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National Hanging Out Day

© Debbie DeSpirt

As I stroll through my new neighbourhood with my two sons, I see the signs of Spring. More children are playing outside, the trees are beginning to bud and the grass is all visible with only a trace of winter snow that is hanging on as a reminder of the cold days of yesterday.

With Spring, our family is out for many more hours each day to bask in the beautiful sunlight. Our trips to the local parks are for at least an hour and each day we sit in the backyard playing a few games.

The warmer weather gives us the opportunity to dry our clothes outside. The suns warm rays will dry the clothes in 2-6 hours depending on the temperature. My neighbourhood is new and most of the homes are missing a staple to the home--THE OUTSIDE CLOTHESLINE.

The outside clothesline has many advantages. It decreases energy consumption, prolongs the quality of your clothes, eliminates the need for fabric softener or fabric sheets, and says goodbye to dryer lint. The only disadvantage is the extra time needed to put the clothes on the line. To throw the clothes from the washer to the dryer takes under one minute while placing the clothes on the outside line takes about five minutes. You may increase the time of the chore but you will be saving money to buy yourself a nice treat for being environmentally conscious.

April 19, 2001 is National Hanging Out Day. Join us on that day and every other day by hanging your clothes outside to allow mother nature to dry your clothes free of charge. Make a statement in your community that clotheslines are not unsightly but are beautiful because they keep our earth cleaner by reducing energy consumption and reducing waste and decreasing toxins being put into our waterways. Do not fear what the neighbours think, have them feel guilt for not being environmentally conscious.

By being environmentally conscious you are teaching your kids and the neighbourhood ways to be kind to the earth. Doing the laundry is a never ending chore that costs us hundreds of dollars each year. Following are some recipes to decrease the amount of money you spend on commercial products.

Laundry Soap:

1 Cup Soap Flakes (Grate a bar of Ivory) 1/2 Cup Washing Soda 1/2 Cup Borax

Mix all the ingredients together. Use 1 cup per load.

1 Cup Soap Flakes (Grate a bar of Ivory) 1/2 Cup Washing Soda

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