National Hanging Out Day

Today, April 19, is dedicated to promoting the benefits of air-drying laundry and using clotheslines instead of dryers. There are so many environmental and financial benefits of using clotheslines.

• You reduce your carbon footprint and save money. Yes, it’s good for the planet. Less energy used means less coal dug up and less gas burned. That lowers carbon emissions and smokestack pollution. It saves energy – a lot of energy. Estimates say that if you stop using your clothes dryer, you will cut your energy bill by 8 percent or more on average.

• Clothes dried on a clothesline have a natural freshness, and your clothes will last longer. The high heat in a clothes dryer thins and fades your favorite clothing. Instead, the sun and natural breezes dry items quickly and without the need for “fresh scented” dryer sheets.

• The fresh air and sunshine recharge our own bodies. Line drying is good for your health. You spend more time outdoors plus you get a little exercise from all the carrying, stretching, and bending.

• Hanging linens on a clothesline encourages us to slow down and is a bit therapeutic. The routine of hanging, air drying, removing from the line, and folding is deeply satisfying. As the Finns say, it’s good to hurry slowly.

Cheers to a new season of the clothesline. Let it all hang out! And Happy Earth Day, too.