apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

bungee cords.
THOSE are the best things since sliced bread!

Tube Socks!!!

That's similar to what I do on my back patio, except I have two clotheslines tied to one eye hook. Each line has a carabiner at each end which I attach to another eye hook at the other end. This way I can choose to use one or two clotheslines. I always hang my clothes to dry since I don't own a dryer. You don't really need one in Phoenix!

But... you can buy something that looks MUCH better than this makeshift setup for relatively little. Just for starters:

http://search.hardwarestore.com/?query=Retractable Clothesline&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=retractable%20clothesline&utm_campaign=rkg

I definitely love hang drying my clothing, but I've always done it for free by putting my clothing right on their hangers (plastic or wood only!) and hanging them over the shower rod. If I do it in the evening, they are dry by the time I wake up so my shower isn't tied up when I need to go through my morning routine. Not only that, they are already hung properly and all I have to do is move them from the shower rod to the closet.

I do this for socks and undies too! Each hanger holds two or three pairs of socks!

I have this, which seems much simpler and tidier looking than rope and carabiners. Granted, you'd need two to accomplish the same thing, so $20 instead of $5:

http://www.organize.com/retclot8ft.html

What's wrong with using a dryer? I just don't understand where some of these ideas are coming from. A clothesline in your home? One that you have to go to great lengths to set up? The need to build diagrams and become familiar with pulleys and lines. Really? All of that effort for what exactly? I say throw the clothes in the dryer with a softner sheet and call it a day. If there is some reason why going the dryer route is a bad idea, that's different, but still I couldn't imagine rigging up a clothesline.

@missbynski: Line-drying is usually gentler on your clothing than drying machines. It's also much, much more environmentally friendly.

^"Usually"? Try "almost always." Next time you dry a load of clothes in the dryer, examine the lint trap. All that lint is from your clothes gradually wearing away from being tossed around in a dryer.

I don't tumble-dry clothes unless it's too cold and damp for air-drying, and my clothes have never lasted so long or looked so good.

Hey guys, I just moved to a suburb of seattle. Tips for line drying here?

The walls in my laundry room are close enough together that I was able to put a shower curtain rod in there, so my clothes can go right from the washer to the rod. I also have a retractable clothesline outside.

I would use my dryer less if it weren't for the fact that air dried clothes, towels, etc. come out so stiff. I like the fluffy, comfortable feel from the dryer. Anyone who line dries regularly have any tips for making the former more comfy?

LakeDreamer, I often air-dry my clothes and then throw them in the dryer for 5 minutes to soften/fluff them up.

LakeDreamer- If you are religious about adding a bit of white vinegar to your wash loads it will help soften your clothes for line drying!

LakeDreamer - Tumble towels and sheets for a few (5-10?) minutes after washing and then hang up to finish drying. Makes a huge difference and the vinegar helps too and keeps things smelling fresh (don't worry - your towels won't smell like a salad)

missbynski - Dryers are a HUGE energy hog. All that heat that your dryer gives off is busy doing its little part to heat up the planet. Plus the expense of the energy. Plus it trashes your clothes.

Lizzykewl, you could try setting up a clothesline in your bathroom and then crank up a space heater, shut the door, and let it go for a little while (lights off). I've read that in Scandanavian countries they have special drying rooms for their clothes--few people own dryers there, but because it's so cold, clothes will take a long time to dry on their own.

Thanks for the tips. I use vinegar for all my cleaning, but didn't know about adding it to the wash. But how much?

missbynski- Not only is a line drying better for your clothes, but it's also more economical.

The dryer in my building is just too damn expensive for every single load. If I've got 4 loads to do, forget about it. Line dry most of it, and just dry the sheets and towels in the machine.

In Europe, there are so many ways to dry laundry without electricity. In Ireland, I saw racks on wheels so you can pull the laundry in quickly if it rains. In Amsterdam, they have nifty racks that hang from second-story windows. Someone in Montana is making ceiling-mounted indoor drying racks--my neighbors can't complain, haha. I thnk web address is: www.drynhigh.com