Oh a dryer! Nice warm clothes and blankets! As much as I do love those things we currently do not have a dryer. I hang every item of clothing I wash on the line or on our drying rack. I know you think I am crazy, right?
When we moved to Wisconsin we sold our washer and dryer set with our house. Our apartment came equipped with a full size washer and dryer in our unit. It was not a worry until we moved into our new place that didn't have a washer or dryer, just hook ups. At the time we did not have the extra money to be buying a new set so I scoured local sites until I found each at a very cheap price, around $25 each. The washer lasted us a little over a year and the dryer a year and a half.
After the washer went out we bought a high efficiency washer from a friend who was getting a new set. Her dryer had broken. The washer is only a year old and runs like a champ. Not to mention these new high efficiency washer get every last drop of water out during the spin cycle, I am impressed! When the dryer died earlier this year I decided to hang all of our clothes to dry. I was lucky enough to be given a folding drying rack, I have enough space in my laundry room to hang a line, and I also have a line outside.
I know you are thinking why not fork over the money and buy a new dryer?
Sometimes the idea of having a dryer seems nice, it would be convenient and much quicker. However having said that, my grandmother always hung the laundry out to dry. In many European countries people do not own dryers but hang everything year round. I do not see owning a dryer as a necessity right now when I can dry my clothes for free in the sun. When winter arrives I might be signing a different tune.
Line drying takes time but has it's benefits. We don't heat up our house during those warm summer months drying clothes. I fold and put away each clothing item as it dries, I do not have clothes baskets full of clothes waiting to be folded or put away. Our clothes seem to be lasting longer. Most of all we are saving electricity.
Line drying isn't for everyone, though at one point and time it was the only choice. I now stay on top of my laundry piles. I typically do laundry every other day or twice a week for our family of five. I always make sure that my boys sports jerseys are ready for their next game, not once has anyone wore a wet or damp shirt to a ball game. I don't have the option to forget or wait until the last minute which has eased a lot of the stress of getting three kids dress and out the door with matching socks, jerseys and pants on game day.
Line drying or using a dryer, dirty clothes are one thing that we can all count on having to deal with!
No comments:
Post a Comment