When I was little, I'd see movies or commercials that showed little girls running through the sheets that were hanging out to dry. It looked like so much fun & I asked my mom why we didn't do our drying like that. She basically said that only "poor" people dry their clothes that way and that it didn't look nice to see laundry hanging. And I saw that she was right; in our neighborhood nobody would do such a thing, but driving into other sections of town we could see their laundry hanging. I just accepted it as the way it was and went about my business.Until I moved to Israel. Here, hanging laundry is the socially accepted norm. For years I couldn't fathom hanging it every day like my neighbors and didn't like the way it looks. Then one summer my dryer broke. And I hung all summer long, until the rainy season began (winter here), and we prioritized the dryer repair.
But I've been thinking about it again, and a few weeks ago I decided to start utilizing this (free) power we all have-the sun, to save on electricity (translate: $$$). Good for the environment, good for the pocket, I'm happy.
It does take more time to hang the clothes and bring them in than it does to load and empty the dryer, and that has been my main objection. However, I have decided to enjoy those few minutes outside by myself as a little break. All moms need that!
And as for the way it looks, I hang it out on my roof deck where it doesn't show-not to the neighbors; it's out of my view as well. But twice a day I have a reason to stand and look at my gorgeous view of the Judean hills. (That's my laundry and my view) Nice!
I do one large load every day (keeps Mt. Washmore away), plus a load of cloth diapers. My drying rack holds only the one load; for now I'm still using the dryer for the diapers or if I need to do more than one load. Another drying rack or a line would solve that problem. I'll get there. Babysteps.
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When I was a small girl, my mom used to hang the sheets to dry and I loved running through them. Right now I don't have a dryer, but the place we're living in is from the 40s and has a fantastic clothes line. I can line dry 3+ loads at once! I love line drying. I have been known to dry my clothes on a rack in the house when the weather is bad. When you don't have a dryer...we'll, you get creative!
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