Yes, I know it is September. In northern Minnesota.

But I figured it was better late than never when it came to putting up an umbrella clothesline.

I’m pretty excited about my new clothesline. We’ve lived without one for three years and I’ve really missed it. This one was on sale at a hardware store that was going out of business…. three years ago! Glad to be able to cross “putting up the clothesline” off my list of things to do!

Clotheslines provide an excellent way to save energy and money. If you estimate that it costs 75 cents to dry a load of laundry in the dryer, I could save as much as $12 a month by using the clothesline. It also saves the wear and tear on your clothing (where do you think dryer lint comes from?)

Now, I must admit, I won’t be using the new clothesline year-round. I like air-dryed clothing, but not frozen clothing! (And I don’t like freezing to death while hanging clothes!) But I do plan on using the clothesline in the early fall, late spring and summer months.

In the winter, I will use my dryer for some things, and others I will use a retractable clothesline and a drying rack I have in my laundry room.

I’m also learning the best away to hang my clothes on the line. Frugal Upstate has a great vlog entry about how to properly hang your clothes to dry. Her tips save time, money, and help prevent wrinkles and set-in stains. Gotta love that!