As I enjoy the reduced utility bill from hanging clothes out on the line, I wonder what people can do if they don’t have a yard. Most apartment dwellers don’t want their bra and panties hanging from a clothes line hung by their front door!
Even in a home with no yard, there are ways to hang up clothes. These ways can also be utilized when the weather prohibits hanging clothes outside due to rain or cold.
DRYER STAND-there are dryer stands for clothes that may not go in the dryer. These fold up and can easily be stored in between use. Good for heavy and large laundered items.
HANGER DRYER-these can hang from a shower rod and have a circular area in which to hang smaller items.
EXPANDABLE DRYER-this attaches to one wall and it is pulled to the other just for use and then the clothesline retracts back in. Needs sturdy mounting. It works well in hallways.
Indoor clothes drying hints:
- When hanging clothes indoors to dry try to use smaller loads due to limited space.
- A fan can be placed near where the clothes are drying (still cheaper than running a dryer)
- Be sure there is space around the clothes that are drying.
- Overnight or while at work are good times to dry clothes indoors.
- Avoid doing laundry on the weekend when the house is more active.
Everyone can reduce their electricity and gas bills or spend less quarters at the laundry mat by drying clothes indoors when there is weather restrictions. It is also helpful for those living in apartments.
CHAIRS AND FURNITURE-be careful the dampness of the clothes don’t damage the furniture. This works if there are few items.
I have to admit I got lazy using my clothesline. Well, my dryer broke and there isn’t money available for a new one, so guess what I am back doing, hanging up my clothes! It had been several months since I had used the clothesline.
The most important thing that I got reminded of is the high cost of using my dryer. The other things that I forgot about was:
- Clothes just smell SO good off the line
- This time of year in AZ, clothes dry really fast
- Clothes need to be hang up in the morning due to our rains many evenings a week during our monsoons.
- It is relaxing to go outside and hang up clothes
- It takes less time to hang up clothes than it does to earn the money to pay the gas and electric bill for the dryer.
I am motivated to keep hanging up my clothes again! 
There are a few super simple ways to save on your utility bills that will have a bonus savings in other areas.
- Reduce amount of shampoo and conditioner. Using the right amount of shampoo and conditioner will reduce the amount of water and the amount of energy used to heat the water in the shower. Excess shampoo and conditioner will take longer to rinse, especially if you have long or thick hair. Higher priced brands are usually less concentrated so you can use less per shower.
- Minimize hand washing. Using hand disinfectants (especially the ones with lotion that don’t dry) will be less expensive than running and heating water. Regular towels and paper towels are not needed for drying either so that reduces laundry and paper waste (bad for the environment).
- Know your employee benefits and any discounts that come with it. (Wal-Mart employees get discounts on selected cell phone service each month). If your company matches any contributions, participate and take that free money to use for paying utility bills.
- Diet. If you need to loose weight, less weight in the car will save money on gas and wear and tear on the vehicle. Changing your diet to include a fresh food night that requires no cooking and no driving to fast food will benefit your health, your environment, and reduce the utility bill (and your gas bill).