I've started drying a bit outside. It's unusually early--it seems like May is a more typical starting month. But we've had some unusually hot weather--the other day even set a record--which helps...
Last year also saw an unusually early start. I had no dryer at one point--the old one blew up, and took the outlet with it, as it headed to the Laundry Room in the Sky. So I started drying stuff outside, and then brought it in to finish off.
I'm thinking I may do this "start outside, finish off" on many clothes this year.
One of the nice things about this place is that I have real lines to use, which are between the laundry room wall and a carport. For years before that, I only had those folding wood racks (as many as two at a time, with thoughts of maybe I should have at least one more).
Indeed, those lines pose one struggle I have. There are a long list of arguments that I should be moving on from this place sooner rather than later. But one of the plusses of this place are those lines. I may well never have a chance at having that type of line again. A part of me says it could be a worthwhile casuality, particularly in that our season is so short here. But I know I'll miss them as I see them the last time when I leave for the last time. (AW.org is the only place where I could confess to being sad at the thought of leaving clothes lines and not be considered nuts!)
Like others, I like drying outside. I--perhaps strangely--like the crispness (although I'm not as wild about still towels...), and the fresh scent. Indeed, I tend to avoid buying scented detergent during line drying season--I want the fresh air scent, not the fake knockoff that a detergent company comes up with!
I also like the frugality and energy savings. At points, I've even dried a lot of clothes on wood racks inside during winter. At my peak, only sheets were machine dried regularly!
It's interesting that this is an area where my heritage is mixed. My grandmother--who was in many ways a much different person than I am--dried outside in summer. Meanwhile, my mother used a dryer year round. We had lines outside--and the lines themselves were replaced by us. And yet, my mother stopped using them after I was in early elementary school. I don't know why--maybe it was just because its easier flinging clothes into the dryer. Maybe it was because of the bee that hitched a ride on clothes one day. Maybe it was just too many bad memories of having to dry on lines (much of her childhood, and then for a few years in the 70s we lived in a house that had no dryer wiring).
