Drying Naturally

Always nice to get help from Mother Nature to save Money, Energy, Health and Earth.

Having a clothes line is an inexpensive set up and saves on many topics. This method that was once the staple to completing the wash in America just a few decades ago, is still used by most people around the world. The image above shows a retractable clothes line drying some bathtub mats and bathroom floor mats, but any rope will do, along with a dozen or so wooden clothes pins. Even apartments can set up clothes lines with a pull cord over the tub or the umbrella style stands.

BUT, I don't have the time and my clothes dryer is faster! These statements are true, but to overcome them all you have to do is implement the elements from decades ago that made the system work all the time. Now we don't have to utilize a clothes line with every wash, but at least we can make the effort to offset the modern dryer with a clothes line as often as possible. Here is how we can do this...

First element to grasp again is the Organization of yesteryear families. Everyone had chores and they may even alternate between family members because...

Second element to bring back is Team Work of yesteryear families. Whoever is part of our family, is part of our team and scheduling tasks are done by communicating well with everyone before just stating what must be done. 

Third element, make a list of items that can be identified as feasible to dry on a clothes line for your family. Such as bulky items like towels, bath mats, blankets, jeans, sheets and comforters. These items will save the most energy and money because they take up a great deal of space in a dryer, causing us to run multiple loads.

The end result is Big Time Savings for everyone along with obtaining a better understanding of accountability, empathy, responsibility and problem solving. Below is a breakdown on Big Time Savings:

SAVE Money:

No fuel needed to dry clothes

No added costs from utility companies

No need to buy "extras" like static cling removal products

SAVE Energy:

No need to use Electricity or Gas to create heat for drying clothes

No need to use Electricity as an energy source to operate drying machine motor

No need to have lightbulbs on (I hope they are LEDs) by the dryer

SAVE Health:

Clean fresh aroma from solar light and cool wind

No chemicals with store bought dryer sheets to prevent static cling

Getting exercises with the physical effort involved with "hanging clothes out to dry."

SAVE Earth:

Less fossil fuels used

Cleaner Air

Less carbon emissions

And we are leaving a healthier planet for our children's children.

Just think about all this, then speak to the family and together as a team, make a difference.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com; Environmental Scientist

International Sustainability and Energy Consultant