Thursday's Truths & Tidbits -- why I've had the same underwear for over 15 years!

Welcome back to Thursday's Truths & Tidbits. 

Image courtesy of Linnaea Mallette
You didn't think I was going to post a pic of my undies on the line, did you?

Today, I have a tip for you: Line dry your underwear.

It's as simple as that. Even if you don't line dry your sheets (you're missing out on something really special there), your bras and undies don't belong in the dryer. Ever.

Line drying is kinder to the environment for more reasons than one. Yes, it helps not to have to run an electric or gas dryer. But there's something more. When you wash delicates in cold water and hang them on the line to dry, you greatly extend the life of each piece. That means you don't have to keep replacing things like underpants, bras, camisoles, and nightgowns. And that, my friends, is common sense green living. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it's awfully kind to your wallet as well.

And it doesn't matter if your clothesline is outside or stretched across your laundry room. The goal isn't to have sun-kissed, wind dried undies (although that's awfully nice). The goal is to protect the elastic and delicate fabric from the dryer. 

As I was hanging my 15+-year-old underwear on the line this morning, I couldn't help thinking about how much money I saved by investing in good underwear and never, ever putting it in the dryer.

And that is today's tip for greener living. 

Keeping it green on the clothesline,

This is the way we wash our clothes so early Monday morning

Did you know that your clothes dryer is most likely the second most expensive appliance you run in your home? Of course, the refrigerator takes the prize for the biggest energy user, but if you're using your dryer, it's vying for some attention here as well.

“Drying Clothes” by Helen Allingham

Do you remember this song:

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
the mulberry bush, 
the mulberry bush.
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, 
so early Monday morning.
This is the way we wash our clothes,
wash our clothes so early Monday morning.




Monday has long been the traditional day to do laundry. Yes, laundry was done once a week. On Mondays. Never on the weekends. And certainly not on Sundays.

Today, I dried two loads of laundry in the dryer. It's not that it's not perfect weather for line drying. The problem is the little fuzzy things falling from our oak trees. The month of May is a mess around here. Just as I get used to hanging my laundry out on the clothesline again, the oaks make it impossible to do so for a few weeks. Between the long fuzzies and the layer of green dust that settles on everything, there's no way I can hang my laundry outside. During these weeks, much of my laundry will hang from indoor clotheslines in the basement. But today, there was just too much, so I tossed it in the dryer. 

In order to make sure my dryer is running efficiently, I cleaned the lint filter before running it. I also did a quick extra spin of the laundry in the washer. That way, it's just a bit less wet when I put it in the dryer. Then, I throw in 6 wool dryer balls to help separate the clothes and cut down on drying time.

Of course, I do not use any fabric softener, and I sure hope you're not using it either! Instead, I added 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle in the washer. Between the vinegar and the dryer balls, there really is no need to load up my laundry on toxins that can lead to cancer and a host of other ailments.

Okay, back to some aides in making line drying a bit easier. 

I recommend wooden clothespins with springs (versus the straight kind, which can snag your clothes).




Retractable lines (for indoors or out). I love my retractable clothesline. It only crosses my lawn when I need it and disappears when I don't. They are perfect for bathrooms and laundry rooms, too.

Note: For permanent clotheslines, make sure you walk up and down running a damp washcloth along the line to wipe away any dirt before hanging your clean laundry on it.

 
Another must-have for me, is my spinning carousel rack. I have two of these and use them to hang my underwear, bras, camisoles, hankies, etc. I use these year round for the items I never put in the dryer. By not heat drying your intimate apparel, you extend its life dramatically. 


An added bonus with the carousel racks is that you can grab them and bring them in quickly if it starts to rain. Plus, you can put your older, more worn out undies in the inside of the circle and 'hide' them behind your girlier, fancier panties. :-) Love it!

Choosing the right hangers is important, too. Metal hangers can rust with wet clothing. Plastic hangers are often a good choice, but be careful of the dreaded 'hanger marks' on the shoulders of shirts and sweaters. I prefer the slim velvet hangers, which are also great space savers in the closet.

All this talk of hanging stuff outside is making me long for June when the air will finally be free of flying fuzzies!

Happy Monday!

 

IOTUT -- It's summer! Ditch the dryer

It's Friday's Instead of This, Use This and since we're embarking on the first day of summer tomorrow, I thought it was the ideal time to remind you that the sun and wind do a perfect job of drying your laundry. The spring boasted quite a bit of pollen in our area this year, so line-drying was not always practical, especially for those with allergies, but the spring pollens have wrapped up their annual visit and it's time to let the amazing fresh air smell permeate your laundry once more. Or, for some of you, for the first time. Let me just encourage those of you in the latter bunch to try it; you'll like it. 

