Folding Laundry Rack

Let It All Hang Out

I like my modern conveniences as much as the next guy. In fact, without my phone, Internet and cable, I’d be hopelessly lost. There are some places, however, where pulling the plug is easy, and environmentally sound.

Dryers use a tremendous amount of electricity—in most homes, second only to the refrigerator. Drying your clothes outside, on an inexpensive clothesline or drying rack, is a simple, energy-efficient alternative to gas or electric dryers. 

With the beautiful warm weather we are having, this is the perfect time to try this green tip. The energy savings aside, line-drying helps lessen your impact on the environment, and you can’t beat that fresh, clean clothes smell. If you have the space in your laundry room or basement, this is a tip that you can use year-round. If space is an issue, take advantage of the warmer months and enjoy seeing lower electric bills while the weather cooperates.

An outside drying rack and line can be purchased at home improvement stores for around $20. 

New at line-drying? Here’s a few tips to help with the transition.

• Add a half a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle to prevent clothes from getting stiff on the line. 

• Use clothespins. You can get a huge bag of them for a few dollars. By clipping clothes to the line rather than folding them over, you cut down on drying time, and avoid wrinkles and creases in your clothes.

• Try to avoid heavily shaded areas for your line. This lengthens drying time, and no one wants birds hovering above their their freshly washed linens. 

• Be sure to check that line drying is allowed in your community/development. There are certain planned communities that have banned line-drying over the years, claiming that it is “unsightly.” Personally, I find something lovely and tranquil about a fresh batch of sheets drying in the summer sun. 

Line-drying clothes is making a comeback. If the sight and smell of fresh clean clothes isn’t convincing enough, line-drying can shave about 50¢ per load from your electric bill, according to the "Mr. Electricity" website . For a family of five such as mine, that’s about $193 annually. Couple the energy savings and the money from all those dryer sheets and fabric softeners you won't be needing, and line-drying is a green tip that can save you a lot of green.

One more way to save money and save the planet.

Folding Laundry Drying Rack Reviews

It is plasticy and seems flimsy but actually holds quite a lot of laundry and not flimsy at all. It folds into a tiny narrow stick. I just hate the traditional drying racks. This was a great find for me-wish I had it earlier.

It has two parts-the top part has the clips -great for socks and stuff the bottom part has many arms to hag whatever. Single arm probably won’t hold a heavy towel but I hang it on couple of them. You can easily move around even with the laundry on it (i am careful though by holding the middle section)-it won;t collapse like regular racks with the clean laundry all over. I have a very big house but I think somebody with a small space would also greatly benefit from it.

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