Do you regularly hang your clothes on the line to dry?
By Rocketj1
@rocketj1 (6955)
United States
October 10, 2008 4:12pm CST
My dryer is in need of repair. We had a horrendous smell coming from our washer and dryer. It started during an exceptionally humid week. I thought originally that the smell came from the washer. Maybe there was a buildup of mildew because of the humidity. So I did some research online and discovered some dishwasher cleaner which can be used for such a problem. By the time it arrived in the mail, we had narrowed the smell down to our dryer.
I researched that online and learned it could be many things. The smell was (excuse my description) a rather dead fish, moldy, mildewy smell. Lovely, right? Most of the problems described online said a rubbery smell (indicating a worn belt) or a burning smell (indicating a wiring problem) It could even be a dead animal that could have come thru the dryer vent. I Opened up the thing and took a look. Still couldn't see anything. FINALLY a repairman talked us thru it on the phone. He told us how to eliminate things.
We pulled the dryer out from the wall and that's when I discovered that the plug had been melting in the wall socket! Now we need the plug replaced and the "box" with the socket replaced.
In the meantime, I have been hanging most of my wash. I don't actually mind this since the weather has been great. But all the ironing!
I never ironed much at all before. The dryer seemed to take care of most wrinkles. I also have to go to the laundromat with my towels and under things. Towels dry rather crunchy I have found when I hang them. And under things? Who wants to hang them in the yard!
Do you hang your clothes? Does it make a lot of ironing? Does it dictate what clothing that you buy? Do you avoid cottons because of it? How about the laundromat? Is that very expensive for you?
I never ironed much at all before. The dryer seemed to take care of most wrinkles. I also have to go to the laundromat with my towels and under things. Towels dry rather crunchy I have found when I hang them. And under things? Who wants to hang them in the yard!
Do you hang your clothes? Does it make a lot of ironing? Does it dictate what clothing that you buy? Do you avoid cottons because of it? How about the laundromat? Is that very expensive for you?10 people like this
32 responses
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Oct 08
When I was little my mother did not have a washing machine or a dryer. So, we washed all of our clothing by hand with a washboard and hung them out to dry on the clothesline. I hated it because we had 3 trees right by the clothesline and the birds always made our clothing, especially the sheets, their target.
Then we would have to re-wash them and hang them out again. What a pain!
And then yes, we had to iron most everything. It really sucked. As soon as I was married I bought a washing machine and dryer. I don't ever want to have to wash clothing by hand again nor dry it outside. And before you think I am very old (like Little House on the Prairie days or something) to have had to wash my clothing by hand, etc. I am 41 years old.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
Then we would have to re-wash them and hang them out again. What a pain!
And then yes, we had to iron most everything. It really sucked. As soon as I was married I bought a washing machine and dryer. I don't ever want to have to wash clothing by hand again nor dry it outside. And before you think I am very old (like Little House on the Prairie days or something) to have had to wash my clothing by hand, etc. I am 41 years old.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
19 Oct 08
You know, my grandmother did have a wringer washer and my mother and I did use it until it finally stopped working!
Then we had to do it by hand with the wash board. That is funny, because I will bet you that most people on here have no idea what a wringer washer is!
Then we had to do it by hand with the wash board. That is funny, because I will bet you that most people on here have no idea what a wringer washer is!
2 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Oct 08
I have a tumble dryer, but it uses up such a lot of electric that I decided that from this summer I was going to peg it all out, weather permitting of course. I have stuck to that and you know I have saved a lot on electric, but I do not like the crunchy towels, they are so rough on skin! I have just started to use a fabric softener now and that seems to help a bit.
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Oct 08
Yes adding fabric softener duriong the rinse cycle will help the clothes be softer etc. Also shaking them out after they are dry helps as well a little bit.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 Oct 08
I use my lovely Sears Kenmore gas dryer that I bought in 1986. Still in good working order despite the broken cable on one side of the dryer door. I guess if it broke and couldn't be fixed I'd get a new one. I only hang stuff to dry if it absolutely can't be put in the dryer.
3 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Our dryer is a kenmore also and came with the house. It very well could be as old as yours if not older. We have been noticing that it takes longer and longer to dry (this could be due to its electrical problem?) and we hope it's not the thermostat. Also the door has a broken spring that I just ignore. So it's a question of whether it's worth repairing, or it's time for a new one. Such is life!
