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How to Choose the Best Clothesline: Cotton vs. Nylon vs. Plastic

Image Credit:
Photo by Pixabay
Written By: Jennifer Keating Digital Editor

Use a clothesline instead of a dryer to dry your clothes in warm, dry weather. You save money and energy, and the clothes smell great after drying in the fresh air! One reader says, “You get a little exercise, too!” Here are tips on how to choose an outdoor clothesline.

  • The average load of wash uses about 35 feet of line; your clothesline should accommodate at least that. Unless the height of a pulley-style line is significant, the clothesline shouldn’t be a lot longer than that, as the sag factor increases with length.
  • A load of wet wash weighs about 15 to 18 pounds (assuming it is spin-dried). It will shed about a third of that weight as it dries. This may not seem like much weight, but it won’t take long for your new clothesline to get stretched out a bit. By leaving a little “tail” when you tie your knot for either style of clothesline, you’ll be able to undo it, pull the line tight, and retie it as often as you need to.

Three Common Clothesline Types

  1. Basic plastic clothesline has the advantage of being waterproof and cleanable (you can wipe off the inevitable mildew). With wire and fiber reinforcement, it is stretch-resistant—and it’s cheap. You can find a 100-foot roll for less than $4. However, it is thin, which means that it will be harder for you to grip, and the clothespin is not going to hold as tightly as on a thicker line.
  2. Multifilament polypropylene (nylon) is tempting because it is lightweight, water- and mildew-resistant, and strong (our sample was 640-pound test). However, its slippery texture deters a firm clothespin grip, and it doesn’t tie well.
  3. Our top choice is a basic cotton clothesline. It’s about the same price as nylon, which is about $7 to $8 per 100 feet. In theory, it is weaker (only 280-pound test in our sample), but unless you’re hanging out pots and pans to dry, it should hold up fine.
Clothesline TypeProsConsBest For
Plastic Clothesline- Waterproof and easy to clean (wipe off mildew)- Reinforced with wire/fiber for stretch resistance- Inexpensive (about $4 for 100 ft)- Very thin, hard to grip- Clothespins don’t hold as tightlyBudget-friendly option; light laundry loads
Nylon/Polypropylene Line- Lightweight- Water- and mildew-resistant- Very strong (640-lb test)- Slippery texture makes clothespins slide- Harder to tie knots securelyDamp or humid climates where mildew is common
Cotton Clothesline (Top Pick)- Easy to grip- Clothespins hold securely- Affordable ($7–$8 for 100 ft)- Weaker than nylon (280-lb test)- May mildew if left dampEveryday laundry; best overall balance
Cleaning

About The Author

Jennifer Keating

Jennifer Keating

Digital Editor

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She is an active equestrian and spends much of her free time at the barn. When she’s not riding, she loves caring for her collection of house plants, baking, and playing in her gardens.

Read more from Jennifer Keating

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Comments

<span>Ruth Ann</span> Sun, 06/28/2015 - 17:23
You're right. Never fold over the line. Years ago an old woman who lived next door to me commented "you know, for a young person, you hang a really nice wash". One of the nicest comments in my young life at the time.
<span>Dexterm</span> Mon, 01/05/2015 - 10:33
Will be buying a house and want an outside line. I haven't looked into retractable lines but had the idea of tying each end of the line to a carabiner. Should make it easy to unhook the line when not needed and deploy when you do.
<span>Kenneth Lawrence</span> Wed, 11/13/2013 - 22:07
it's good that different companies come up with new designs for clothes to dry. i especially appreciate indoor clothes line, they never make my clothes smell dry. got it from http://www.lifestyleclotheslines.com.au/folding-rotary-clothes-lines/, they always come up with new designs which i love.
<span>Danny Lucey</span> Thu, 12/20/2012 - 18:44
The rain I receive is off the ocean. Will my clothes get dirtier if it rains on the newly washed clothes?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 12/31/2012 - 13:33
It's fine if the clothes are rained on; you just need to wait longer for them to dry!
<span>Rachel-Newby</span> Fri, 08/10/2012 - 14:55
Hello everyone :) I have never used a clothesline but I remember other people in our neighborhood using it when I was growing up in the early 80s. I have a few questions, since I'm new to this and thought I would maybe get one a try it out. First, does the dirt, pollen, etc cause wet clothes to get dirty? Do you have a problem with birds (poop) or hanging out on the poles/lines? If so, how do you deal with that? Which is better, a long line with a pulley system or the umbrella style? Lastly, what are the best types of clothespins to use? I'm used to seeing the wooden or plastic spring kind, but I do remember the ones that people used for crafts that have a little head at the top? Thanks for all your help!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 08/13/2012 - 10:25
Hi, Rachel, You may find this blog post on clotheslines helpful: http://www.almanac.com/blog/natural-health-home-tips/get-out-and-hang-out-your-laundry If you have any questions, you could post on the blog to the author who will answer them! Cheers, the OFA editors
<span>Polly Due</span> Mon, 03/26/2012 - 10:39
I've just bought a clothes tree from a company in California, Breezecatcher have this fantastic parallel clothes line, its aluminum but it looks like wood. I've been hanging out laundry for many years and I've never soon a clothesline as strong as this.
<span>Mulebelle</span> Tue, 04/13/2010 - 09:29
I always hang my clothes outdoors and indoors when it's raining too much. I know it sounds crazy but I just hate clothes dried in the dryer! If you are looking for good clothespins, try Lee Valley Tools - just Google them. They have the good larger ones that really hold nice. By the way...I use clothes pins for everything it seems. A very nice tool around the ranch!
<span>Southern Belle</span> Tue, 05/19/2015 - 12:49
So glad to know that I am not the only one who hates clothes dried in the dryer. I honestly hate the feel of a towel that is dried in the dryer. It doesn't have the absorption that one that is sun dried. I have been hanging my clothes out for the past 25 years and refuse to use the dryer. I have even hung them in our home on a makeshift clothes line and wooden racks on cold rainy days. I even hang them out on sunny but cold days. They are cold but dry. And the money we save on the power bill.