indoors
O n t h e
L in e
LIKE LOADED PICNIC BASKETS AND NOISY SCREEN
DOORS, LINE-DRIED CLOTHES and sheets conjure the
carefree summer days of the past. Now this practice
is making a comeback as an easy and rewarding way
to go green. A clothes dryer isn’t a true energy hog,
but reducing your use of it can save up to
$100
a year
in operating costs. Line-drying is easier on your
clothes, so you may save what you would otherwise
spend on wear and tear. Plus it has an immediate,
priceless benefit: that fresh-air scent.
Today’s line-drying enthusiasts may have to be
more assertive than Grandma ever had to be. In
many areas, community covenants, landlord
prohibitions, and zoning laws oppose clothesline
for aesthetic reasons. Their regulations have spurred
"right to dry” movements in various states; currently,
Florida offers the most comprehensive law
supporting line-drying, but other states have or are
considering varying degrees of legislation.
You can keep up with organized line-drying efforts
through Project Laundry List, a nonprofit association
founded in
1995
(laundrylist.org).
For new eco-
friendly laundry products, turn the page.
Follow these tips from
Laura Shafer, a
15
-year
veteran of line-drying who
designs custom clothes-
lines
(linedry.com
):
1.
Turn
clothing inside out to
prevent fading and enable
faster drying of pockets
and seams.
2.
Shade-dry
synthetic and silk; dry linen
in hot sun for fewer
wrinkles.
3.
Give items a
good snap when hanging
and removing them.
4.
Use hangers for shirts
with buttons.
5.
Remove
clothespins from the line
between hangings so
they’ll last longer.
ONSERVE ENERGY. ' LIVE' 'HEALTHIER'. ' SAVE' MONEY.
by
KIT SELZER
92
JUNE 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