2 people like this
@jstmarfz (1498)
• United States
10 Oct 08
We used dryers for drying clothes. But hanging wet clothes to make it dry is a good idea too. It really dries up the clothes and wont give bad smells to the clothes as long as it is sunny. But it is not advisable with colored clothes because it cause fading the color of shirts. I use to do that when I was in Philippines because we can not afford to have a dryer..hehe
3 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
10 Oct 08
The only person I knew personally who hung their clothes when I was growing up was my grandmother. She used an old "wringer washer" where you ran your clothes thru this big hand-crank wringer. Then she hung them to dry. Everyone else had a washer and dryer.
You are right about clothes fading in the sun. My son has lots of black t-shirts (all different slogans on them). I can fortunately hang them in indirect sunlight at this time of the year.
2 people like this
@belk89 (1103)
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
I use to hang my clothes on line to dry. Then after that i iron all of them. I dont mind ironing clothes so it was not hard for me to do all that. I was use to it since in our country we usually handwash our dirty laundry. We dont rely on washing machine since not all sides of the clothes are clean. I still see dirt after i put them in a washing machine. I normally buy cotton clothes since they are comfortable to my skin. And i use a fabric softener which helps a lot coz my clothes are less wrinkled.
3 people like this
@jayoti (66)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Till now i have never faced such a problem. As my washer and dryer is working fine and yes i dont need to iron also as the dryer takes care of the wrinkles. But, if someday the problem arise i will surely have the same questions as you have now. I stay in an apartment and don't have the permission to hang my clothes in the patio from the leasing office. So i would definitely have to give it to the drycleaners..
and for the under garments,maybe i would prefer washing it myself and hanging it in the bathroom rather than giving it to the drycleaners.
3 people like this
@cuttyrish (2667)
• United States
11 Oct 08
when the weather is fine, we usually hang the clothes outside either in the clothes line or the clothes rack...we are hanging some towels, too, but so far there are no problems with it regarding wrinkles... when the weather is not nice, we use the dryer... i like my clothes hang than dry.. they smell nicer if its hang...
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Oct 08
I do not have a line outside in my yard just yet.
But the large bedspreadfs etc we do hang outside on the fence or deck rails to dry.
I love the smell of air dryed laundry. In the near futuire I plan on installoing a couple posts and clothesline for drying the laundry.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Oct 08
Hi rocketj1,
We used to hang our clothes too. But things have gotten inconvenient somewhat and we don't like the not-yet-dried smell while the clothes are drying.
And we don't like having the clothes all over the place so in the end, we bought a dryer and WOW, what a great invention!
Now our clothes are clean and crisp after drying and we love it.
We still iron the clothes that we wear out - whether we dry them by dryer or hanging.
2 people like this
@donna22 (1116)
•
11 Oct 08
We dont have a dryer. My Mam would love one but nowhere to put it. She usually takes the washing to work with her and uses theirs. Other than that we sometimes hang clothes up on the washing line but living in England, that sometimes does more harm than good really lol. Only other option is the radiators.
2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
11 Oct 08
i use to hang out my clothes all the time. i loved the smepll of them. i always use fabric softner that helped the crunch. i haven't been to a laundrymat in years, have no idea what it osts.i'm glad u found up what was wrong before u had a house fire. i like cotton alot so it does make for more ironing for sure,but i iron anyway. not what i wear aroung the house but anything i wear out.
@iskayz (5420)
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
Hi there!
In my country we do hang our clothes to dry. Besides, not all people can afford to buy a washing machine with a dryer cause its expensive. And still most people use the old fashion way of washing clothes and that is by hand and hang to dry.
I have a washing machine with a spin dryer. I still have to hang my clothes to dry. I wash all kinds of clothing in the washer. Even towels and blankets. Except for my undies cause they're so delicate. The washer can rip them hehe
. I just wash my undies by hand. I never go to laundromats. I just do the washing all by myself.
I also do the ironing. Though some cloth type need not to be ironed when they dry.
Ciao!
