When can a clothesline be used?

**fixer** · 11-06-2008, 10:16 AM

I have committed to our clothesline this year. I have used it almost exclusively since spring. When you are going through a horrendous drought is is easy! How cold must it be for me to abandon it this winter? I have not tried to dry clothes in cold weather, but I figure someone has.

**nvmommyx6** · 11-06-2008, 10:21 AM

I do, Once the sun comes up and it is not clouded or freezing temp I use the clothes line, if it is raining/snowing or freezing is the only time I don't, and when I don't, I hang the clothes on a home built dowel rod in the laundry room and the shower curtains!! I use a little fan in the bathrooms and laundry rooms to dry the clothes faster and better when I have to hang them inside!
I boycotted that dryer and the electric company and I'm stickin to my guns!!!
Good luck to you in your venture!
Mommy

toile · 11-06-2008, 10:47 AM

I can only hang in hot weather here.
I have owned 3 homes in 3 different cities and all winter air drying caused a funny smell in my clothes?

I hang inside too.
I keep 2 folding racks, then have a bit of hanging space in my laundry area.

**nvmommyx6** · 11-06-2008, 11:01 AM

I have never had a funny smell in my clothes durring winter drying, I'm in nevada and one thing I do in the winter or when hanging inside is make a squirt bottle with 1/3 downy and fill it with water, I spray the clothes when I hang them!

**freebs** · 11-06-2008, 11:05 AM

I have hung clothes when it is -20.....lol. its like freeze drying!

**Monner 1** · 11-06-2008, 11:30 AM

I can't get to my clothesline in the winter but I have a pull out one that has 5 or 6 lines on it and I put that on my enclosed front porch and dry them out there. When I take them down I just recoil the lines. Works like a charm. I also despise the electric company and try to keep my bill as low as possible.

Monner

**zakity** · 11-06-2008, 12:30 PM

As long as the high for the day is 60F and it isn't rainy, the clothes go out. I hang them out in the morning when it was like 40F out. Most of everything gets dry except jeans or thick things. I either throw them over the couch for the night to let them finish drying or I throw them in the dryer. If there is a breeze, they might totally be dry.

My last few batches of hung out clothes smelled smoky from people's woodstoves and fireplaces. It is a rather pleasant smell.

**Ali Lee** · 11-06-2008, 02:00 PM

I've brought my clothespins in for the year. I hanged clothes out just last week..but bands around socks, jeans, sweatshirts didn't dry. But, this past Sunday I worked in the basement. I've got 4 dryer racks and 2 lines about 6ft long ready to go. I've got 2 loads drying now. Today is Thurs, I'll take down Sat am. Hanging clothes up inside/outside is like "good therapy" for me..I enjoy it!

**georgiamom** · 11-06-2008, 02:24 PM

I cant do much of this but I might try if it get's to bad. You might try your attic. One lady suggest hanging a line there. Hot air rises and I know I have on both sides of mine I could line to hang there.

**rebecca** · 11-06-2008, 02:50 PM

I bought a clothes rack at a rummage sale and put it in the living room. Also, after get done washing the girls clothes I hang up their clothes to dry in their closet or the hallway closet.

**monkeywrangler71** · 11-06-2008, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by fixer

I have committed to our clothesline this year. I have used it almost exclusively since spring. When you are going through a horrendous drought is is easy! How cold must it be for me to abandon it this winter? I have not tried to dry clothes in cold weather, but I figure someone has.

It doesn't really matter how cold it is, it only matters how dry it is. This time of year is difficult for drying here because it rains too often, but mid winter when it's below freezing the air is very dry and it is easier to use the clothesline.

Winter is my favourite drying season - no earwigs or moths hiding in my laundry.

**Starlight9803** · 11-06-2008, 07:06 PM

I usually hang all year long, as long as it isn't raining or very humid. On occasion, the cold bothers my fingers (think digging around in a cooler full of ice for 15 minutes LOL), but things do get dry. The heavier things like jeans, thick sweatshirts, etc do seem to take a bit longer, but I would rather pull them off at the end of the day and have to dry them in the dryer for 15 minutes a load, instead of sticking them straight in the dryer and it taking 60+ minutes. I've tried to dry inside before, but it took absolutely forever, and I just don't have the room for them to sit around in my tiny house.

**ahmom** · 11-11-2008, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

It doesn't really matter how cold it is, it only matters how dry it is.

Yep! I agree!
I have a line on our covered porch. If it's too cold out, I use coat hangers. I can put a pair of jeans, a towel, bedsheets on a coat hangers and secure them w/ a few clothes pins. Take the load to the porch and spread them out.

**angelbumpkin** · 11-11-2008, 02:10 PM

Unless it rains I line dry all year. But I also live in Florida so I use the sun to my advantage. I also have clothes line hangin in my back room I use as well.