Does Anyone Still Use a Clothesline?

June 2 through June 9 was International Clothesline Week. It was created to encourage people to hang their clothes out to dry instead of using electricity or gas. Who still has a clothesline?

International Clothesline Week was created approximately 10 years ago. Many of us have gotten away from using a clothesline. I like the soft feeling that the dryer creates but sometimes I want to keep from adding any more heat to an already hot day so I will hang the dog laundry out to dry. I have to stay on top of it though because wasps and spiders like to get on the blankets.

According to wellness-mania.com, things to consider when hanging clothes to dry:

1. saves up to 10% of residential energy; Running a dryer 20 hours a month will cost you on average 100 kilowatt hours. A clothesline's operating costs are zero!!
2. less need for nuclear energy or coal energy
3. less emissions which saves our health, literally less deaths and saves the earth
4. using solar and wind power - free
5. clothes smell better (like sun and air)
6. clothes feel better
7. clothes will last much longer (less wear and tear from the heat and tumbling of the dryer)
8. clothes don't wrinkle – no need to use electric iron, another savings
9. no need to wait for the dryer to finish
10. don't have to empty the lint tray
11. improve relationships; working together for the greater good builds friendships and love…
12. can be therapeutic – the time it takes to hang the clothes can be time of reflection of you, family, earth, etc.
13. burn calories - because you're exercising many muscles you burn about 45 calories every 15 minutes.

Go a step further and use cold water for your wash to save additional energy. Hot water does NOT clean clothes any better than cold. Hot water DOES deterioate clothes faster and fades colours quicker. If cold doesn't work for you, use warm instead of hot. This step alone will reduce massive amounts of pollution!