Question for those who hang their laundry out to dry...

[TBEventer2002]

I have been in love with my clothesline since my dad put it up in the middle of the summer. It is so nice not to run my dryer on two cycles per load (older model, just plunking out I guess), plus we love the sun-dried smell.

It is starting to get colder here now (Ohio). I was wondering how cold it has to be before the clothes don't really dry anymore? Do you do anything different with hanging clothes in cold weather versus hanging in hot weather? Any other tips and tricks for drying clothes in the fall/winter? TIA!!!

[foggierbard9]

I have known people who have hung out diapers in the dead of winter to dry. I don't know how well it works but I guess they are going for the "freeze dried" effect. When I was younger I think my mom stopped hanging clothes out once it was in the 50s or so during the day, but even at that temp it took all day to dry the clothes. We would use the dryer in the winter when it got cold out.

[JrandMdB]

My mother who is 81 this year has always hung out clothes... shes never had a dryer. I remember in high school she would bring in my jeans and they would be stiff as boards ... frozen! It was funny.

[TBEventer2002]

lol. I would LOVE to get rid of my dryer! Free up some space in my laundry room! But I don't know how frugal I am. It's in the low 60/upper 50's here today, so we'll see how much colder I can stand for them to be outside. ;) Thanks again!

[XUfan]

I'm 51, and I grew up in a house (in Ohio) that had no dryer. Mom didn't want one. She said it shrunk the clothes, and wore them out too quickly.

She hung clothes out until it was around 50. Then, everything got hung up inside. She had drying racks for the small things. And she had rods for the things that hung on hangers. The only thing I didn't like was the way the towels felt in the winter.

When I was between marriages, and totally broke, I would wash my clothes at the laundromat, and bring them home to dry. My apartment had a big closet, so I just hung things in there, and draped the undies and socks over the edges of the laundry baskets.

Now...I have a dryer, but I only dry things part way. It takes a load about 70 minutes with my dryer...so I dry them for 30, then hang them.

[KrispyKrittersUSA]

The only thing I don't like about line drying, is your clothes catch all the pollen floating around in the air, and then you bring it inside and wear it. Or bed sheets. Then I can't figure out why I am sneezing up a storm, after putting fresh sheets on the bed. LOL.

[born2boop]

I remember grandma's towels too! Ouch. Didn't need a loofah, cause they were terribly scratchy, take your skin off! In the winter, my grandma hung everything to dry in the enclosed porch she had. (In Wisconsin). I don't know about hanging stuff up outside when it's freezing, but I guess it depends on how much you can stand the cold. I hang things like sheets and blankets/comforters outside when the weather is good. I know what you mean about that fresh smell. Can't beat it.
Or you could just move south. It's 92 degrees here today!

[TBEventer2002]

No issues with pollen allergies here, thank goodness! ;)

Hmm, drying racks, eh? Might be worth looking in to. Any ideas where to find plans for something like that?

[Colinsgrandma]

They use to have stretchers that you would pants and jeans on it kept them from wrinkling. They would be hung out during the day in winter and then brought inside frozen and then hung up inside to finish drying. When I was little we didn't have central heating just an oil burning stove which was usually in the living room. Things were either hung there or in the kitchen to dry . I visited an old mansion turned into a museum and they had clothes lines in the basement.

[TBEventer2002]

Oh, how I wish I had a basement to put a clothesline! LOL!

I searched for how-to plans for drying racks. I found one that goes on the wall that looks simple enough for the laundry room to hang socks and other 'unmentionables.' lol. Then I found a REALLY neat one that is huge and free-standing that I could put in the three-season room (lots of sun through there). I don't think it's foldable, so I'll forward the plans to my dad who can make it so. ;)

Thanks for the ideas everyone!!! :) I am determined not to use my dryer this winter. I have hardly used it all summer (just for socks & underwear), and I'd like to keep it that way. ;)