I live in Tennessee where TVA, our electric supplier, has raised our electric bills 30% in one month. I have started really trying to be more frugal. I purchased a indoor clothes line and strung it up in my basement. I bought it off ebay for $25.00, and it will hold 2 loads of laundry. It usually dries in less than one day. With a family of five, I do at least 1 load per day, I know this will help with my electric bill.
Check out these tips.
To save on utilities and clothes softener, I line dry many clothes in the house then put them in the dryer on air fluff. It's amazing how soft they become.
One day, I forgot to bring the clothespin bag out with me when taking the clothes down from the line, so I just put the pin back on the line. The next load that went up, was soooo much easier to hang out - took less than half the time.
Do you line dry your laundry only to discover when it's dried out that it needs ironing? Try putting 1/3 cup of vinegar in the washer.
I load two round baskets instead of using one large basket with my laundry to make them lighter and carry them out the door and put them in a children's wagon.
This is a tip for old folks like me and maybe some young folks as well. Use 5 gallon buckets and a wagon to take heavy wet laundry to the clothesline.
I love hanging our clothes outside to dry, but don't like stiff jeans. My late mother-in-law taught me to turn them inside out when I hung them on the clothes line.
Enjoy many benefits from using your clothes dryer less. You'll save energy and money by running it less. In colder, dryer climates and seasons you'll put moisture back into the air by hanging your clothes to dry; therefore, running a humidifier less if you use one.
Hanging laundry on a clothesline is one of the best green activities you can do. I used to struggle with my fitted sheets, though, trying to hang them straight when they have elastic all the way around.
Using a clothesline outside or a drying rack inside can help save in more than one way. It saves on the electric bill because you aren't using the dryer as much or adding heat to the A/C load by using the dryer.
I went outside to get my clothes after they dried outside. I found this little creature taking advantage of the soft fabric. I was about to put them on after I finished shaking it. I must not have shaken the shorts enough because this creature was still hanging on.
If you use a cotton clothes line, try boiling the next replacement rope in salt water for a half hour before you put it up. This will take out all the tangles and prevent wet articles of wash from freezing to the line in cold weather.
If you line dry your clothes, you can still use dryer sheets to freshen your clothes or towels. Remove them from the line and place them and a dryer sheet in a large bag or basket with a lid.
I have found that leaving your clothes on the line over night causes them to smell funny. I think it's because of the dew.
I got myself a portable clothes line. I stand it out on my front veranda to dry clothes. It's great, saves power and is protected from weather. It can be set up in a garage or carport.
I occasionally hang my clothes to dry inside during winter months to counteract the lack of humidity from using electric heat.
A lot of us still hang our clothes out to dry during the nice days on clothes lines that require you to use clothes pins. A lot of us leave the clothes pin bag hanging on the lines to use the next time and end up with dirty nasty looking bag...
Today I ran out of clothespins as I was hanging my laundry out to dry. We recently purchased a house, and the previous owners left behind, among other things, a lifetime supply of coat hangers in the closets.
This is a tip if you have a garment which isn't soiled or sweaty but has been worn, and which you want to freshen. Just hang it on the clothes line in light rain, and simply leave it there until dry.
