Okay, that's an awfully portentous title for what is actually not that big of an announcement: I'm going to buy a clothes dryer.
Some of you may not have been aware that I don't have one, but I don't. I haven't had one for about four years now. This is absolutely doable in New Mexico, where it's sunny and dry almost all year. Even in the winter, the sun is strong enough to dry clothing on the line during the more-limited daylight hours.
Except not always.
Several times a year, we have weather that makes it very difficult to get clothing dry outside for a week or so. Sometimes that's because of rain. Sometimes that's because of snow or ice. There is also the incredible wind in the spring, which can be strong enough to actually rip the clothing where the clothes pins hold it to the line.
I spend a lot of time thinking about the best days to hang clothes outside. Should I hang them on the pasture clothesline, which is more exposed to sun and wind, or the backyard clothesline, which is surrounded by a board fence for protection from the wind, but where the woodsmoke drifts in the winter? Also if I have to work that day, can I get them hung up before I leave for work, or should I leave them for A. to hang when he gets back from the bus run? And if I leave them for him, will they have enough time to dry or will I end up having to hang them around the woodstove to get all the way dry overnight? Which clothes are the ones I should wash first? Who's out of pants? Who has a uniform that has to be dry by a certain day?
It was all starting to contribute too much to my mental load, which feels kind of heavy most days anyway at this stage of my life.
So, one day while I was sitting at work, looking at the weather forecast and thinking about all these things, I decided that the time had come to buy a clothes dryer and silence this continual mental plotting.
This will most certainly not be the end of my line-drying our clothing. I will still line-dry most of the time, even in the winter. But it's a nice thought that when there is literally two feet of snow on the ground, I will not have to put on my snow boots and dig a path to the clothesline to hang laundry.
Luxury, indeed.
10 comments:
Having choices is a luxury, and one I think you've earned after four years!
I used to love to hang my clothes outside in the summer, but two years ago I decided that it's not worth the bother. Fortunately, I have a line set up in the warm basement now! Mary in MN
We hang up most of our clothes, mostly to preserve them. But sometimes I can't muster the energy to haul them upstairs and outside. When we started hanging outside, I noticed a definite drop in our electric bill.
I've made a conscious effort to reduce mental noise, so I understand where your coming from.
I think it's a great luxury to have - even if you only use when needed! We could never live without one here in Alaska ;)
www.lovinglifemoore.com
I try not to use my dryer, but sometimes it's a Godsend. Even if you rarely use yours, it will improve your peace of mind.
Good choice. I know your mother will be pleased ( and NOTHING is better on a cold night than jammies warm from the dryer. MIL
Wow that is big news!! I have always been amazed and impressed at how you do that for such a big family. I got rid of my drier several years ago but there's just one of me, I'm semi retired, and I live in the south where its almost always warm. My friends still think I'm crazy 💚 Enjoy your new drier!!
Yay! I’m mentally doing the Snoopy Happy Dance for you.
I have a clothes dryer, but still prefer to hang clothes outside, even in the winter. Where we live, we have a lot of humid days in the summer, cloudy days in the winter, so the clothes don't dry as well. I do have clothing racks that I use in the house in the winter, so that does help with the electric bill. Linda
I feel you.. no dryer either and no sunshine in winter (I live on the wrong side of the mountain), I haven't caved in yet but a dryer would be super handy especially for bedsheets
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