How to line dry like a boss! Ok, I’ll admit, I laughed hysterically when I wrote that title; clearly I haven’t had enough coffee. But let’s talk about how to line dry and really like it. I love my clothesline and living in Phoenix I use it, pretty much, all year long. I enjoy the quiet time hanging my laundry out on the line, except on the days it is over 110 degrees.
Line drying not only saves us money on our electric bill each month, it also helps fabrics to last longer. So clothes, towels, sheets, etc. will not fade and wear as quickly as they would if you were drying them in the dryer regularly. You might be interested to know that laundry dryers are some of the largest consumers of energy in your home? And if you use dryer sheets in your dryer you are creating a more toxic environment in your home (check out Toxic Dryer for more information on that).
Here are my 5 best tips for drying with a clothesline…and loving it!
How to Line Dry Like a Boss
Tip 1 – The Clothesline
The right clothes will really help making line drying easier and more enjoyable. Think about your space and where a line would best fit, this will help you in choosing the type of line that you want. I started with a simple vinyl clothesline that I wrapped around the pillars on my porch and nailed to secure. It worked by I was constantly having to tighten it up.
- Retractable Clothesline – This is what I use now and it is great for the space I have.
And I love that when it isn’t in use, the line doesn’t need to be up. A lot sturdier than the vinyl line! These are perfect for spaces that you don’t always want to have your line visible. I recommend this one. - Pulley Clothesline – a pulley clothes makes hanging lots of clothes out at one time a lot easier. You and your basket of clothes stay put and you pull for new line as your hung items move along. These are great if you have a long space to hang them in between. I have seen them long two trees, between a house and garage or poles that were installed especially for the line. I recommend this one.
- Umbrella Clothesline – The umbrella clothesline is great for heavy or large loads of clothes. Some umbrella clothes lines can hold several loads of laundry at once. This clothesline is your workhorse. You do need to have the space to put one of these bad boys up but most will fold down when not in use. I like the rotary styles, like the pulley you can stand in one spot with your basket and spin the clothesline when you need more space. Win! I recommend this one.
And I love that when it 
isn’t in use, the line doesn’t need to be up. A lot sturdier than the vinyl line! These are perfect for spaces that you don’t always want to have your line visible. I recommend 
clothes. Some umbrella clothes lines can hold several loads of laundry at once. This clothesline is your workhorse. You do need to have the space to put one of these bad boys up but most will fold down when not in use. I like the rotary styles, like the pulley you can stand in one spot with your basket and spin the clothesline when you need more space. Win! I recommend Tip 2 – The Pins
If you’re going to line dry like a boss then you need to get serious about your clothes pins. I’ve purchased cheap, low end pins and regretted it. Cheap plastic breaks down quickly in the sun, heat and rain and I was replacing them more often. My favorite pin, hands down are Kevin’s Clothespins. They are handmade, longer and stronger than any other wood or plastic pins I’ve tried. I can’t say enough good things about them; after years with the same set they have more than paid for themselves.
Tip 3 – How Hang Like a Boss
- Keep your clothes pins on your or in a bag on the line. Having them easily accessible makes hanging much faster.
- Always put away your pins when you’re items are done drying. You don’t want to leave them in the sun and/or weather to wear them out faster.
- You may want a rolling clothes basket if you don’t have a pulley or rotating umbrella system.
- Before you hang anything on the line give it a good firm shake. This will help release some of the wrinkles and any excess water.
- Hang your pants from the cuff, not the waist.
- Put your dress shirts and blouses on a hanger and that from the line…then pop ’em in the closet.
- It is best to hang socks from the toes vs the tops – and they will dry faster pinned than folding them over the line.
- T-shirts and polos should also be hung by the hem instead of the tops.
- You may want to put your unmentionables on a indoor drying rack, unless you want your neighbors gawking at your undies. 😉
- Sheets and blankets will dryer faster if you hang each half on one side of the clothesline vs just folding it over.
- If you find that towels and bedding are too stiff after line drying you can throw them in the dryer with some dryer balls for about 5 mins to soften them up.
Tip 4 – How to Line Dry, Indoor Options
How to line dry like a boss INSIDE! For one reason or another you may want to have an indoor option for line drying.
- Tension Bar – I have a simple tension shower bar over my washer and dryer and will hang clothes on a hanger and leave them there to dry.
- Drying Rack – Like I mentioned before, an indoor drying rack can be very helpful for items that cannot be hung or you do not want them out of the world to see. I have used these on my porch too so they aren’t as visible but I am getting the power of that Arizona heat to dry them.
- Indoor Retractable System – If you have the space there are retractable systems made for indoor line drying.
- Cold Weather Tips – If you’re bringing in your line drying because of the weather I recommend placing your hanging clothes near the heat vents if possible. If you want to put them near a stove or fireplace make sure that the are far enough away that they won’t catch fire.
Tip 5 – Dealing with Line Dry Haters
For some reason there are people that associate line drying with the lower class and they don’t want to see your clothesline full of clothes. If you think your neighbors are going to give you a hard time I have a few tips to avoid a showdown.
- Lower your line so it is out of their direct vision.
- If you can hang clothes on the weekdays when people are less likely to be hanging outside.
- Know your rights (see below)!
If line drying outside is banned by your HOA or neighborhood or your nosy neighbor just keeps complaining… You should know that 19 states in the US have Right to Dry laws on the books that void restrictions and quiet complainers. Right to Dry States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.
If your state doesn’t have a law like this in place maybe you should champion the way to getting one!
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You didn’t mention anything about bird poop. It is inevitable, and I wonder if you have anything that removes the stains?
