Blue Sky Farm

My blogging posts and photos are part of me . I think of this as a scrapbook of my life. The names have not been changed.. they are real people who have crossed my path along my journey. Some I know intimately, my family and friends. If their names are mentioned it's a sure sign they are special to me and I love them dearly...come along see for yourself, perhaps you know some of them too..

February 10, 2010

The lost art of Line Drying

Here my clothes line is waiting....Oh how I wish it was warmer, I love to hang my laundry outside to dry. I asked Clay to make me a clothes line shortly after we moved in two years ago. I can hardly wait to start using it again. My laundry smells so fresh and sparkling clean when hung to dry.
I can remember as a child when my mother hung our clothes to dry, my sisters & I would run under and through the sheets as they blew in the wind. Ahhhh those great memories! Did you ever do that?

Did you realize that, hanging your clothes, by line drying is a huge savings, and your clothes will last longer. Clothes hung outdoors do not get static cling. another benefit is it's good for your body, The bending, stretching and lifting it takes to get the laundry on the line is a good way to get in some exercise, without realizing it.   I like that and who couldn't save some on the electric bill?
Here are a few tips on hanging your laundry outdoor:

First if you have clothes lines already, you may want to wash your lines with warm water if they have not been used in awhile because dirty clotheslines will get your clothes dirty as well. Make sure your lines are strong and taut. Laundry will not dry evenly on sagging lines.

Choose a day that is sunny and windy or at least breezy. The motion of the breeze prevents clothes from stiffening.  You can just add vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine load to help soften the clothes you hang ( they will not smell like vinegar when they are dry.) or make your own fragrant fabric softener. You can save even more money by making your own laundry soap. I will post the recipe another time. It is so easy to do  and only costing about 4 cents a load!

Hanging sheets & whites in the sunlight early in the morning you will get full bleaching effect of the sun rays. Have you ever slept on sheets dried in the sun? Pure Heaven!

Hang colors & brights in partial shade or in the afternoon to prevent fading. You can also turn them inside out before hanging.

Hang shirts & blouses on hangers to prevent clothes pin marks on th eshoulders. Hook and pin the hanger to the line.
Just try hanging your laundry  and  I bet you will love it as much as I do.