by Melissa Brown

Created on: August 20, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Well, it's not what you think. If there is a single thing I've really got a hang up about, I'd have to think really hard about it before sharing it with others. Those close to me probably know what they are anyway. There is not a lot that I'm afraid ofwithin reason. If I truly have a hang-up, it's ironing.

The truth is I put up a clothes line last week, and wondered how I was going to avoid ironing the clothes taken off the clothes line. My routine has been to yank them out of the dryer before the wrinkles set in. This might not work.

There are only two of us in this household, but. I got to thinking about heating elements and how much energy they use when one dries at least four large loads of clothes in the dryer per week, counting sheets and towels. This means the dryer will run at least three hours a week. I usually dry the towels separately, the jeans and heavy clothing items in a separate load. Then the lighter things like undies and socks I usually dry with the clothes that you yank out to hang on hangers the minute the dryer stops. However, if I'm busy, this means I just collect the, "hurry and hang them on hangers before they wrinkle" items, and save them for yet another tumble in the dryer with a wet wash cloth. Then I have to remember to stay within hearing range to be sure to collect them before they wrinkle. That could go on all day long, forgetting to get them out before they wrinkle and running them again and again. Even using the clothes line to dry the clothes, I could still use the ironing load for a few minutes to fluff out wrinkles. That's how much I actually hate to drag out the old ironing board. A clothes line could really save a few bucks.

So, I put up a clothes line and I've actually used it. Down here in the south, the clothes dry quickly enough that you can take them down in time for the next load to go up. Actually, I do find this very therapeutic as well as nostalgic. Every time I've gone out to hang a load of clothes I start zoning out on times long ago, waxing nostalgic.

I'll bet we went through a half a dozen washers and maybe that many dryers while I was growing up. After the very last washer died, Mom and Dad decided that there would not be another new washer or dryer. We took loads to the laundromat down the street. If it was cold and/or raining, we'd take extra coins to dry them there as well. That actually saved a lot of time. In the summer, however, it was just understood that we girls would hang all the clothes out. There

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>