O.k , I confess, always use my dryer. When we were camping, we did some laundry and had too many loads, to wait to dry them all in the dryer so we hung a load of towels on a make shift clothes line my hubby constructed. I was so proud of myself for saving that couple of $$ by hanging up at least one load. Holy cow, I was dissapointed whenever the towels were dry....they were so stiff and scratchy...ouch ...not great for sunburnt skin!! Do they always turn out like that or did I do something wrong? Your regular clothes must have ten million wrinkles in them too when they are dried! I don't think I like line drying !

Think of them as a loofa...lol If you give them a "snap" they loosen up some.

As for cloths, I smooth them out when I hang them. Actually, most of them come out really nice.

I line dry every single load EXCEPT towels. I cannot stand the towels. Who wants to get out of the shower and dry off with sandpaper?? Not I! That is the only thing I use my dryer for. As far as the other clothes - they turn out wonderfully! I do use cloth fab softner with them (Formerly when using the dryer, I used vinigar, but I think a little it of fab softner makes a big differance when line drying). But they seem to be just the right mix of stiffness/softness when I get them off the line! Definitely give them a shake/snap/whatever when you go to hang them up. They'll come off with barely a wrinkle! Towels definitely get a million more wrinkles than clothing. I encourage you to give it a try again, this time w/o towels!

I've never used fabric softener before, just the dryer sheets. I might give it another try. I'll need hubby to put up another clothes line at home though. He put one up for me years ago but I never used it because I would have had to been ten feet tall to reach the darn thing ! We cut that tree down since then so the clothes line came down and never went back up. Line drying just seems like a lot of work for a little savings. Do you think you really save that much money on electricity by not using the dryer??

I don't do it for savings really. I like to do it. I seem to get trapped in the house working and line drying makes me walk outside to get a breath of fresh air and a little sun shine during the day.

Savings isn't what truly motivated me. I try to be 'green' in every way that I can. I figured that drying 2 loads a day, 5 days a week could really add up on electricity over a year, or even a month, so I started drying outside. I find it very theraputic going outside, and I love the smell and perfect crispness of clothes. The savings is just an added benefit for me.

PS Line drying will also save big on the life of your clothing. Dryers definitely age them quicker.

__________________

Carrie
SAHM Momma to 2 sweet boys and a baby princess

Do you do it in the winter too?? I hate going out in the cold...brrrrr!

ok maybe i'm crazy it just does not bother me if they are a little on the stiff side... i just don't like to run my dryer when its 90% humidity out and 76 degrees at 9am. my air conditioner will already be working hard on these days. now in the winter i'm all about the dryer lol...

__________________
Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

I put a double shot of Downy fabric softener in my loads that are line dried. They are never stiff and scratchy

I love drying my laundry outside! The benefits for me, outweigh the scratchy towels and stiff jeans. But, if I wasn't a stay at home mom, I don't think I would do it--there were so many nights before work that I had to hurry and wash a load before bed and put it in the dryer as I went to bed, lol.

__________________
Wendy~Self-proclaimed hippie momma to Bob and Jamie