my post How To Line Dry Clothes Indoors When Your Dryer Is Being Stupid for tips on line drying your clothes in less than ideal weather. 

Make Laundry Enjoyable

I love it that in the book #Laundry by Angi Schneider that when the AC comes on, the dryer goes off.  It’s such a good way to remember to incorporate line drying into the routine.  (I got a free copy of the book to review, which was cool ’cause I like laundry)!  Sometimes I get so excited about something that I keep trying to do it even when it’s not practical.  

It’s nice to give myself permission to slack off for a while, but then also be happy when I pick back up again.  Line drying clothes is really pleasant when the kids are running around playing on the grass in the sun.  It’s not so fun when it might rain any second and you really need some dry socks.  Balance, balance, balance.

Do you have a clothesline outdoors?  Do you ever dry on it when the weather is nice?  Are you a fan of crunchy towels or dryer soft?  Share in the comments! 😀