There are several posts on drying clothes on a clothes line. The benefits to doing this not only reduce utility bills, but also is good for the environment because of the reduced energy use. There are a few bonus benefits as well.
Today when I took down clothes drying on the line there was a nice breeze blowing towards my back door. As soon as I walked out the back door I could smell the clean clothes. There is nothing like that smell! When the clean scent first hit me, it didn’t matter about the environment or the financial savings, it was worth hanging my clothes on a clothes line just for the scent!
When the weather isn’t too uncomfortably hot, it is very relaxing to hang up clothes and take them down. This is another bonus benefit of line dried clothes.
Water is one utility that does not cost a lot of money, but it shouldn’t be neglected when looking for ways to reduce utility bills. Some parts of the country raise their water rates during the summer months to discourage use. If you live in one of these areas, it will be even more worth your time to find ways to reduce your water bill. Here are some ideas:
- Make sure that the faucets and pipes are not leaking. Leaking pipes can cost you hundreds of dollars per year. Tighten up dripping faucets and leaking pipes.
- Toilet flushing can cost you a lot of money on your water bill. Try switching over to a dual flush toilet handle they can save you money.
- Cut down on the amount of time to take a shower. Showers should be no longer than 5 minutes. Also try changing your shower head. They have energy efficient and water saving shower heads.
- When washing dishes don’t run the water on full power, keep it to a minimum. Don’t run the dishwasher if you have less than a half full load. You are not only wasting the water but you are wasting electricity.
- If you have the time to wash dishes by hand, do it!
- Make sure that all of your outdoor water faucets are not dripping. Most people don’t pay much attention to those outside hoses, out of sight out of mind. But these leaks can cost you money every month and you may not realize it.
Take time to walk through your home and the outside and check all faucets and correct any leaks that you may find.
You don’t need to wait until winter to reduce your gas bill. There are ways to reduce your gas bill now during the summer and prepare now the house for when winter gas heating use is high.
During the summer:
- Keep the gas bills down by keeping your hot water temperature set at 120 degrees or lower.
- Keep your showers to less than 5 minutes you will save gas as well as water. Once wet, try turning off the water while washing your body and hair. Turn the water back on to rinse.
- When you do laundry make sure your washer is set to the correct wash load setting. Don’t use warm or hot water when it’s not needed and set at the correct load size to reduce the water used to fill washer.
- Hang clothes up to dry instead of turning on the dryer.
Preparing your house for the winter months:
- Make sure before the winter comes that the windows are not leaking and sills and the windows are not drafty. If you feel a draft, take some caulking and fill in the windows where you feel the draft.
- Buy some weather stripping for the doors for the inside door jam as well as the bottom.
- Look at landscaping, some trees that keep their leaves in the winter may need to be cut back before winter because they provide too much shade from the sun. The sun can warm a house and reduce heating costs.
- Install a timer for the heater. The thermostat can be set at 66-68 degrees during the day if there is no one is home and during the night when everyone is asleep. The timer can be set to 70 -72 degrees about a half hour before returning home or getting up in the morning.
- Heavy curtains can keep the cold out at night (during the summer it can keep the heat out during the day)
There is no need to wait until winter to lower gas bills.