Clothes Line Therapy

Since the oil rig fire and ensuing oil spill I am continuing to reduce my dependence on oil and it’s related forms.

I have chosen to transform my anger into energy for positive change in my lifestyle. Most of my regular readers already know that my favoured form of transportation is two feet or two wheels of the bicycle kind, so I am good to go there. I have however stepped up my consciousness around my use of plastic – I now wipe off plastic wrap (which we use quite sparingly in our house to begin with) and drape it over something in my kitchen to let it dry and use it again and again until it is no longer usable. Sometimes my kitchen looks like a HAZMAT zone strewn with drying plastic bags and things, but I am feeling better. House beautiful hasn’t been knocking at my door lately anyway – time for an Eco House Beautiful version in my opinion, one that showcases eco homes in daily use, not glitzy over cleaned, overstated & prepped spaces. I have also been avoiding my clothes dryer big time.

Sorry dryer, I know you are lonely but you will probably have company on the next rainy laundry day or when I am not enjoying hanging clothes outside to dry because of the icicles hanging from my nose. Sunshine and breezes are free sources of clothes drying energy and I am choosing to make as much use of them as I can these days.

I am excited to report that I have found some happy time out by the clothesline. I usually put a load of laundry in to wash after 10 p.m. (less expensive smart meter time!) and let it stay in the washer overnight and then first thing next morning I gather it up and head outside for my latest form of therapy. What is not to like about early morning this time of year? Singing birds, fresh air, golden tinted views as the sun rises higher in the sky…ahhhhh. I know, I know, hanging laundry on the line is not for everyone, but think of this… What if you combine stretching, deep breathing, meditation, settling into the day and laundry sorting all into one space in time. It can be quite efficient, healing and satisfying.

The last few times doing laundry I have been timing myself and have discovered that if I sort the laundry into each family member’s section on the line as I hang things, and then fold and keep the sorting organized as I remove the dry clothing later, I seem to be spending almost the same amount of time doing laundry overall compared to using a dryer. I have added the deep breathing because the morning air, at least where I live in my well treed neighbourhood, is sweet and invigorating. The stretching is built in as I move up and down and along the clothesline getting things done, not to mention the calories burned doing this and carting the laundry outside and in. Meditation and creative thinking just seep into the activity as the warmth of the sun, the sound of the birds, and the gentle morning breezes work their magic on me. I find this all to be quite the antidote to some of the stresses of modern living. And of course there is the smell of the freshly laundered and sun dried sheets and clothing that surrounds me as I flow through my days and nights – priceless.

I have included a few links that include energy calculators and other interesting features to help persuade you to consider clothesline therapy too. Enjoy!

http://www.laundrylist.org/en/why
http://ryanishungry.com/2007/10/25/bringing-back-the-clothes-line-no-dryer-needed/
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/dryers.html
http://www.dld123.com/q&a/index.php?cid=344