Pros and Cons: Line Dry Laundry

by Juhls on Feb 27, 2009 with 19 Comments

Pros and cons of line-drying laundry and ways to overcome the cons.

Line drying laundry has never really gone away. But as machine driers have become more prevalent and people have become reliant on laundromats, this domestic art has become a quaint vision from the past for many.

Yet, even today, there are many positives associated with line drying clothes that may tempt some to return to the line. Here are some pros and cons with reviving line drying laundry.

Image via Wikipedia

Pros:

  1. Laundry smells great – a more natural sun-kissed essence is infused into the clothes/linens.
  2. White linens look brighter because of a bleaching effect from the sun. Say it together: Out da** spot!  
  3. Saves money and is more Earth-friendly than using a machine dryer.
  4. Hanging the laundry is a physical exercise that can be incorporated into daily life. 
  5. If you are hanging the laundry outside, it encourages you to have only attractive delicates/undergarments.
  6. Clothes and linens will last much longer! And look better since there will be less wear and tear on them.
  7. What other positives can you think of? What do you like most about line drying clothes?
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Of course, as with everything, there may be some cons. I’m a little biased, though, in preferring line dried laundry, so I will include some ways to overcome these cons.

Cons:

  1. Potential for birds or bugs to linger and leave some unwanted reminders of their visit.
  2. More work to hang out the laundry. But it is a good exercise, especially for the arms and is a way to burn calories without  intentionally working out.
  3. You need to set up a line or a folding rack for outdoors or indoors (winter time, rainy season, or local regulations). Of course, though, if you have neither a dryer or a clothes line, the clothes line will be the cheaper and easier thing to arrange for.
  4. There may be rules and regulations in your community prohibiting outdoor clothes drying. If so, try to bring this up and ask for change regarding this matter. In the meantime, set up an indoor drying station by a window.
  5. What other cons can you think of? What don’t you like about line drying your laundry?

Overall, for me, line drying my laundry is the best choice. Knowing that I am lessening my impact on the Earth while saving money makes me very content in my choice to bypass the clothes dryer. How about you?

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  1. Darla Smith | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply

    I like to hang my clothes outside in warm weather, but during the cold months I put them in the dryer.

  2. papaleng | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply

    a familiar sight in most southeast Asian countries and i do it all the time, . nice article.

  3. Kate Smedley | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply

    I have to admit to being lazy when it comes to line drying but your article has made me think again. Good piece.

  4. Juhls | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply

    Darla: Thanks for your input! Yeah, during the cold season, line drying outside isn’t such a great idea. I have a foldable rack that I use outdoors during the warmer months and indoors during the colder months.

    Papaleng: Yeah! I think line drying is still more common in most parts of the world. In Norway, my friend’s mum was still line drying the laundry.

    Kate: Hehe. Thanks for the comment. No worries! When my husband does his laundry, he still puts his work uniforms in the dryer (he does one big laundry batch about once every 3 weeks). Since he is doing the work, I don’t complain! But line drying is so much better for many reasons, so I stick with natural drying for the rest of our laundry loads.

  5. Vikram Chhabra | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply

    When I was growing up ther was always the danger of someone stealing your clothes…

  6. Catelin Hoover | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply

    Julesita
    I think all your points are very good. I hung clothes for my mom from the time I could reach the line (with the center poles down so the line dipped) until I was a teen, then a move to a new house and line drying was banned from our new community.

    Now I am in the Country. Some ladies still hang out their laundry…I kind of envy them. But with a chromic back condition, a father whose care is truly 24/7, hanging clothes on a line is not something I can do. Machine drying can be done any time of the day…or night, and any kind of weather. A good article…um…I still iron…do you? :)

  7. Juhls | Feb 27, 2009 | Reply

    Vikram: Oh, wow! Well that would definitely be on the “cons” list. And something that would make me think twice about line drying clothes! Yikes.

    Catelin: Yeah, it sounds like machine drying is the best bet for your these days. I can imagine that it would be a big strain on your back! Plus it is very true – machine drying is convenient, so no wonder so many people have gone with it and haven’t looked back. I helped my grandma line dry clothes in the country but my mum put most of our clothes in the dryer at least for a few minutes. I don’t think machine dryers are evil or anything, it is just that reducing their use is another way that one could reduce their impact on the Earth.

    As for ironing… hehe, I detest ironing. So, no, actually I don’t iron. Unless on the rare occasion my husband requests I iron a shirt or suit for something like that. I also don’t blow dry my hair! I must have something against machines ; ).

  8. Vickie C Jordan | Mar 25, 2009 | Reply

    Hello Julesita, I love to see laundry hanging out on a line on a bright summers day. I can smell the sheets now :) Seems like a lost traditions these days, however. This article made me want to hang out my sheets as soon as the weather permits. Thanks for the memory! :) Great article!

  9. Sonia | Apr 5, 2009 | Reply

    I have always lived in the country and although I pay my own bills now, I’ve stuck to hanging on the clothesline. I also Iron all our clothes for school, work and church.

    I don’t know if I’d give it up regardless of having a front loading dryer. The only time I haven’t hung is when it’s raining and I live in deep South Tx so winter is also a good time for hanging outside.

  10. Juhls | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply

    Sonia: Thanks for the great comment! I agree, rain can put a damper on drying outside! But I do love rainy seasons – so lovely and dreamy.

  11. ChiMiauw | Apr 15, 2009 | Reply

    I remember that there were bird leaving some poo behind on my laundry when I put them outside :P

  12. Juhls | Apr 16, 2009 | Reply

    Sorry ChiMiauw — that definitely is a con!!!

  13. Carolyn Ann Aish | Apr 16, 2009 | Reply

    Very cool article — love the picture!! I always dry large items, towels, sheets etc on my line outdoors!! Even in winter – on sunny days things dry here in New Zealand as it is not as cold as other countries, not in the North Island anyway. Thanks for sharing.

  14. Juhls | Apr 16, 2009 | Reply

    Very cool, Carolyn Ann! Wow. It’s great that on the North Island you can dry outside year-round. I layed over in Auckland, but have mostly just spent time in the South Island (primarly Christchurch) and I remembered it rained so much while I was there (Austral Summertime), hehe, so at least while I was there, line drying probably wouldn’t be too effective ; ). So I am pleasantly surprised that you dry outside where you are.

  15. Morgana | Apr 17, 2009 | Reply

    I think the Pros are stronger than the cons. I also wash most of my clothes by hand. It’s more work but it’s one of those things I enjoy doing :)

  16. hiho | Apr 19, 2009 | Reply

    I like to hang my clothes out on the line (rotary hoist) all the time but the sun tends to harden the towels so I throw them in the dryer for 10 minutes to soften them as I don’t like using fabric softener. My dogs are great jumpers (staffies) so short of discipling them I have to ensure that the clothes-line is wound up as high as it will go. Enjoyed reading this article Juhls as I am very particular when I launder my clothes.

  17. Juhls | Apr 19, 2009 | Reply

    Dear Morgana & Hiho: Thank you for your great, insightful comments. I’m glad I have fellow line-dryers with me on Triond : ).

  18. Caroline1957 | Apr 19, 2009 | Reply

    Very true, I love clothes aired in the sun, Only when the weather is extremely wet, sometimes in the winter we use the laundromat.nice article.

  19. hfj | Apr 21, 2009 | Reply

    My wife does this all the time in the spring and summer months. It saves money and energy, and the cloths do smell better. Great article. Well done.

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