Clothesline - Nature's Dryer

There are several varieties of clotheslines available, inside outside, retractable, stand, etc.. Each one is cheaper to operate than an electric or gas powered dryer. Let the laundry begin!

Zoning regulations in some areas prohibited their use, usually based on "it doesn't look good" ideas. However, more recently, clothes lines have become associated with environmental concerns and sky-rocketing energy costs have prompted many governments to pass "right-to-dry" laws allowing their use. In the United States, Florida, Colorado, and Utah have passed laws forbidding bans on clothes lines. In Canada, the Province of Ontario lifted bans on clothes lines in 2008.

Elaborate rotary washing lines save space and are typically retractable, with multiple lines being used, such as the Hills Hoist from Australia.

Why use a Clothesline

• Saves money
• Zero greenhouse gas emissions per dryer load (2 kg of greenhouse gas emissions from the average mechanical clothes dryer per load)
• Laundry smells "clothesline fresh" without using chemicals
• Less fabric wear and tear, less shrinkage, fewer wrinkles, no static cling
• Avoids airborne lint and reduced air quality inside home

Drying Laundry Indoors

Drying laundry outside is usually your first choice. However, laundry may be dried indoors for a variety of reasons including:

• inclement weather
• physical disability
• lack of space for a line
• legal restrictions
• to raise the humidity level indoors
• to lower the air temperature indoors
• convenience
• to preserve privacy

If you have space restrictions such as in an apartment, a drying rack or clotheshorse can help. There are several retractable clothesline models available as well. Indoor drying times will typically be longer than outdoor drying because of the lack of direct sunshine and a drying breeze. In the heat of summer, evaporation of the moisture from the drying clothes will cool the indoor air.

Drying Laundry in Winter

Laundry may be dried outdoors when the temperature is well below the freezing point. The laundry items will freeze and the clothing becomes stiff. The frost on the clothes then transfers directly into the air (solid directly to vapor) leaving the items moisture-free. This takes longer than drying clothes indoors, however, indoor drying removes heat from the air so it's a trade off between speed and keeping your home warm.