How much does it really save?????

[nodmicks]

I read about lots of folks hang drying laundry. How much does it really save? I do at least a load of wash a day and am wondering if it is really worth it savings wise. My drier is electic and about 2 yrs. old.
Any ideas?

[homesteadmamma]

For us, as a family of 5, we save approx. $30.00 per month, sometimes more if I wash more. I don't own a dryer and haven't now for 20 years and don't plan on getting one.

Your electric dryer is one of the most expensive items in your home.

[Guest1]

I'll bow to CJ's vast knowledge - and I couldn't agree with her more....

Not only is it a money-saver, but the feel, smell, and pride in a hand-hung laundry item is beyond compare!!
(to me anyway - but I'm a little bent! )

As an aside, your clothes will last longer if the fibers aren't tortured in the heat of a dryer!!

~ from the for what it's worth department!

[homesteadmamma]

Debbie is right. The clothes last longer and you also don't have any shrinkage that you often get when your clothes are dried in a dryer.

[Heather]

We are saving approx. $40.00 per month for a family of five.

[nodmicks]

Ok, next ?
Winters comming. I'm in WI. Where do you hang them so they dry quickly nought to not smell musty?
I live in a 150 yr old farm house so there is no basement. Our bedrooms are all on the second floor. We have elcetric heat only upstairs so we only heat up there at night so thats out as a place to put them.
I suppose I could do drying racks on the main floor near a register maybe?
Any better ideas?
I should find out when they read the meter next and start then to watch the difference in the bill.

[kimmee]

also- I live in a really dusty area - how do you keep the clothes from getting dusty - and how do you keep them from getting crunchy? Also - How did you figure out your savings?

[Heather]

I have a large wooden drying rack that I place in the livingroom or in the middle of the kitchen during the day. I also hang clothes on the bannister/railing upstairs. I hang shirts on hangers and let them dry hanging on the bedroom doors. The bathroom shower rod is a good place to hang items too.

[Missy]

our last bill we saved 40 dollars, and hte only difference i haad made was hanging clothes (on the long epic saga that is my clothesline) outside. I was thrilled. I also strung a few short lines in my laundry room. Tubs, showers make good places to hang dry clothes too. the drips, if any, are into the tub or shower so they don't sit on flooring, and are out of the way.

[nodmicks]

Ok where can I get inexpensive drying racks big enough for our clothes?

[homesteadmamma]

You can get inexpensive drying racks at Walmart. Its not my favorite place to shop, but was the only place I would find clothes racks.

I also found one in garage when we purchased our home. And I had a neighbour watching for me when she went to yard sales and she got one for me for $5.00.

I live in an old home too, over 100 years old. Dd has a huge bedroom, so I put the racks in there or in our upstairs foyer. Most clothes will dry overnight. Jeans do take a bit longer.

As to the softness of clothes. When clothes are hung outside and blow in the wind, there is nothing quite as soft. When there is no wind or we dry them in the house, after 20 years our family hasn't gotten use to the hardness of some clothes. Most clothes though as soon as you put them on, the stiffness is gone.

How do you figure out the savings. Watch your electric bill. Thats where you'll see it the most. Both Calico and I live in Canada but our electricity rates are quite different. Because of where we are, our rates are lower than hers. So the simplest way to find out (I think) is checking your monthly statements. Another thing to watch is the amount of kw you use on your statements. If your electricity (power) has gone up in price its sometimes hard to tell. Watching the kw you use each month will show you the difference!!!

Keep them from getting dusty - The only answer I have for that Kimmee is drying them inside.

[Guest1]

I found three at our local thrift store for $2.50 each! Just a thought/another option!

[canadian gardener]

Another thing you can use is a portable clothes closet hanging rod affair.

Fashion shows use them, they are on wheels and are a 5 foot or so closet pole on wheels.

You hang anything that goes on a hanger and hang the hanger on the clothes rail and let them dry. Be sure to leave space between, for air to circulate.

If you have a fan (running a fan is pennies a day, nowhere near the dryer in cost) then turn the fan on and let it blow over the clothes.

The other stuff, like socks and panties etc you sling over the folding wooden drying racks.

Do the sheets and tablecloths in the dryer still, just drop to one or two loads a week, not doing 2 or 3 a day. It will still make a difference.

And if you live in a deep freeze in winter, welcome to a Canadian bit of wisdom.

Stuff can still freeze dry out on the clothesline, just takes longer. AND if it gets REALLY cold, don't drop the stuff when frozen, it literally can shatter at temps like 40 below or worse.

Essentially when it's a cloth filled icicle, the ice shatters, taking the cloth fibre with it.

So treat frozen clothes with care.

[tightwadmommy]

I have a question here:tried hanging clothes to dry,but DH has navy blue
work shirts (t shirt fabric)and they always
look like they have fuzzies on them.
Any suggestions?

Jean
SAHM to Ryan7 And Samantha 22 mos.


Emergency fund: $25
Grocery Challenge: $200
Spent: $ 77.89

[canadian gardener]

Use a dark wash detergent for them. The fuzzies are mini hairballs that form with the cloth fibres being rubbed in the wash.

Some detergents minimize that by dissolving the little fuzzy fibres. Others work to keep the dye from bleeding out of the fibres so the fuzzies aren't noticeable.

Less fuzzies happen when you hang to dry.