My New Clothesline

I am going to buy a clothesline. I have no trees in my backyard to help me create a free clothesline, so I am going to buy one. I saw an ad in Mother Earth News for the Sunshine Clothes Dryer (pictured above); I especially like that it does not require cement to install, so we can keep it with us when we eventually move. I feel interested in using a clothesline because I like being outside as much as possible in summer, I like the idea of using the power of the sun, that my kids can learn and help, that I'm helping the environment, expanding the life of my clothes, and saving money, and that with a clothesline doing the laundry can be a more meaningful, slow, conscious process (that's what I'm telling myself-- it'll be fun, really...).

I was doing a bit of research on why using a clothesline might be a better choice than using a dryer, and here are a few snippets of articles I found on the subject:

• Heat-producing appliances always use surprisingly large amounts of electricity and they’re the first things we should cut back on in an effort to become more environmentally responsible. Most people are surprised to learn that using your clothes dryer for one hour consumes the same amount of electricity as a 100-watt light bulb burning for 50 hours. (Home Envy)
• Besides the global-warming and cost-saving aspects of clotheslines, proponents say hanging out clothes requires exercise and time outside – elements that are missing from many Americans' lives. So much of our lives have become automated. (Christian Science Monitor)
• What's the case for clotheslines? Well, they make your clothes last longer and smell better. . . . And it saves the average American family somewhere between $80 and $100 a year. (Concord Monitor)
• Did you know that the tumble dryer consumes the most energy of all of your household appliances? To cut back on energy usage, you can easily hang your clothes to dry instead, and use the dryer as a last resort. Drying outside will make them smell fresher, and the added humidity is great for your plants, skin, and hair. Cutting your tumble dryer use reduces your home's CO2 emissions, and there's strong evidence that human emissions, such as CO2, are changing the world's climate. (Martha Stewart)

Related links:
To Fight Global Warming, Hang a Clothesline
As An Energy Saver, The Clothesline Makes a Comeback
Project Laundry List
Where There's a Will, There's A Clothesline

Related posts:
Safe and Cheap: Homemade Detergent
Natural Sunscreen Recipe
Creating a Healthier Home