You know, that is not something I’ve had issues with. This is probably because my line is on my porch. I just use my laundry soap and a tooth brush for stains.
It’s a lot less common than I ever thought. I’ve been line drying for a decade and I’d say I had to deal with bird poop maybe 5 times. Try to avoid putting your line under trees that are popular with your birds, and away from bird feeders 🙂 it also probably depends on how long you leave them outside. If you take them in as soon as they are dry, the clothes haven’t been out there very long.
I love my solar dryer. I hang my clothes out every chance possible. I have 2 loads on the line drying now. I screwed a eye hook into the utility pole at one end and planted a landscape in the ground with some quickrete. Screwed a eye hook into the timber. Got some coated clothesline wire and some spring hooks on both ends for removability. When we want to throw horseshoes or corny ole I just unhook the clothesline and roll it up. I love it. My husband was impressed.
I have been line drying since I was 10, I am 65 now and only had a bird poop on one piece of laundry, one time.
Absolutely LOVE my clothesline, in fact, that was one of the FIRST things I had put up when we moved in to our place, I also have inside drying racks for rainy days.
Love to hang up clothes. It seems so peaceful and for some reason I like seeing it on the ling. It also gets me out and I get my 15 minutes of vitamin D.
Loved your article and the suggestions.
Me too! It’s IS peaceful. And i feel a connection to all the women before me who did the exact same thing for generations back to the invention of clothes!
I would love to line dry, but I can’t get past the issue of dust and dirt from close by roads. (also the bird poop issue…) I am a bit OCD, but wonder how others deal with the dust/dirt issue? I can’t see hanging up clothes that will only attract dirt from roads nearby to the wet clothing. Seems counter-productive!
I really would like input from others about this.
I have line dried for 40+ years and believe it or not, never had a bird poop on the clothing! As far as dirt and dust, if you live on a dirt road, I can understand the chances of dust blowing on clothing. I live on a dirt road but am very far back from the road so it hasn’t been an issue. However, if you place your clothesline behind a building that would block any blowing dust/dirt, that might be your solution. Also, not knowing your location/climate, hanging early in the day and getting the clothing back off the lines before wind picks up or roads dry out from overnight dew would be my suggestion.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Good luck finding something that will work for you.
I am a huge fan of hanging my laundry outside on an umbrella clothesline. Party because of the money I save, but also because I adore the smell of freshly washed and windblown dried bed linnen. Soms of my friends consider me old fashioned, but I love it!!!
I have always enjoyed hanging out the laundry, then bringing it in as the sun sets. It’s a great way to quietly work, spend time with one of the children in conversation, and spares us much ironing. With our large family, it was a huge savings to only use the dryer when the weather wouldn’t allow air drying. We’ve only had one dryer in our 30 years in this house. Years ago we had a birthday party for our son that included a water balloon and water gun battle all over the backyard. One thoughtful young man asked what to do with the wet towels and suits. I smiled and told him that we would use the “solar dryer”. (The solar drive was just getting started in CA, and some HOAs had made the newspaper with their clothesline restrictions.) Mystified, he followed me out to the clothesline! We shared a good laugh. By the time they all headed home, their stuff was dry.
Brought up on a farm and we harnessed the wind to dry the bed sheets, whatever was in the daily laundry basket. A winter kitchen wood cook stove does more than just heat the room and partner up in the what’s for supper. It’s cross trained to add a little moisture to the dry air home for more comfortable living. Good points. Thrifty is a habit in your daily routine.
when you hang your laundry out , turn them inside out. to prevent sun fading and any bird droppings or bug etc. stain won’t be on the outside.
Great tip!
Here in Australia, Clotheslines are the norm. Only in colder states do people use a dryer. The “umbrella” line.. was originally called a hills hoist. It was designed right here in Australia and patented by Frank Hills. Just a useless piece of information for you.
There is just something about drying your clothes in the sunshine…. I think they smell better. Here we have trouble with fading due to sun. But if monitored closely it’s not that big of a problem. I find it amazing that hanging your clothes outside could possibly be banned! and that there are laws protecting rights in several states! How fascinating! Like I said… here pretty much everyone that owns or leases a home (with a garden or yard) has a line. Those that live in apartment complexes often use what we call an airer… which is a folding device that has several rails for hanging clothes on. Something similar to a drying rack I suppose.
Thanks for the content.. very interesting
We can have fading here in Arizona too, especially in the summer.
If you are one of those people who don’t like the feel of clothesline hung towels or clothing because they feel scratchy, I have a tip for you. The reason they feel that way is because you are using too much soap. If you will cut back on your soap by about 1/4 to maybe 1/3 this will stop that from happening. Most companies recommend more soap than you actually need so they can sell more product. You’ll just have to experiment with it because not everybody’s water is the same. Give it a try and see if this doesn’t help.
I tumble my clothes for 5 minutes without heat rthen put them on the line. Clothes ad especially towels are soft and lovely.
Great tip! I will do this sometimes, but after I dry them outside.
We hang our clothes to dry year round, summer its outside as thus far, the state of Ohio hasn’t figured out how to tax sunshine. In the winter, it helps put moisture in the air as we use our woodstove 80% of the time for heat.
In Phoenix we have clothes hanging weather year round (mostly). You’re ingenious!
I’ve been air drying my clothes since I went out on my own. I rent, so I just put a few nails/screws in opposite doorframes and strung some clotheslines. Some of the apartments had an umbrella-type attached to the side of the building [tho sometimes I had to replace the lines]. I did this even when I used cloth diapers [the OLDE kind]. Now, at 73 I use a foldable one and the shower curtain rod.