Great invention right? It came along long before being “green” was the thing to do. Or being frugal for that matter… I think my mom invented it…or was it my grandma? Or was it her grandma? Who really knows…and what is it you may ask (only if you are totally oblivious at this point…hehe)…it is a CLOTHES LINE!!!!
My first attempt at going green (so to speak) was not with cloth diapers. And since recycling is mandatory here in our area of San Diego county…that doesn’t count. So, in fact my first attempt of going green was with a clothes line.
Nothing fancy…just a cheap line picked up from the commissary and tied between a post and the fence. It has to be temporary because our yard is on the small side and we have a play structure in between. Kids gotta have room to play somewhere!
The short of it is…last summer it was HOT! SUNNY! And we needed to lower our utility bills…seriously. So, rather than running the dryer for umpteen times in a day, I strung out my line, grabbed the clothes-pins, and hung out my first load. It reminded me of being a kid...
(Reminiscing here now) I'm a little girl...not sure how old...but my mom is hanging clothes on the line. The line is above my head...but the sheets hang low enough that I can kinda run in and out of them. In the evening she would take them down and make my bed...oh the smell! There is NOTHING that can replace the smell of fresh washed sheets, dried by the sun and wind. Sorry Downy! And the feeling...kinda rough, but not in a bad way. Having her pull those sheets up over top of me...bending over and kissing me good night...oh to be that little girl again.
Okay...so now it is my turn...The clothes came off the line…crisp, warm, and fresh. Folded them as I went (I have a nasty habit of NOT getting done when coming out of the dryer).
Another good use for a clothes line…the sun works like a natural bleach. I dry the baby’s cloth diapers on the line and the sun bleaches out the poop stains. I am going to hate it when the rainy season starts…I HATE poop stains on the diapers. Now as I mentioned the clothes are crisp…this includes diapers. So, I throw them in the dryer for about 20 min with 2 clean tennis balls…softens them right up!
Anyone can dry their clothes outside…well, if you have sunshine…doesn’t work so well in the rain! If you have a small space…string up a line. They are cheap and reusable. I know a lot of people have HOA rules saying you can’t have one…just check. If it is up just long enough to use, not permanent…you may be able to get away with one.
Now, I am a bit pampered and won’t give up a few things. For example…I don’t want crisp socks or undergarments…so those go into the dryer. I’m all for being green…but even I have my limits! Sorry great-grams!
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