Comments on: The Evils of Laundry http://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/ Learning about frugality Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:11:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: FrugalMamanhttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-6580 FrugalMaman Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:18:02 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-6580 i actually envy your ability to hang clothes outside during the fall and winter months. I particularly enjoy hanging clothes on the line and as I do it mindfully, I do find it zen-like. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada and as soon as the mercury dips down low, clothes will no longer dry outside but instead just freeze. I found it very hard this year to transition back to using the dryer again. It just felt wrong and wasteful. Plus I actually have to be MORE on top the laundry when I use the dryer since if I don't pull the clothes out when they're warm, they get all wrinkled and I have to turn on the dryer again. Add to that the conundrum of fabric softener. I use dryer sheets as little as possible and save them for the times when I don't manage to get to the dryer while the clothes are still damp (not an easy thing to do with a toddler and a preschooler in the house!) and the winter dryness causes a great big static-y lump. I hang some laundry inside the house during the winter (socks, underwear, fleece), but I have yet to create an organized system of lines or bars in the basement to hold everything. Kudos on using few chemicals and no paper products for cleaning. We've worked our way down to 1 spray-bottle off CLR (used sparingly every 6-8 weeks on our bathroom) and the environmentally-friendly dishwasher detergent. Otherwise, we use soapnuts (talk about frugal - these are super cheap and compostable), vinegar, baking soda, borax. Paper towels are used sparingly and I'm working on eliminating them. Our choices were made not only for cost reasons, but moreso for health and environmental reasons. While I do enjoy the routine of laundry, somehow I despise washing dishes, so I can sympathize with you there! i actually envy your ability to hang clothes outside during the fall and winter months. I particularly enjoy hanging clothes on the line and as I do it mindfully, I do find it zen-like. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada and as soon as the mercury dips down low, clothes will no longer dry outside but instead just freeze. I found it very hard this year to transition back to using the dryer again. It just felt wrong and wasteful. Plus I actually have to be MORE on top the laundry when I use the dryer since if I don’t pull the clothes out when they’re warm, they get all wrinkled and I have to turn on the dryer again. Add to that the conundrum of fabric softener. I use dryer sheets as little as possible and save them for the times when I don’t manage to get to the dryer while the clothes are still damp (not an easy thing to do with a toddler and a preschooler in the house!) and the winter dryness causes a great big static-y lump. I hang some laundry inside the house during the winter (socks, underwear, fleece), but I have yet to create an organized system of lines or bars in the basement to hold everything.

Kudos on using few chemicals and no paper products for cleaning. We’ve worked our way down to 1 spray-bottle off CLR (used sparingly every 6-8 weeks on our bathroom) and the environmentally-friendly dishwasher detergent. Otherwise, we use soapnuts (talk about frugal – these are super cheap and compostable), vinegar, baking soda, borax. Paper towels are used sparingly and I’m working on eliminating them. Our choices were made not only for cost reasons, but moreso for health and environmental reasons.

While I do enjoy the routine of laundry, somehow I despise washing dishes, so I can sympathize with you there!

]]> By: Meg from FruWikihttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-5325 Meg from FruWiki Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:26:58 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-5325 Hanging laundry actually saves me time -- as well as money and wear-and-tear on my clothes. Most of my clothes get hung in the closet anyhow, so I hang them to dry on their hangers and save a few steps. I also hang mine indoors on a bar near the washing machine. It's much less humid inside since we do use the AC daily during most of the year just to keep it in the low 80s. I don't know how the hangers would work outside. If it's too windy it might be a problem unless you can secure them -- maybe twist two laundry lines around each other so you can put the hanger hooks through them. Also, I put most things on friction hangers, so that helps things not get stretched out at the collar because they don't slip down. They were a bit pricey, but I collected them at a discount store over time and they've been worth it -- especially since they're also stackable, so I can organize my wardrobe easily and make much better use of the space. .-= Meg from FruWiki´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.fruwiki.com/index.php?title=Special:Log/delete&diff=0&oldid=prev" rel="nofollow">Special:Log/delete</a> =-. Hanging laundry actually saves me time — as well as money and wear-and-tear on my clothes. Most of my clothes get hung in the closet anyhow, so I hang them to dry on their hangers and save a few steps. I also hang mine indoors on a bar near the washing machine. It's much less humid inside since we do use the AC daily during most of the year just to keep it in the low 80s.

I don't know how the hangers would work outside. If it's too windy it might be a problem unless you can secure them — maybe twist two laundry lines around each other so you can put the hanger hooks through them. Also, I put most things on friction hangers, so that helps things not get stretched out at the collar because they don't slip down. They were a bit pricey, but I collected them at a discount store over time and they've been worth it — especially since they're also stackable, so I can organize my wardrobe easily and make much better use of the space.
.-= Meg from FruWiki´s last blog ..Special:Log/delete =-.

]]> By: Bluehttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-23 Blue Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:09:00 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-23 <a href="http://www.flylady.netwww.flylady.net<br</a> />With your Mt. Washmore (as FlyLady calls it), you sound like you need FlyLady more than I would! <a href="http://www.flylady.netwww.flylady.net<br />With your Mt. Washmore (as FlyLady calls it), you sound like you need FlyLady more than I would!

]]> By: Khttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-16 K Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:57:00 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-16 Not as good as the machine!! The machine actually does them when I tell it to... Not as good as the machine!! The machine actually does them when I tell it to…

]]> By: Naomihttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-15 Naomi Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:34:00 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/2008/01/24/the-evils-of-laundry/#comment-15 Your husband is not a good dishwasher? :P Your husband is not a good dishwasher? :P

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