5.29.2007

Project conservation

I'm sure to most of you, drying clothes on the line isn't too novel, but for me it's a new experience. We've had one in our backyard all along, but we also have a GE dryer that looks brand new. It was my parents but when the drum started squeaking, the appliance place said it would be just as practical to buy a new one rather than fix the old one.
Since when did dryers become disposable?
Anyway, it works just fine, the squeaks are pretty annoying, but it gets the job done. . . until the clothesline was re-strung! Now we have a good sized line that accommodates 2 loads worth of damp laundry! What a peaceful, meditative act. And it'll lower the electric bill a bit! I also started painting the rain barrels a hunter green instead of leaving them the dirt-showing, glaring white. So much better! The mister and I were talking about building a water tower-like structure for the stand of one of them, you know, just to be funny.
We also put the larger furniture objects out at the street with "Free" signs on them. We got rid of 5 chairs and a coffee table with minimal effort! Some things have been Craigs listed, others eBayed, and the majority will be given to the community thrift store. Purging feels so good!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh, I LOVE my clothesline. You hit the nail right on the head, it is very peaceful and meditative.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like fun! I wish I had a line, and a place to string it without getting birdy poo on my clothes. I've always wondered what line dryed clothes smelled like! I'll bet it's wonderful...

Wolfie and the Sneak said...

Charlie thought I was crazy, but I was smelling everything as we took it down. It smells like hair after a day in the sun. I kept saying it smelled like the beach. He thought I was just fixated on the beach.

Tess said...

I love line dried clothing. When we bought our washer, we purposely didn't by a dryer so we would be forced line dry. Right now the line is in the attic, so it's hella hot..but the good news is that things try in about 1 hour! I need hubby to build one in the backyard, but he's already got a huge "honey do" list...

Jennifer said...

I hear you about how all of a sudden, "consumer durables" are a thing of the past and everything, everything is disposable! And manufacturers make things with shorter and shorter lifespans, and no one seems in an uproar because "they" all seem to like to go out and buy new stuff! I think of those one-time appliance purchases my parents made and how those things (1) lasted a lifetime and (2) could certainly be repaired if necessary. I remember the local "fix-it" shops where you'd take your iron or vacuum cleaner or blender for repair.... Sigh. And I'm not even a million years old! Hurray for your laundry line and for simplifying and for striving to buy things that will last.