And Why Romanticizing even Laundry Might Change the Way You See Your Life.
Simple Line Drying Tips for Fresh Laundry, Lower Energy Bills, and a Slower Homemaking Rhythm
Save this for later
If you love slow living, simple homemaking, and old-fashioned household skills, pin this so you can come back to it.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Looking out over the open space that was our new farm, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to never leave. I wanted to slow life down and savor it.
We were just coming into a beautiful spring and the whole world around me was starting fresh and new. I loved being outside but unfortunately, inside chores still called my name. Even with every window and door open, I still had to be inside.
But staring out the window I started to reminisce about spending chore days outside. When I was growing up. We lived on an old farm that was built in 1883, and so much of that old-world charm still existed: the built-in cabinets in the dining room, the cellar under the kitchen, the warm sunroom porch off the back that led to a simple, not fancy, clothesline.
Usually barefoot and slightly resistant (because I was a teenager and absolutely did not want to be doing my siblings’ laundry), I’d spend hours outside hanging clothes. Rotating laundry from inside to out. There were six of us, and as you can imagine on a farm, we never had a short supply of laundry.
But I remember after a few minutes with my toes in the grass and the sun warming my back, the smell of my mom’s lilac bushes mixed with the fresh clothes, something would shift.
The cool, fresh sheets would brush against my arms as they swayed in the breeze. I’d pretend I was Laura Ingalls. Or Jo March. Or, depending on the day… Cinderella.
And slowly, all the stress and annoyance would fade. I would be lost in the beauty of a lifestyle from the past.
So I knew standing there on our new farm that I needed a clothesline of my own.
You Don’t Need a Farm to Feel This
This little line was built between our porch post in our little suburban backyard. I made it with clips and eyebolts so it could easily be taken down and put away. But you can even buy some easy to use retractable ones that take up almost no space at all.
Here’s what I’ve learned since then:
You don’t need acreage.
You don’t need a historic farmhouse.
You don’t need to churn butter or raise chickens. You just need to slow down enough to notice what you’re already doing.
Yesterday was that day. I washed our Washed Cotton bed sheets, and all the romantic feelings came right back! The striped set you see in these photos. They’re heavy in your hands, breathable at night, and they get softer with every wash. Seeing cotton and linen (natural fibers!) React in sunlight is amazing. Any hint of dinge or stains left from dirty little kids or sweaty men? Gone. In just an hour in the sun! No chemicals! Just soap, water, and sunlight.
Instead of tossing them in the dryer, I clipped them up one by one.
After a very unusual winter with weather as unpredictable as my cows! This was the first sunny and beautiful day I had in a while. So it was the perfect opportunity!
Nothing dramatic. Nothing performative.
Just sheets, sun, and a little wind.
When I brought them back inside, they smelled like sunlight. Not artificial “fresh.” Not fragrance. Just clean air. With the ever so subtle freshness of our detergent.
And when I made the bed that night, it didn’t feel like I was just checking off a chore.
It felt like I cared.
Maybe We Don’t Hate Chores
Maybe we hate rushing through them.
Maybe we hate doing them resentfully.
But when you turn them into something slower, even slightly intentional, they shift.
Hanging laundry.
Folding warm sheets.
Letting your kids hand you clothespins.
Taking one deep breath instead of racing to the next task.
This works whether you live on land or in the suburbs with a small backyard. Even a simple drying rack by a sunny window can change the rhythm of your day.
It still counts.
The Practical Side (Because Yes, There Is One)
Romance aside, clotheslines are genuinely useful:
• Sheets dry incredibly fast in warm weather.
• Clothes come out less wrinkled.
• The sun naturally brightens whites.
• Fresh air helps eliminate lingering odors.
• You skip harsh dryer sheets.
• You save energy.
• Matching those pesky socks is easier.
• You can hang everything on hangers before bringing it inside.
• Sorting is done as it comes down, so putting it away is much faster.
There are almost no wrinkles left! It’s like picking everything up from the cleaner.
And if you don’t have space for a permanent line, there are beautiful umbrella-style racks and retractable lines that work in small yards and patios.
Just remember. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about participation. And making your space work for you.
A Quiet Thought for the Moms
I realized now that I’ve watched life change from that clothesline.
First it was my tiny tight jeans and hot pink bed sheets.
To the more romantic colored ones of a new couple.
But then one day you’re hanging tiny onesies and blankies.
Then grass-stained jeans and dinosaur T-shirts.
To sports jerseys and fancy date night button up shirts.
Then suddenly… The basket is smaller and the loads get lighter.
We won’t miss the 40 load pile hanging over our heads.
But we will miss the life that made all those dirty clothes.
Maybe the goal isn’t to love laundry.
Maybe it’s to love the season you’re in. Even if it’s changing the perspective of the big ugly pile of laundry, into the beauty of the season in life you’re in now watching it change with the winds.
🌿 The Things That Make It Easier
If you’re wanting to try this even in a small backyard or balcony these are the simple things I actually use.
Shop this section!
• The Cotton linen feel sheet set (striped, pictured above)These washed cotton sheets are the striped ones pictured above. They get softer with every wash and breathe beautifully at night.
• Wooden clothespins:I prefer simple wooden pins because they grip well and last for years.
• Outdoor clothesline:A basic line works great, but retractable lines are perfect for small backyards or patios.
• Woven laundry basket :Perfect for rainy days when the dryer still has to help.
• Natural laundry detergent
• Wool dryer balls for the extra fluff. Or rainy days.
We’re not doing anything fancy. Just intentional.
If you’re wanting to try line drying yourself, you can see the simple things I use in my home in the list below. Shop the whole list. And keep up my new favorite farm mom approved buys!
Leave a Reply