Is it more work? Of course. But the smell is worth it. It is seriously my favorite scent in all the world, and no artificial fragrances can come even close. Plus, all that bending and reaching makes for a pretty good workout. When was the last time you burned calories when doing laundry?

There is one more, rather important, advantage. When you line dry your laundry, you save energy. It is, without a doubt, the environmentally-responsible thing to do. Naturally, not using your dryer will save you money as well.

So that's it. Short and sweet. Instead of the dryer, use the clothes line. Even if you don't want to do it for all of your laundry, at least give the sheets a try. You'll be won over. I practically guarantee it.

Who's in for the challenge?

Vinegar Friday -- a perfect line drying kind of day

My retractable clothes line from my porch to the oak tree and back

TGIVF!

It is an absolutely beautiful day in Western Pennsylvania! And perfect for line drying.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Don't forget to add a 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to your rinse cycle in place of fabric softener. DWV softens, disinfects and is non-toxic, unlike conventional fabric softeners. Toss some wool dryer balls into the dryer, or better yet, hang your laundry on the line and let the sun and wind dry your clothes without using any gas or electricity. Bonus: your laundry will smell amazing and your utility bill will be a bit cheaper. It's a win/win!

Keeping it green with vinegar,

Find out why you should avoid fabric softener here.

Earth Day Resolutions

Image by Teodoro S Gruhl

Last night, I was lying in bed thinking about what I could resolve to do that would be kinder to the earth. It had me stumped. Not that I have it all together when it comes to being green, but I really put forth an effort. 

While I was thinking about it, I decided to start a new tradition. While most people make resolutions on New Year's Day, I'm going to start my resolutions on Earth Day. Want to join me? I already posted my Green Grandma Question of the Day (GG QOTD) over on my Facebook page, asking community members to finish the sentence: On Earth Day this year, I resolve to ________________.

So, how would you complete that sentence? Is there anything you've been doing that hasn't been particularly earth-friendly? Perhaps you're still using too many paper towels (rags work just as well). Are you a cloth diapering mama who's gotten lazy and been using way too many disposables? Have you been forgetting your reusable bags too often when you go to the grocery store? Are you still using fabric softener (GASP!)? Are you tossing your sheets into the dryer when you could let the sun and breeze dry them just as easily (and much more fragrantly)? Are you driving when you could be walking? Have you been tossing cans and plastic bottles into the trash can at work where there's no recycling, rather than taking them home with you and putting them in your own recycling bin? Are you throwing away paper instead of taking it to a paper recycling collection bin in your community? Are you still cleaning with toxins when vinegar, lemon, and baking soda work just as effectively?

The list goes on and on. The question is: what changes are you willing to make? Will you sacrifice a bit of convenience to benefit the future generations on this magnificent planet of ours?

Which leads me back to the thoughts that kept me awake last night. What am I willing to do? This morning, it dawned on me (no pun intended). We have a few remodeling projects ahead of us and I resolve to use the greenest choices whenever possible. That means taking the time to research paints, flooring, fixtures, etc. and, within reason, paying extra for them.

So my resolution involves research. What about yours? 

Wishing you a wonderful Earth Day,

Thursday's Truths and Tidbits

For many of us, spring arrived early this year, with warmer than normal temps. I was surprised to discover that this March is only the 7th warmest since records started being kept back in the 1800s. Does that surprise you? I would have guessed this to be the warmest ever. It's all part of the earth's cycles. Who knows what next year will be like. I just hope the 80 degree temps on the first day of spring in Western Pennsylvania is no indication of what the summer is going to be like. I don't like heat. Period.

My grandson's diapers hanging on my daughter's clothesline

What I do like is the smell of sheets fresh off the line. Have you tried it lately? If not, what's stopping you? The advantages to line drying are countless.

• Economical. Just think about how much lower your energy costs will be if you cut back on how many loads of laundry you dry in your gas or electric dryer! Electric dryers are often the highest costing appliance to run in your home. They simply suck up a whole lot of electricity.
• Environmental. Want to limit your carbon footprint? Hang your laundry on a clothesline and let the wind and sun dry it. 
•  Easier on your clothes. Tossing your clothing in a heat-producing dryer can have detrimental effects on your clothes, especially delicate items like bras, underwear and swimsuits. If you don't line dry anything else, you should at least hang your delicates on a line, in or outside of your home. Your undergarments and swimwear will last so much longer when their treated right! Cold water and line drying. I've had the same underwear for over a decade now! Granted, I paid high prices for it, but it's held up nicely.
• Eliminates static. Really ... it does.

 I simply love to line dry my laundry and encourage you to give it a try. Is it more work? Of course. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

And that's all I have to say on this Thursday's Truths and Tidbits. The truth is: line drying is best on many counts. That's why I shared these little tidbits that, in the end, just might save you a fair bit of change!

Keeping it green on the line,

Hana