Current fuel prices have millions of people scrambling to find alternative ways to save money.
One immediate no-brainer is the use of a clothesline.
They range in price from a few dollars for a simple rope, to several hundred dollars for a fancy umbrella system.
Many people are new to the task of "hanging-out," consequently this article is designed to take a little of the guesswork out of where to begin.
Choosing the right type; here is a short list of the more common things to consider: 1.
Family size.
The average load of laundry uses about 50 feet of line.
Just multiply it times the number of loads you typically wash in a day to figure the ideal clothesline size.
2.
The amount of available yard space you are willing to commit to a clothesline.
Umbrella style units usually have the smallest "footprint" while offering large amounts of line.
3.
Price-range; as stated earlier, one can easily spend hundreds of dollars on a clothesline.
We have found that the old adage, "you get what you pay for" absolutely applies to manufactured clotheslines.
Think about how long you realistically expect the clothesline to last.
Try comparing it to a wristwatch.
Do you buy five cheap watches over five years, or one good one that will outlast them all? It all depends on your goal.
4.
Hide-it? Many housing communities prohibit or restrict the use of a clothesline.
A few resourceful people get around these out-dated, anti-environmental laws by purchasing a clothesline that can be easily hidden or removed.
Fortunately many states are beginning to realize the lack of wisdom these bylaws offer, especially with regards to saving money and energy.
Some states are seeing the light and are now preventing communities from enforcing these restrictions.
5.
Little hands; if you want to prevent children from reaching your drying clothes, a pulley system may be a great choice.
Pulleys can be placed high, (especially with the addition of a (clothesline elevator), so children cannot reach the clothes.
An elevator works similar to a flagpole by simply raising the line about 4 additional feet after loading the line.
It can free the backyard up for other things.
6.
Installation ability; determine if you have the tools or physical ability to install a complicated clothesline.
If you still have your heart set on a particular style, perhaps a neighborhood handy-person can be hired.
Here are a few more basics to be aware of.
Umbrella and parallel umbrella clotheslines are by far the most popular.
The primary reason for this is because they offer a great deal of drying space/line in a very small area.
Most of them spin into the wind like a weathervane thereby decreasing drying time and making them easier to load.
You can simply put the laundry basket in one spot and rotate the upper structure to continue hanging laundry.
They can also be pulled up from the ground and folded up for storage.
Most umbrella clotheslines are constructed of aluminum or steel.
The steel units are about 5 pounds heavier then their aluminum counterparts, however steel is a bit stronger.
One important factor to consider is the frequency in which you will remove and store it.
An additional five pounds doesn't sound like much, but it's a significant amount of weight to continuously carry around and fold.
Aluminum umbrellas typically weight in the ballpark of 15 pounds and steel is about 20.
Retractable clotheslines are also very popular.
These typically have from one to five lines, which are spring-loaded and pull out several feet.
They can be hooked to a post, wall, tree or some other stationary object at the far end and can be retracted when not in use.
They also tend to be less expensive then the umbrella style.
T-Post units are popular for people with large back yards.
These are usually much more durable and able to withstand heavy loads of laundry and wind.
Most are permanently installed in the ground with concrete.
A pulley clothesline is also a very popular option.
It gives you the freedom to extend a clothesline a variety of feet, depending on haw far you need to run the line in order to attach the far end to a post, wall, tree etc.
Something as simple as a rope strung between two trees also works perfectly.
Add a bag of clothespins and you have a solar clothes drying system that's every bit as effective as the expensive alternatives.
Another positive aspect is, no moving parts.
Steel and aluminum are the primary metals used in today's clotheslines.
Always ensure steel is galvanized, powder-coated or has some type rust preventative treatment.
Aluminum does not rust, but it does slowly corrode so ensure that it too is protected.
We are often asked if an umbrella clothesline can be inserted into a regular patio umbrella base.
Most of these are made of plastic, consequently they will likely crack or break under a few heavy loads of wet laundry, especially it the wind kicks up.
Manufacturers recommend against doing this, however a few companies manufacture a base specifically designed for this purpose.
The drawback is they are seldom sold in stores and are so heavy they cost a small fortune to ship.
Types of rope; we believe the best-longest lasting, least stretching; least color-fading, most UV resistant type of line is Polyester.
If you are environmentally minded, "hemp" may be a satisfactory alternative.
Most umbrella and retractable clotheslines already come with metal fiber line that is wrapped in vinyl.
This type of line also does an excellent job and is very long lasting.
A newer type of line is steel cable wrapped in a PVC coating.
This stuff is extremely strong and has very little sag, although it is a bit more expensive.
No doubt additional points to consider can be added to this list, however we hope you can use a few of them to make a more informed purchase.
After all, a clothesline saves money and doesn't emit greenhouse gases.
If you live on a community where they are prohibited, perhaps it is time to become proactive and push to get the rule repealed.
