The less we rely on the power company to energize our activities, the better it is for the environment and our finances. This holds true even in the laundry room. Clothes pins may seem too old-fashioned for today's lifestyle, but there is an eco-wisdom in air-drying our clothes. As caretakers of God's earth, it makes sense for us to give the idea a serious look.

It's a familiar site at home or the laundromat - freshly-washed clothes are stuffed into an electric or gas-powered tumble dryer and tossed around until they're bone-dry, heating up the room along with the clothes. Now and then we add more time to the dial to arrange a more timely end and may even sneak in a few extra "fluff" cycles if we wait too long to pull the load out. Throughout it all, the air conditioner works overtime to keep us in comfort, adding to the energy drain.

An alternative is to string a line between two points in the back yard and let free solar and wind power, direct from nature, dry the clothes while infusing them with a fresh scent. Old-schoolers like the fact that the sunlight bleaches out stains and disinfects the wash. Others prefer a freestanding, umbrella-fold rotary clothesline in the shade, hanging clothes inside-out to help hold in modern colors.

Some of us air dry our laundry indoors without a traditional line in sight. This still lessens wear and tear on our clothes and our utility bills, but it also frees us from pesky gnats, weather-watching, and restrictions on outdoor line drying by the homeowner's association.

High and Dry

It is fairly common to hang a retractable line in the shower. Clothes can be draped over the line or pinned a la Little House on the Prairie. Another option is a clothes airing rack, available in a variety of sizes, materials, and styles, some of which even fold away after use. Wet items are arranged on the bars to allow better air flow and minimize stretching of the fabric.

Still, we don't need to cling to an old stand-by in the name of convenience. Robust wall-mounted drying racks also fold away when not in use. Pulley-operated ceiling racks stow away overhead and can be lowered within reach as needed. We're also not tied to furniture that is designed for laundry use; just last winter, I enjoyed hanging wash on a loft bed frame.

Skip a Rope

Those of us who have collected piles of non-rust hangers over the years can use them to greatly multiply the drying capacity of a clothes bar or garment rack.

Many shirts dry well when hung up in normal manner directly out of the washer. Under-garments quickly drape on child-sized hangers. Heavy items like bath towels do best with strong clips attached to sturdy hangers, and socks and napkins can be draped onto lightweight wire hangers or fastened to them with regular clothes pins.

Amazingly sheets and blankets can also be dried on hangers by clipping each corner to a different hanger and arranging them on opposite ends of the rack. Pants might be hung upside down with each leg pinned onto its own narrow hanger. The weight of the wet garment helps to pull out wrinkles, as does removing the item soon after the wash cycle and giving it a firm shake or two before hanging. Wrinkle-prone fabrics like linen will do better without a final spin cycle, giving them more "hang weight" but requiring a drip catcher and a much longer drying time.

A make-shift clothes bar can be as simple as a metal pipe or rod, newly purchased or found gathering dust in the dark corners of the utility room. The rod might be suspended from the ceiling using rope, chain or bars in the garage or utility room in the summer and laundry room, bedroom, or office in the winter. Creative hanging arrangements, with shorter items in the middle, even allow for a clothes bar to remain in the garage, fully loaded, with a car parked underneath if needed.

Step by Step

Spring is a great time to ease into new laundry habits. Newbies can start by pulling clothes out of the dryer early to finish on the rack. ry soft and wrinkle- free state. As new systems get established, full loads can be completely air dried. Garments that end up too stiff can be loosened up by rubbing gently or fluffing in the machine with no heat for a few minutes, the soft spikes of dryer balls aiding the process.

Just picture the new laundry routine - hanging the laundry, staying cool, and saving money. The dryer buzz is but a faint memory. The kids hang the napkins and socks, excited that they, too, are stewards of God's earth. Newfound savings pay for blocks of Green Power, and we thrill at finally weaning our home off fossil fuels. Step by step our journey continues for His Creation.

Vicki Coulter is a volunteer with The Climate Project and gives Environmental Stewardship presentations in Middle Georgia.