A clothesline costs very little, uses no electricity, and gives sheets a clean smell that a dryer cannot copy. Many people hang laundry in summer and then give up when the weather turns. In my house the line keeps working in all four seasons, with a few adjustments that I will share here.
This article covers how to hang laundry well, what to do in cold, damp, and pollen-heavy weather, and how to keep clothes from turning stiff.
What You Need and How to Hang
The list is short:
- A clothesline or a folding drying rack
- Clothespins (wooden ones last for years, and plastic ones work too)
- A basket to carry wet laundry
- A clean cloth to wipe the line before you hang anything
Wipe the line with a damp cloth each time. If you have no yard, a folding rack on a balcony or a porch works the same way, as long as air can move around it. Dust and bird droppings on the line will transfer to white sheets.
How to Hang Laundry So It Dries Well
Good hanging does half the work, and it is easy once you have a rhythm.
- Shake each piece hard before you hang it. This loosens wrinkles and fluffs the fibers.
- Hang shirts by the hem, not the shoulders, so pins leave no marks where you can see them. Hang trousers by the waistband or cuffs.
- Place sheets and tablecloths over the line folded in half, then pin them at the corners. Leave space between pieces so air passes freely.
- Put heavy items, such as towels and jeans, in the sunniest, windiest spot, and put lightweight items where the wind is lighter.
- Turn dark clothes and printed shirts inside out, because sun fades color over time.
- Bring the laundry in as soon as it is dry. Leaving it out overnight lets dew soak it again.
Spring, Summer, and Autumn
Warm and breezy days
Put the first load out early in the morning, before the sun is at its strongest, and you may finish two or three loads before supper. Warm, breezy days dry a load in an hour or two. This is the easiest season, so do the big jobs now: blankets, rugs with a washable label, and sheets.
Sunshine also brightens plain white cotton, which makes the line a good partner when you are trying to fix dull whites. I describe this in my article on removing yellow stains from old white linens. Keep brightly colored things in the shade, or turn them inside out.
If pollen is high and anyone in the house has allergies, dry laundry indoors on those days or wait until the count drops. Pollen sticks to damp cloth and rides into the bedroom.
Autumn and rainy days
Autumn has good drying days, but it also brings fog, rain, and falling leaves. Here are simple rules for those days:
- Do not hang laundry out if the air feels damp or rain is coming. Wet cloth in cold, humid air can take a day to dry and may smell musty.
- If a shower surprises you, take the washing in, and shake it, then finish on a rack indoors.
- Check the sky before you start, not after.
Winter: Yes, You Can
Here in Vermont the winters are long, yet I still hang sheets outside on cold, dry, sunny days. Wet clothes can freeze stiff as boards on the line. That looks alarming, but the ice slowly turns to vapor in the dry cold air, and the laundry becomes dry, if you leave it long enough. It takes much longer than in summer, often most of the day.
Some tips for winter:
- Choose a day with low humidity and some wind or sun. A gray, damp, cold day will not work, because the air cannot take up the moisture.
- Use pins that are not brittle plastic, since cold makes some plastic crack.
- Wring items very well first, or spin them in the washer an extra time.
- When you bring frozen laundry in, do not bend it sharply. Lay it flat or drape it on a rack, and let it thaw and finish drying.
- Give delicate items and anything that must stay soft a quick shake and a few minutes in the dryer afterward.
Drying Indoors the Safe Way
Some weeks it simply cannot be done outdoors. On days when outdoors is not possible, use a rack in a room with moving air. Open a window slightly or run a fan so moisture can leave. Wet clothes in a closed room raise the humidity, and damp walls and windows can grow mildew.
Do not drape laundry over a heater or against a hot stove, since that can scorch cloth and create a fire risk. Keep the rack a safe distance from any heat source, and keep it out of walkways. Hang heavy pieces on the outer bars and thin pieces in the middle, and leave a hand’s width between items. A rack packed tightly takes twice as long and smells worse. Dry sheets and towels in the dryer or on the outdoor line when you can, because they take up so much room that they raise indoor humidity quickly.
Fix Stiff Towels and Rough Jeans
Air-dried towels can feel crisp, and I do not mind it, though some people do. Stiffness comes from fibers that dried flat and still hold a little soap or hard-water mineral, not from the air itself. These steps help:
- Shake towels firmly before and after drying. A hard shake breaks the loops open and lets them stand up again.
- Run them through a short tumble in the dryer, about five minutes, just to fluff them.
- Use less detergent. Too much soap stays in the fibers and stiffens them, so measure carefully.
- Add a half cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle if your water is hard. Never put it in the same load as bleach, and never mix the two products anywhere.
Quick-Fire FAQ
Will clothes really dry in freezing weather?
Yes, on cold, dry days. The ice turns to vapor slowly, so the process takes much longer than in summer.
Does line-drying kill germs?
Sunshine helps freshen laundry, but it is not a sterilizer. If someone has been ill, wash in the warmest water the label allows first.
Why do my clothes smell musty after drying outside?
They stayed damp too long, often in humid air or in a closed room. Hang them in wind and sun and bring them in promptly.
Can I line-dry everything?
Most items, yes. Knit sweaters should dry flat so they do not stretch, and some items with elastic last longer when kept away from strong sun.
— Grandma Gigi
