Lazy Line Dry

Step 6 Locating and installing a clothesline

The classic place for a clothesline is a sunny spot in the back yard. But consider also a porch: the clothes won't dry as fast, but you don't have to worry about whether it's going to rain. You can just leave the clothes hanging on the porch until they dry, without worrying about rain. And it can actually be an advantage to keep them out of the sun, because sunlight can eventually fade the colors in some clothes. (If you are worried about that, you can also hang them inside-out.)

If you don't have a porch or other sheltered outdoor spot, you may want an indoor drying spot, especially for winter (see step 6). An unused living space is great--for example a guest bedroom. A shower curtain rod can be convenient for hanging clothes on hangers, though it would need to be a shower that isn't used regularly. Basement spaces tend to be cool and damp, so unless there is a warm area near a heater, that's not a good choice. Some people make pulley-based systems or use commercial pulley-based systems like this or this to raise the clothes up out of the way once they are hung.

You can buy a simple rope and tie it between two trees or other objects (houses, fences, ...), or you can buy one of many commercial clothesline products: retractable lines, multiple retractable lines, drying "trees", etc. Again, my top recommendation for a source is the Project Laundry List Store because they have a great selection and you'll support a great organization by buying there.

Comments

[Dark Emeralds]

I have been wanting to thank you for MONTHS! The simple suggestion of installing a clothesline on the porch was the clincher for me. After having lost my backyard clothesline option owing to some neighbors' restructuring, I was at a complete loss. The porch never occurred to me. Now I'm happily back to line-drying all my clothes, with the added advantage of much faster rainy-day drying under a roof here in our drizzly Northwest climate. Thank you so much. The simplest ideas are often the most powerful!

[Quickeagle]

correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this step six?