One immediate no-brainer is the use of a clothesline.
They range in price from a few dollars for a simple rope, to several hundred dollars for a fancy umbrella system.
Many people are new to the task of "hanging-out," consequently this article is designed to take a little of the guesswork out of where to begin.
Choosing the right type; here is a short list of the more common things to consider: 1.
Family size.
The average load of laundry uses about 50 feet of line.
Just multiply it times the number of loads you typically wash in a day to figure the ideal clothesline size.
2.
The amount of available yard space you are willing to commit to a clothesline.
Umbrella style units usually have the smallest "footprint" while offering large amounts of line.
3.
Price-range; as stated earlier, one can easily spend hundreds of dollars on a clothesline.
We have found that the old adage, "you get what you pay for" absolutely applies to manufactured clotheslines.
Think about how long you realistically expect the clothesline to last.
Try comparing it to a wristwatch.
Do you buy five cheap watches over five years, or one good one that will outlast them all? It all depends on your goal.
4.
Hide-it? Many housing communities prohibit or restrict the use of a clothesline.
A few resourceful people get around these out-dated, anti-environmental laws by purchasing a clothesline that can be easily hidden or removed.
Fortunately many states are beginning to realize the lack of wisdom these bylaws offer, especially with regards to saving money and energy.
Some states are seeing the light and are now preventing communities from enforcing these restrictions.
5.
Little hands; if you want to prevent children from reaching your drying clothes, a pulley system may be a great choice.
Pulleys can be placed high, (especially with the addition of a (clothesline elevator), so children cannot reach the clothes.
An elevator works similar to a flagpole by simply raising the line about 4 additional feet after loading the line.
It can free the backyard up for other things.
6.
Installation ability; determine if you have the tools or physical ability to install a complicated clothesline.
If you still have your heart set on a particular style, perhaps a neighborhood handy-person can be hired.
Here are a few more basics to be aware of.
Umbrella and parallel umbrella clotheslines are by far the most popular.
The primary reason for this is because they offer a great deal of drying space/line in a very small area.
Most of them spin into the wind like a weathervane thereby decreasing drying time and making them easier to load.
You can simply put the laundry basket in one spot and rotate the upper structure to continue hanging laundry.
They can also be pulled up from the ground and folded up for storage.
Most umbrella clotheslines are constructed of aluminum or steel.
The steel units are about 5 pounds heavier then their aluminum counterparts, however steel is a bit stronger.
One important factor to consider is the frequency in which you will remove and store it.
An additional five pounds doesn't sound like much, but it's a significant amount of weight to continuously carry around and fold.
Aluminum umbrellas typically weight in the ballpark of 15 pounds and steel is about 20.
Retractable clotheslines are also very popular.
These typically have from one to five lines, which are spring-loaded and pull out several feet.
They can be hooked to a post, wall, tree or some other stationary object at the far end and can be retracted when not in use.
They also tend to be less expensive then the umbrella style.
T-Post units are popular for people with large back yards.
These are usually much more durable and able to withstand heavy loads of laundry and wind.
Most are permanently installed in the ground with concrete.
A pulley clothesline is also a very popular option.
It gives you the freedom to extend a clothesline a variety of feet, depending on haw far you need to run the line in order to attach the far end to a post, wall, tree etc.
Something as simple as a rope strung between two trees also works perfectly.
Add a bag of clothespins and you have a solar clothes drying system that's every bit as effective as the expensive alternatives.
Another positive aspect is, no moving parts.
Steel and aluminum are the primary metals used in today's clotheslines.
Always ensure steel is galvanized, powder-coated or has some type rust preventative treatment.
Aluminum does not rust, but it does slowly corrode so ensure that it too is protected.
We are often asked if an umbrella clothesline can be inserted into a regular patio umbrella base.
Most of these are made of plastic, consequently they will likely crack or break under a few heavy loads of wet laundry, especially it the wind kicks up.
Manufacturers recommend against doing this, however a few companies manufacture a base specifically designed for this purpose.
The drawback is they are seldom sold in stores and are so heavy they cost a small fortune to ship.
Types of rope; we believe the best-longest lasting, least stretching; least color-fading, most UV resistant type of line is Polyester.
If you are environmentally minded, "hemp" may be a satisfactory alternative.
Most umbrella and retractable clotheslines already come with metal fiber line that is wrapped in vinyl.
This type of line also does an excellent job and is very long lasting.
A newer type of line is steel cable wrapped in a PVC coating.
This stuff is extremely strong and has very little sag, although it is a bit more expensive.
No doubt additional points to consider can be added to this list, however we hope you can use a few of them to make a more informed purchase.
After all, a clothesline saves money and doesn't emit greenhouse gases.
If you live on a community where they are prohibited, perhaps it is time to become proactive and push to get the rule repealed.