In my country we do hang our clothes to dry. Besides, not all people can afford to buy a washing machine with a dryer cause its expensive. And still most people use the old fashion way of washing clothes and that is by hand and hang to dry.
I have a washing machine with a spin dryer. I still have to hang my clothes to dry. I wash all kinds of clothing in the washer. Even towels and blankets. Except for my undies cause they're so delicate. The washer can rip them hehe. I just wash my undies by hand. I never go to laundromats. I just do the washing all by myself.
I also do the ironing. Though some cloth type need not to be ironed when they dry.
Ciao! @drnehasth (36)
•
11 Oct 08
wel wel wel
i hav never faced any such probs with my drier yet
wil keep this in mind if anything ever arises :)
thanks 4 the post buddy ;)
2 people like this
@chrissieg (27)
•
11 Oct 08
Yes whenever we get good weather in Ireland i always put my clothes on the line. It save using your tumble dryer. But then when its raining i have no choice but to put them in tumble dryer or put them on the radiator. Its good for your clothes to get some fresh air it keeps the smell of the fabric softener on them.
2 people like this
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
13 Oct 08
I use a dryer, I have though about it before and I just to have the time or the paitents to hang dry my clothes. I would have to irn them all since they would get wrinkled that way and I would have to wait twice as long for them to dry. and what would I do in the winter time when it is too cold for hem to dry, my clothes would turn to icicles.
1 person likes this
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
11 Oct 08
Since moving to the city, I have drying racks instead of a line. I hang up anything delicate, something I don't want to shrink or fade. I shake/pull out all the wrinkles I can and carefully hang it. It makes a difference for me, most things do not wrinkle at all. I refuse to iron. So, if something is wrinkled, my husband will iron it if he really cares. But, I haven't seen the iron out for anything other than kids' crafts in a long time.
1 person likes this
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
11 Oct 08
One of the pluses of marrying an older bachelor. Plus, I told him before we got married that if ever wanted it ironed that he would have to do it himself. I'll do windows, but I won't iron. In fact, I have one shirt that wrinkles no matter what, and he will actually iron it for me when I want to wear it. 
I got a good one.
I got a good one.1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
The plub has been melting! Certainly it could emit such kind of abnoxious smell! Well I too needs to buy another dryer. It just stopped the other day and I believe I would rather buy a new one than have it repaired for anyway I can't remember anymore how many years have we been using that. We are not hanging on the line. We built a rooftop convenient enough for hanging the clothes but problem is it has been raining here most of the time so I really have to find time to go to the nearest Appliance Center. And yes you are right the dryer do take care most of the wrinkles and the towels really need the dryer to get a soft feel when dry. With cottons it really is tough when so wrinkled so the best when hanging is to make sure you've squeezed it so well and have it stretched before you let it dry otherwise, you'd consume a lot of time pressing.
1 person likes this
Thanks:)
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
11 Oct 08
Hello rocketj1
I have just recently purchased a tumble dryer because last year I remember getting so fed up with having big bed sheets hanging around the house to dry. We have had so much rain lately but it is still not cold enough to put the heating on so when the washing is hanging around the house it does make the house feel colder and a bit damp. As I am a single mum to 3 boys, money is a bit tight so I have decided to only use the dryer for towels and bed clothes. There will be a time when the heating goes on so the other clothes will dry that way. This last few days we have had fantastic weather and I have enjoyed hanging the washing out on the line the smell of stuff that has been dryed outside is great and there is nothing like it.
1 person likes this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
19 Oct 08
It has been years sense I have been able to hang clothes outside.
I like how fresh that clothes smell off the line.
I like how sometimes you can dry a load on the line faster then in a dryer.
Saves you a lot on the electric bills in the Summer.
I have heard folks refer to the clothes line as a " Solar Power Clothes Dryer"!!
1 person likes this
@sweetbabyjane (1929)
• United States
12 Oct 08
We used to be the only family that did not have a dryer. We alwyas hung out clothes out on the line to dry. I was so used to the clothes being dried that way that by adding the right amount of fabric softner the clothes are very soft. It has been many years since all of our laundry was hung to dry and I don't know how much softner to put in the wash. I have tried to hang clothes out because money is tight but they are just so stiff that I end up putting them in the dryer. I don't really accomplish anything.
