Clotheslines!

**Miss.September** · March 20th, 2011, 07:50 PM

Just curious.....

Do you have one?
Do you use it?

Lots of people I know have clotheslines but use the dryer instead, regardless of weather. I have a really small fold-up line that attaches to the wall, one load and it's full, but I'd rather wait to do another load so I can use the line. I hate the dryer, hate that it's using electricity and black balloons. The people who live beside me and behind me have never had clothes on their lines, and I know of a few other people who have the full large stand-alone lines out in their backyards that are never used. They aren't cheap, so I just wonder why?!

Yeah, that's what's on my mind today!

**Beach Mama** · March 20th, 2011, 07:53 PM

We are the opposite here. Don't have a dryer and won't ever get one. We have a MASSIVE old 1950s hills hoist and I love it! I can fit about 3 full loads of washing on it and on warm windy days I do load after load on it! In winter we use our clothes horses over the ducted heating and on mild rainy days they stay under our deck. As much of a pain as it is, particularly in winter (and in winter when I was using MCN - hooley dooley) but it still isn't that much of a pain that I would buy a dryer - I could never justify the environmental impact.

**Little Chicken** · March 20th, 2011, 07:54 PM

Don't have a dryer so have no choice but to use lines and airers. I have a huge airer though that can take a full load (I have an 8.5kg washer). My sister gave me the tip that if you have ducted heating, put your airers over them (when they are running of course), and the clothes are dry in no time. It's hard for me here though, I am used to being able to hung my washing out anytime, any day practically, now I have to weather watch!

**Astrid** · March 20th, 2011, 07:54 PM

Yes we have one (clothesline) and I do use it. Also have a dryer. That is for emergencies and mega wet weather.

I have noticed that some people will hang up their washing, but only in the garage. It either has something to do with not having to worry about the weather, the warm car engine helps dry the clothes or that they just dislike the look of a clothesline outside.

**kelsbels** · March 20th, 2011, 07:58 PM

I'm ashamed to say I tend to rely on my dryer a lot.
Mainly because I work part time so I find when I am at home I can take a load out, throw them in the dryer, next load in the wash and can get in with other things.

I am a shocker for leaving clothes on the line for days because I forget about them!

So yeah, it's convenient for me to use the dryer instead of the line... MOST of the time anyway.

**OceanPrincess** · March 20th, 2011, 07:58 PM

Wouldn't their washing smell like exhaust? I'm on the phone but where's that sick face? Bleh...

One of the things I love about my new house is my undercover clothes line. I have something on it every day and things generally dry in a day or so!

We do have a dryer, it runs sometimes for cloth nappies but that is it. I don't trust my clothes not to shrink!!

**appletree** · March 20th, 2011, 07:58 PM

I love a line full of clean clothes and sheets drying in the sun! I just don't like having to fold them and put them away when they are dry! LOL. I just hung a load up on our clothes airer, we also have a dryer which i also use when needed, so a bit of everything really!

DF used to go on and on and on at me every time i used the dryer, but i have noticed that since he has been the SAHD all but 2 loads (which i did!) have gone through the dryer...

**alish** · March 20th, 2011, 07:59 PM

i use my clothesline all the time! i have a dryer also, but rarely use it, only work work uniform emergencies

**volcomkitty** · March 20th, 2011, 08:02 PM

I have a 'normal' clothes line, which I now only use for towels and sheets. For the rest, I have an airer on the back deck that I hang underwear, socks, DD's shorts etc on. Shirts go straight on a coat hanger and hung on lines DH has rigged up on the verandah.
I don't use my clothes line as much anymore, cos it's always sooo hot out there when I hang stuff out and I got sick of clothes fading too quickly. By hanging everything on the verandah upstairs I can keep an eye on DD much easier too. She tends to bolt off towards the side yard, which isn't entirely child friendly most of the time!

Come to think of it, I very rarely see my neighbours hanging out any washing either...

**~Kim~** · March 20th, 2011, 08:03 PM

I have two clotheslines and an enormous airer that all get a regular workout. I do have a dryer and as tempting as it is to use it, rarely do I actually use it. I hate the smell that it gives your clothes when only the dryer is used.
DH works in an Aboriginal community that is very remote, and they just cannot risk having clothes lines in their (highly secure I might add) compound so all quarters have dryers. I cannot stand the dryer smell so have sent my airer with him this weekend so he can at least hang them inside.

**Phteven** · March 20th, 2011, 08:04 PM

I don't have a dryer. When I did I only used it when it rained. I love the smell of sunshine in my sheets and also I feel like they're more hygenic than dryer dried clothes because the sun kills all sorts of things that don't mind the dryer. They say that bed-bugs are making a comeback because of the popularity of dryers.

We have a dryer in our weekender but we don't often use it.

**Catastrophic** · March 20th, 2011, 08:06 PM

I have one of those silly clothes lines that hang off the house, two loads and It's full, I have a airer too that I hang the kids clothes on.

I do have a dryer but dont use it

Love MN ;-)

**~clover~** · March 20th, 2011, 08:07 PM

I have a clothes line & hate it! Only coz its not an old hills hoist. Its one of those silly new green things. Similar style to the hills (maybe even the same brand), but no where near the air size & the lines are all too close together, so you don't get very good air flow in there!

I have 2 lines under my big verandah & 2 clothes airers. I did have a dryer that I used a little too much, but it died on me

I need another one, but I won't use it as much. I cut back my usage ALOT (may be why it died

)

I had a house once that had 2 massive old hills hoists out the side! Loved that house

**Astrid** · March 20th, 2011, 08:07 PM

I have lavender planted under the clothesline. The towels and the sheets brush against it. It is meant to be good for keeping bugs off them whilst they are being stored, so I wonder if lavender helps with bed bugs?

**Aligater** · March 20th, 2011, 08:18 PM

I live in a rental and we have an OLD cloths line that needs replacing it wont turn in the wind anymore or at all but its a big one so im not complaining

**Phteven** · March 20th, 2011, 08:24 PM

I have lavender planted under the clothesline. The towels and the sheets brush against it. It is meant to be good for keeping bugs off them whilst they are being stored, so I wonder if lavender helps with bed bugs?

That sounds delicious. Fresh lavender and sunshine mmmmmm.