Cost of laundry and dry-cleaning

I can't remember the name of that at home dryer -- DRY CLEAN thingy -- I know it's at Target - but for the life of me -- I can't remember the NAME of it!!!   

Dryel?

I've used one of these products before and wasn't too thrilled with it.  I just don't feel like stuff actually gets CLEAN.  It's ok for freshening up sweaters or blazers, but I wouldn't call it a cleaner.

~Liza

I still find those washer/dryer combos pants and using the dryer on them runs up our leccy bill.

EVERYONE should own the Lakeland Whopper Air Drier!    

I'm sorry - I feel like I sound judging and nasty and I certainly don't mean to - I am just floored that in one of the most industrially advanced nations in the world that people are still drying stuff on racks and lines!  I'm just surprised is all - I know that everywhere is not like the States, and I'm ready for the challenge, but man it's going to be a learning curve for me to be sure.

Wow -- I'm the opposite. I'm surprised that a supposedly advanced country like the US doesn't encourage more people to dry their clothes on lines. I guess if half the people are going to drive monstrous gas-guzzling SUVs, then loading up the dryer a few times a week isn't a problem. Sorry to sound bitchy about it, but that's one of my pet peeves about the US. People over here take it as a matter of course that you'd dry your clothes outside whenever possible, and there's no reason that couldn't happen in the US.

And I, for one, LOVE the smell and feel of sun-dried clothing. Everything feels and smells so crisp and delicous! I even planted lavender under my rotary clothes line so everything gets an extra nice whiff of lavender while it dries. I get cranky in the winter if I have to dry things in the dryer. No matter how many different fabric softeners, etc. you buy, you can never replicate that incredible fresh air smell.

As for ironing, I'm an ironing addict. I adore ironing. I have my deluxe ironing board set up in my study. I get Radio 4 going and can iron and iron all afternoon! It's so relaxing! I do some of my best thinking while I'm ironing!

Ironing is therapy for my Mom - she does it all the time, and even take in ironing for friends.  I do iron every day, but only as needed.  But I have to confess that I do iron my pillow cases and my cloth napkins (I never buy paper napkins - ick).  In the summer I do hang things on the line outside, but mostly bed linens and rugs and table cloths.  I would NEVER hang my undergarments for the neighborhood to see - that stuff goes on the rack in the laundry room.  I could live with clothes on the line, it wouldn't kill me to do it, it will just be a change in how I do things.  I've never been one to be stuck in a rut, and I'm open to this new experience and new way of life.

But, until I move, I'll go fill up the tank on my Jeep, and dry my jeans in my gas dryer.   

~Liza

And I, for one, LOVE the smell and feel of sun-dried clothing. Everything feels and smells so crisp and delicous!

That's why i dont dry my stuff outside... i cant stand that smell and 'crispy' feel!   

I have a washer and a dryer but I love to use my old rickety wooden drying rack! I live in the desert so stuff, even towels and jeans, dries in a few hours and I don't like the way the drier heats my apartment up. It also seems like my clothes last a little longer as they are not so processed. Of Course, I'm American so I air dry for my own convenience, not because it's good for the environnment .
Actually, it is pleasing that something I enjoy doing is also better for the environment. .

Actually, it is pleasing that something I enjoy doing is also better for the environment. .

LOL ... nice when it works out that way, isn't it? 

The sun is also a natural disinfectant, and does wonders for brightening the whites.  I miss our balcony where we had a line to dry clothes!  Love the smell of clothing and bed linens dried outside.

Guess I'm just a freak, then! 

Guess I'm just a freak, then! 

Nah.  You're Californian is all  .   

No line drying for folks today in Edinburgh, at any rate.  It's chucking the rain again.  Those poor marathoners! 

No line drying for folks today in Edinburgh, at any rate.  It's chucking the rain again.  

awww, shame! 
my clothes are in the dryer right now, and should come out smelling of lavender fabric softener any minute!     

I dry my clothes indoors on racks. We have a huge clothes-horse, which holds multiple loads, plus racks that hook onto the radiator.
I would put them out on our balcony, except it faces the front of the street and it would look really tacky. The landlord would probably complain.

Our washing machine is in the kitchen, but I do my laundry sorting and ironing in the bedroom because there's more room.

We have one of these (now 30 years old!)

http://www.lakelandlimited.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/GBP/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=8td61WVSwvJa9Cf-rStx082SSAubm4L-pOk=?ProductID=IzXCy5OSjbIAAADjpoWEgEQP

and one of these in the bathroom
http://www.laundrymaid.co.uk/pulley.html

and a rotary line in the garden. I've brought up 3 children using these.