Adventures in line drying, continued.
Since our dryer quit a few weeks ago, we’ve been getting along just fine without it, though my darling husband would never willingly admit that. He just shook his head at the sight of the laundry hanging out in the snow when he came home the other day. He can’t understand how I can honestly believe that laundry will dry when the temperature outside is -6 degrees celcius (20 F?). I’m here to tell you that it will.
Granted, it doesn’t dry within an hour like it will in August, but that is definitely steam coming off of that gray t-shirt (towards the middle of the “V”). I left them out for a day and 1/2 because I didn’t get them out there until the afternoon (they froze stiff as boards overnight), but by this afternoon they were pretty much dry.
A second load is hanging inside on our brand new Ecodri rack (our final pre-Compact purchase which just arrived yesterday). It’s hanging in the laundry room over the washing machine, and I think it’s going to be great. Hubby grumbled a bit about the cost, but when you consider that we won’t ever have to buy, service, or pay for the electicity to run another dryer, $100 seems like a pretty good investment. 
As much as he likes to tease me for subjecting him to my crunchy lifestyle, he (not so) secretly enjoys it. I know there’s a crunchy guy in there that’s crying to get out, and I’m more than happy to help!
Those are some great ideas on where to hang clothes!
Hello There,
I discovered your blog about a month ago… and I love it. Great Blog! So, I’ve checked out the ecodri and wonder, can a large load of laundry fit on there? I’m having trouble with the cost. =) My hubby seems to think he can make one of these, I’ll let you know if he does, and if it works out. I look forward to your next blog.
Take care,
Eva
I dried some things on the line a few days ago and it did get mostly dry. I’m thinking that if I actually “plan” it, I can have a load ready to put on the line first thing in the morning and it will be done by evening.
I love your Ecodri rack. My cousin in Norway has something similar (although homemade) which I also thought was a great idea. Who needs dryers? I’ve been getting along just fine without mine which gave up the ghost a couple months ago.
that rack’s pretty cool. i have two folding racks inside. it would be nice to have a hanging area instead of constantly moving the racks around.
I’m with Eva. Curious about how much laundry can fit on the eco-dri. It looks very well made. Thanks, Cheryl.
Kansas Crochet Mom – Thanks!
Eva – My husband was convinced that he could just make one too, which he could have. But he’s so busy working on other things around the house that I knew it would have taken awhile.
I got the 5 foot Ecodri because we don’t have a lot of space, so that’s 20 feet of hanging room (the 6 foot was my first choice). It doesn’t hold as huge a load as my machine is capable of doing, but it holds quite a bit.
I’d love to see what your husband comes up with, keep me posted!
Chelee – It does seem to take at least a whole day. I try to bring them in before the sun goes down or else they get dewy (although that doesn’t seem to be a problem with this frigid weather).
Carla – I think Europeans are so much more ahead of us when it comes to things like that. I’d love to hear more about how theirs was made, if you know.
Stella – The hanging aspect is pretty convenient, I just lower it down over the washing machine and then raise it up when I’m done. We don’t have a spare inch to put a free standing one, so we had to go up.
Lu – It does appear to be very well made, I can’t imagine ever having to replace it.
The 5 foot rack is probably not big enough for a family doing extra-large loads, but I think it would be plenty for one or two people.
Loving it so far!
I read (don’t know if it’s true) that the amish add salt to their rinse in the really cold winter to keep it from freezing. I’m not sure about doing that–economic, environmentally or how it would feel to the skin. BUT tell your hubby to remember his 5th grade science—cold air is “dryer” than warm. Hence the clothes do dry π Maybe that’s if you don’t live where it’s humid most of the time though???
Monica – Salt, eh? I guess that makes sense.
It is fairly damp here most of the time in the winter. Things seem to be drying faster now that it’s freezing.
Ha! I’ll bet if I hung a sheet out to dry at -40 to -60 below it would freeze so brittle that I might be able to break it in two by folding it (I’ll have to experiment, but I am in no way calling for colder weather…it’s nice right now). A person might also be waiting for spring for clothes to dry outdoors up here in the winter. Sorry, Cheryl, I’m on the sidelines shaking my head with your husband on this one. π
You guys always stick together. π
I can’t say that I’d be too keen to stand out there hanging laundry in -40 degree weather!
What a great rack you have! (pun intended) I wish we had a spot to put it in our home, but it would drip onto wood floors. I could try the drying rack outside, but maybe not for baby diapers – he needs those back pretty quickly after they’ve been washed. I’ll definitely go that route once it warms up again, but all this rain and snow does make it tough at this time of year.
Paula – I’m glad you like it(*blush*).
I hope you’re able to set up a small line somewhere. You could rig something up to hang over the tub for diaper covers, etc.
Oh, and nothing coming out of the washing machine really drips while hanging.
Diapers are definitely too important to be waiting around for (if you had 4 dozen it might work, but not with 2)!
I have a great contraption from Ikea, same type of idea only it is line housed in a stainless steel spring loaded box which you attache with screws to one wall and pull out to two hooks (included)on a facing wall. It will span about 12 feet. Mine goes across the laundry room hung above my washer and dryer, about 6.5′. It has 6 lines on it and can hold two regular size loads. I love it, especially at $20.00 cdn. I have been using mine about 2yrs.
My mother insists the best pressing is done on frozen cloth. In the summer she keeps her ironing in the freezer!