So it's 90 degrees out, mid-summer, and the majority of residents in town are using ridiculous amounts of power indoors to dry their washing in electric machines. It is amazing that there are so many energy saving tips out there, recycling is regulated throughout most of the Western world, many states provide financial rewards for PV systems yet some CC & Rs preclude the line drying of clothes because it is "unsightly". Whenever I see a washing line swaying in the breeze I think it is a lovely sight. It doesn't hurt your pocket book or the earth and what could be more natural? Here's some benefits of line drying you may not have known:
- Sunlight is a natural sanitizing agent. It's perfect for killing insects, bacteria, and other germs.
- Electric dryers use energy every single time they're used. The savings to you of using a clothesline is about US$120 per year (based on usage of an electric dryer with 400 yearly loads).
- On hot days I have had my clothes dry in less than an hour.
- Clotheslines don't tend to spontaneously combust no matter how much you mistreat them. Dryers can cause fires if poorly maintained, accounting for 15 deaths a year, 360 injuries a year, and 17,700 structure fires a year!
- Line drying is kinder to your clothes than the dryer; clothes last longer the more they're kept out of the dryer. Line drying is also better for items with printed elements, such as t-shirts. And if you wonder why the elastic in your socks and panties is disappearing fast, blame the dryer...
- Line drying keeps moisture outdoors. Sure, you can vent the dryer outdoors (and hopefully you are!) and you can even get dryers that collect moisture. But all this has an energy-intensive cost, one that hanging outdoors gets rid of totally!
- It's a great form of exercise; you might even discover your arm muscles are in need of some stretching!
- You'll start noticing the sunny days in between the rainy ones more. They're your "washing days"!
- So if you haven't considered getting a washing line and a few clothes pins, check it out!