Using That Old Line to Get Your Laundry Dry

Remember how good laundry used to smell after drying outdoors?

You can recapture that freshness--and save the substantial energy a clothes dryer uses--with a simple clothesline, some clothespins and a few extra minutes. Here are some hints and tips:

* An ideal place for drying clothes is a screened porch with a southern exposure.

* To save space on the clothesline, hang small items in a multitiered hanger secured to the line.

* When hanging dark or brightly colored items outdoors, put them in a shady area or turn them inside out to prevent the sun from fading them.

* Hang drip-dry items by their hems to distribute the weight evenly and avoid clothespin marks.

* Hang bias, full or pleated skirts from the waistband to avoid wrinkling the body of the skirt. Clip a spring-type clothespin to the bottom of each pleat so they’ll dry in place and need little ironing.

* An easy way to hang sheets is to fold them in half and hang them by the hems. If you want them to dry faster, drape them over two parallel clotheslines.

* To dry sweaters and other items that must be flat-dried, spread them out on a hammock; make sure they’re out of the sun.

* When hanging sheer curtains on a windy day, weight them down every few feet with a spring-type clothespin.

* For ease, use an old baby stroller, child’s wagon or grocery cart to hold laundry while hanging clothes on the line.

* Try using a plastic, hanging-plant pot as a clothespin container; rainwater will drain from the bottom. An onion or potato bag--the mesh kind--will do the same. You can also cut off the top of a plastic jug, punch holes in the bottom to let out rainwater, and hang by its handle from the clothesline. If you want something portable, use a shoulder bag.

* To clean a nylon clothesline, use a household spray cleaner. Wash a cotton line with soap and water. Either kind can be put in a pillow case and cleaned in the washer.

* Does your clothesline sag? Tie a short length of chain to one end of the line, then attach the chain to the hook by the link that provides the best tension.

* For indoor drying, use an adjustable tension rod over the bathtub or shower instead of a clothesline.

* The skeleton of an old umbrella makes a great indoor drying rack. Hang it upside down by its handle from a sturdy, horizontal support.