Thursday, May 28, 2009

Let's hang out!

Looking for another idea to save money and energy? Take advantage of this beautiful breezy spring weather to hang your clothes outside to dry.

WWF Canada reports that, next to your refrigerator, your clothes dryer is the top energy-using appliance in your home. Need more convincing?

Using an outside clothes line to dry your clothes:
- makes your clothes smell fresh without adding chemical fragrances to them
- can make your fabrics last longer (need proof? no lint)
- will get you outside and into the fresh air and sunshine
- eliminate dryer noise
- reduce your greenhouse gas emissions
- reduce adding heat to your home in warm months
- eliminate static cling without the expense of dryer sheets

If yard space is restrictive consider a rotary (spinner-style) clothesline. For rainy days or winter weather you can use an indoor drying rack. These sturdy collapsible racks have come a long way and you can find everything from the tried and true wooden clotheshorse to large stainless steel models that easily hold a full load of clothes. In winter, drying clothes this way will add moisture to dry indoor air. If you find clothes too “crunchy” for your liking you can throw them in the dryer for 3-5 minutes once they are dry.

So…. let’s hang out!


Note: this article also appeared in the May 27th edition of Caledon Today e-Magazine. You can read and subscribe to this terrific (and free) online Caledon magazine at http://www.caledonmedia.com/