Dryer Days

As I write this, it's pouring rain outside, making my retractable clotheslines useless.

I've had to turn to my dryer this weekend to complete my laundry. For the most part, the dryer has been sitting idle since I started my clothesline challenge. Since we've been in a drought situation for the entire summer, I have no excuse other than to harness the hot summer sun and dry my clothes outside. I'm not sure what kind of impact, if any, using clotheslines will have on my electricity bill as the central air system has been running full tilt since the beginning of summer.

Even though it has been a couple of days, I miss using my clotheslines. The clotheslines force me to me more efficient when it comes to putting away laundry. When the clothes come off the line they immediately get put away. But the clothes seem to languish in the laundry room when I use the dryer.

However, I may need to change my ways, if the forecast by Environment Canada is correct. The rain continues through the weekend, with a brief break for Monday and Tuesday, and returns Wednesday.

Oh laundry, it's the never ending chore.

Clothesline challenge continues

If there is one area of my life where I have not been lazy this summer it is using my clotheslines.

This past post explains the no summer dryer challenge I set back for myself in May. Except for washing bedding and drying a couple of loads of clothes from our Toronto trip, the challenge is going well. Actually, I've become militant about it. Because of the drought, I figure I don't have an excuse not to dry clothes outside as almost every day is sunny and hot. I've only used the dryer about 10 times since launching the challenge back in May.

However, I'm pretty lax when it comes to washing. We've got time-of-use electricity pricing here in Ontario. It's cheaper to run the washer during non-peak hours, between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. My normal routine is to throw a load on at 10 p.m. and hang the clothes out the next morning. Depending on the amount of dirty laundry I've got or my schedule, I sometimes end up running the washer after 7 a.m. I dislike doing this, but sometimes I've got no choice, especially if I need clean clothes.

I'm surprised how durable these retractable clotheslines are. If I've got a particularly heavy load, I'll run one of the lines along a branch of my cherry tree for support. Works like a charm.

The neighbours may think I'm a tad weird for hanging out clothes, but I don't care. I'm having fun, while trying to reduce my electricity bill. What more can you ask for?