Clothesline? What should I know?

Question

I want to put up a clothesline in my backyard, to help save energy, and to also help save the Earth. Although I'm 13, I generate the most amount of clothes in my household; therefore, I should help those who have to pay for the energy to run the dryer, and use a clothesline to dry my clothing. However, I have a series of questions:

1.) Position - I want to tie a line from a chain-link fence, to a support pole. I'm almost positive that the fence can withstand the weight of the clothing, but is this a good idea. I do not want to pay for a dedicated clothes line, as many of them have to be placed in the ground, and my parents would not be appriciative of them.

2.) How should I hang the clothes? I wear jeans, tee-shirts, polo-shirts, dress shirts, and heavy hoodies in the cooler months; as well as how should I hang underwear and socks?

3.) Birds - Should I worry about birds using my clothes as a place to leave droppings?

Continued in "Additional Details"

Answer 1

You sound very intelligent for a 13 year old.  Ironically enough, bird will not sit or go around a scent that is not familiar with them.   So you laundry should be safe(accidents will happen).  Your energy conservation is very much admirable.

Answer 2

1) If the fence and the support pole can hold a line with wet clothes on it, it should be fine. The worst that could happen is that it will fall down.

2) You can clothespin jeans from the waist or from the bottom of the leg; shirts can be pinned from the shoulders or from the waist.

3) My mom always hung clothes on the line when I was a kid, and I never remember there being a problem with birds

4) If the pollen isn't heavy, I wouldn't worry about it.

5) There are ordinances in some communities about "unsightly" things like clotheslines, but that depends on which town you live in; also, being inside a fence and not visible from the street might make a difference. I'd call your City Hall to find out.

6) I have a pretty good indoor clothes rack that I use in the winter for sweaters. I usually put something on the floor under it. You can get various kinds of drying racks at places like Target or Bed Bath and Beyond. Mine folds so I can store it in a closet when I'm not using it.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I also want to add that on the farm we put out clothes even in the winter.  It was cold when it came in, but dry, and sometimes kind of crispy!  

Clothes pins are great.