Here’s How Much Money You Can Save by Installing a Clothesline
Clotheslines have recently experienced a renaissance. Once considered clumsy, line drying has benefited from country-chic marketing and support from environmentalists. But while it’s not all white sheets fluttering softly in the breeze, it’s actually a pretty easy way to save a hefty amount on your energy bill and keep your home cool.
Also, it is much easier to install a clothesline these days, as there are many more modern options that are still available. Best of all, the clotheslines now disappear on non-wash days.
Why you should install a clothesline
Your dryer is a terrible part of your utility bill, and a clothesline can reduce that bill by 20% . Also, no matter how well ventilated your tumble dryer is, bypassing it will keep your house warm on hot days. (I have my own clothesline and dryer, but I also installed a hanger at home for sweaters and other items that don’t need to be flipped.)
Our favorite clotheslines and accessories mentioned in this article:
- Minky Homecare Outdoor Retractable Double Clothesline
- Aluminum pull-out clothes dryer with 5 lines
- Bakala Retractable Clothesline for Indoor Laundry
- Wall-mounted clothes dryer ADUUNKA
- Wall Mounted Aluminum Clothes Dryer
Installing a clothesline outside
A clothesline is a little more than any rope hanging from two points. It should be strong enough to carry the weight of heavy clothing, strong enough to withstand moisture, and have enough tension to keep your clothing from sinking to the ground.
Most retractable clotheslines are like this and set up in 5-10 minutes where you just have to make sure you are in a secure anchor point. Since you are outside, your anchor will most likely be a hairpin and not a piece of wood. After you secure it, you just need to move a little to place the hooks. When you want to lengthen a clothesline, you take the string and simply attach it to the hooks. Give the line a good pull so it retracts and locks in, and you’re done. I attached to a sturdy piece of trim near the window so I was sure there was a stud behind it, and then attached my hooks to a corner of my garage where there was also probably some kind of wood structure about 20 feet away from me. The only tools needed are a drill and a beginner will definitely get the job done.
You will probably want to get a clothesline with several lines on it. Plug it in and you immediately have five ropes to hang your clothes on . You also need to make sure the clothesline is suitable for outdoor use.
Installing a clothesline inside
If you don’t have space outside to hang a clothesline, you may need one indoors. There are two types of ropes to consider here: a simple hanging wire that works just like an outdoor clothesline, or a wall rack.
The bathroom will most likely have wire hanging to allow clothes to drip into the tub. There are pleasant modern , beautiful options . Installation is a little different because you need to secure it so it doesn’t get in the way of your shower curtain or door, and you may need to install anchors in the wall to secure the clothesline. However, you will only need a drill and I would call this an intermediate project.
Hanging rack can be anywhere. They just pop out with hanging bars or places to hang hangers on . Your closet or laundry room are good options, and just like with a bathtub, you need to take care to mount it properly in the wall, either on a rack or with appropriate wall hangers such as anchors.
Clothesline accessories
Wooden clothespins of the past are also now considered heirlooms, with durable and inexpensive plastic and metal options. There are also waterproof bags to store them , so you can clip the bag to the clothesline from the outside and not have to worry about them.