Clotheslines

Sometimes to move forward, you must look back. In this case, to the age-old practice of hanging your laundry out to dry. It was one of those ideas I tossed around for a while and, finally, acted upon.

Besides being kinder to the Earth and saving oodles of energy (you can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for six months out of the year), clothes dried on lines last longer and smell better, too! Also, for whatever reason, kids just dig hanging the laundry. Bonus!

A couple of tips regarding clothelines: Plastic ropes won't sag like over time like regular ropes, and plastic clothespins last much longer than their wooden equivalents. Also, tossing your towels in the dryer for a few minutes after taking them down from the line will help make them softer and less stiff. Last, despite what your spouse thinks, birds will not hover, waiting for the opportunity to poop on your stuff (sheesh!)

I invested in an umbrella-type of clothesline (If you don't have much room, there are smaller and more compact versions), and I love it! I can get a entire load up in one hanging, it can easily be taken out and put away, and (at least during the warmer months) it doesn’t take any longer for the clothes to dry than if I’d tossed ’em in the dryer.

In addition, the clothes smell great and -- even better -- there's something wonderfully peaceful about taking a few minutes, out in the sunshine, to listen to the birds (no, they aren’t hovering!) while hanging laundry.

Granted, I feel like my grandmother but at least my skirt isn't pulled up under my armpits so I've got that goin' for me, which is nice...