Comments on: Forego The Dryer – Daily Financial Challenge

By: bosch

bosch — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:27:59 +0000

It isn’t always reasonable to assume that people are able to hang their clothes outside to dry. I live in the desert, which may sound like it’s a good idea, but the amount of dirt compiled, blowing in the wind from the desert would just ruin my clothes, not help the cause forcing me to rewash them and do the process all over again.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:18:44 +0000

I have not used a dryer in months. Even in the winter I only partially dry items. In the summer I hang it outside. If I use the dryer I can’t use the AC (my own personal deal with myself). There is no real need for a dryer longer than 10 minutes for anything heavy (or easily wrinkled that I don’t want to have to iron) and almost always hang anything I wash.

By: sue

sue — Mon, 22 May 2006 01:49:39 +0000

Actually I do this in reverse. I air fluff about 1/3 of the way done and hang shirts on plastic hangers. I have an over the door rod that I can hang up the clothes. I have a rack for the towels. The dryer fluffs them first.

When the weather is nice, dress shirts don’t have to be pressed (or just touched up) if you fluff and then hang on a hanger. Put on a clothes line outside and use a clothes pin to separate the hangers by clipping on the line so they are about 5 inches apart. This allows air flow and takes out most of the wrinkles.

Sheets smell WONDERFUL on the line!

By: Max

Max — Sat, 20 May 2006 05:30:14 +0000

I’ve been rocking the line my whole life.

Benefits include a) fresh air b) staying on top of the weather 3) saving money on electricity 4) clothes smell and feel better.

As far as the time it takes to put the clothes up, it’s not like most people are forgoing some hourly job while they are hanging clothes. It’s not like, “oh, I better not hang the clothes and put them in the dryer instead because I am going to lose part of my hourly wage”.

I’m with you all the way on the line drying. Great thing.

By: muckdog

muckdog — Fri, 19 May 2006 18:15:13 +0000

Almost stumped me with the comment question there. Is that from a high school exit exam?

I think folks should make sure they do full loads of laundry. And not a bad idea to let clothes dry a little before throwing them in the dryer. I should probably do that…

By: SteveL

SteveL — Fri, 19 May 2006 16:34:17 +0000

For $150/year I think it is more economical to use the dryer, how many extra hours does it take to put that stuff on the close line?

What do you think?

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 18 May 2006 16:22:22 +0000

One caveat for people: Do not hang your clothes outside if you have allergies, especially in the spring. This might sound like common sense, but it amazes me when I see people who have allergies hanging their clothes outside in April. Ya, it saves you money, but suffering from allergies is far worse then the money you will save, not to mention you will probably need extra medication.

By: Szarka

Szarka — Thu, 18 May 2006 16:19:05 +0000

I took a lesson from one of those travel clotheslines when I set up my backyard one this spring. Rather than running a single line between trees, I doubled it, twisting the two cords as it was strung. Now when I hang things, I don’t really need clothespins, as I can pull folds of fabric between the cords to hold them in place. Small items like socks particularly benefit.