Monday, January 28, 2013

Learning to Live Without a Dryer and Dishwasher


As a part of trying to conserve energy, I decided to try to live without the clothes dryer as well as the dishwasher.  The first day I tried to live without these two appliances, I realized how easy they made my life.  They were truly a convenience I had come to rely on.  This is what I’ve learned over the past month by going without these two appliances.

Small Loads Are Best
The very first day I washed laundry, we had 3 large loads to do.  I put in the first large load into the washing machine to realize all of the clothes would not fit on our 3 drying racks.  So…I hung some up on the fireplace mantel and dried them extremely quick in front of the fire.

With the dishes, if I wash them as I go, it is not as overwhelming.  I have been washing the dishes after breakfast, which takes about 5 minutes.  I unload those dry dishes from breakfast while making dinner in the evening. When my husband cooks, he uses all  a lot of pots and pans, and the days he cooks, I am completely overwhelmed with a stack of dishes and want to throw up my hands in defeat by loading them into the dishwasher and hit the “start” button.

Frequency Rules
With laundry, I have learned to do several (smaller) loads throughout the week instead of 2 or 3 large ones on the weekends.  By doing this, we have enough room on the drying racks to allow the clothes to dry properly within 24-48 hours. 

As I mentioned above with the dishes, I wash the dishes after every single meal to ensure I don’t get overwhelmed.

It Ain’t Pretty
In the beginning, we kept the drying racks in the family room and they were not very pretty to look at
every time we walked into the room.  It then dawned on me that we could keep the drying racks in our spare bedroom to keep them away from cute little kitten claws (we have 3 – 5 month old kittens right now) and they are out of the way.  This has been working well for us.

 

Patience is Key
I have to laugh at this because I have no patience whatsoever.  It is so easy to hit a button and 34 minutes later you have dry clothes.  Hit the “start” button on the dishwasher and 2 hours later you have clean and dry dishes.

Now, it takes anywhere from 24-48 hours for our clothes to be completely dry (I am looking forward to the warmer weather when I can hang clothes outside on the line!).  I am learning to plan ahead instead of live in survival mode when it comes to dishes and laundry.  To me, it feels better to have laundry done and put away every few days instead of 3 heaping baskets of clean laundry waiting to be put away once a week.  It takes a little more time throughout the week, but it’s done and I don’t have to worry about it.

I joke that I would like to live the “simple life” like the Amish…without all the work.  I am learning that by getting rid of just two appliances, it creates a noticeable change in work load; however, I am (surprisingly) keeping up. 

I grew up with dishwashers and clothes dryers.  This is what I am accustomed to.  It is definitely a change in mindset to willingly go without, but I am enjoying it.  Right now, I am doing this to see if we can lower our electric bill and put the savings toward our mortgage payoff; however, I would love to be able to one-day create enough electricity to power our home.  Trying to reduce our energy consumption is one step closer to being independent of energy.

Do you live without a dryer or dishwasher?
What are your tips and tricks or advice for those of us just starting out in our journey of less “convenience” appliances?

This post is linked up to:

 
The Self Sufficient HomeAcre
 

17 comments:

  1. Our dishwasher broke and we just decided it was not worth spending the money to fix it so we too wash, almost after every meal. Sometimes breakfast has to wait since we have to get to work. The drier- we hang in the summer but do use it in the winter.

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    1. I hear ya about the dishes having to wait some mornings. As much as I hate to do it, we have to do the same.

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  2. Our dishwasher died last summer in the middle of the biggest canning season I have ever had, my husband bought me a second hand one and it is usless, I hand wash all the time now. I wash and look out my kitchen and enjoy the view. It is also nice for when my arthrits flares up to put them in hot water. For years I have 'line' dried all our clothes. We do have the dryer but in the past two years have only used it like 12 times. The more you get back to nature to 'save' money the more you can enjoy 'real' life. Just don't try to do it all at once!

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    1. I had to laugh about not trying to do it all at once. I am exactly that way. I do so much at once that I get burnt out and give up. And I am sorry to hear about your dishwasher dieing during canning season! I use the dishwasher to sterilize our jars. :-) And I love your comment about getting back to nature. Thank you for the comment.

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  3. I've just recently started using my dishwasher regularly. During this season of life, it's worth the extra expense for the convenience! But, I actually love hand washing (something about it is soothing to me) If the boys are content or my husband is home, I'll often forgo the dishwasher for the joy of hand washing! And, I'm so looking forward to finally getting our clothesline hung up so we can start saving big!

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    1. The dishwasher is definitely convenient! With two busy boys and a hubby, I'd be running the dishwasher as well! :-) I too am looking forward to hanging laundry outside again. Honestly, I really like hanging it on the racks inside too.

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  4. I have never, ever in 43 years on earth used a dishwasher, (other than my own 2 hands.)I only use a dryer when I have to. I also have wooden drying racks which I place either in the bedroom, or on the patio when weather permits. I am very happy with this.

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    1. That is awesome! I know that once I get used to doing the dishes by hand and not using the dryer, it will be second nature. I have to remind myself constantly to not take the "easy way out." :-)

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  5. I stopped using my dryer in 1998, and now haven't owned one since 2004. I love hanging clothes outside when the weather permits. When not, then I have a wooden clothes rack and some clotheslines strung in the basement near the wood furnace. I don't think drying clothes in a dryer is especially good for them anyway.
    I haven't owned a dishwasher since I was single and living in an apartment almost 40 years ago. I never thought the idea of having to rinse (almost wash) the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher was much of a time saver. They really don't take that much time to handwash, especially if you wash as you're cooking rather than letting everything pile up so it looks overwhelming.

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    1. I completely agree with everything you mentioned here! (The dryer not being good on clothes and how silly it is to have to pre-rinse before using the dishwasher!) Thank you for your comment, and great job getting rid of your dryer and dishwasher!

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  6. I put tension rods up in the doorways. The clothes get put on hangers right from the washer and then hung on the rods. Bigger things get thrown over the shower curtain rod. I also have a clothes line in the garage for when its raining.

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  7. I stopped using my dishwasher in July 2012 when I was irked by the power bill (and the summer rate increase). Not a problem, for some reason it's so hard for me to unload it but I have no problem when the dishes are sitting on my counter. Strange, I know. I usually wash before and after supper (that's at night around here). The drier...stopped at the same time as the dishwasher. I have a portable drying umbrella clothesline that I've been using on warmer days and love it! We have alot of warm days here so it makes it real easy to use what you have been blessed with (in the south)...and save money to boot. Will never go back to my "old ways".

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    1. I am the same way - I dont like to unload the dishwasher for some reason. Great job on making the changes and doing something about the power bill! :-)

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  8. Great advice! Would love to have you share this on Wildcrafting Wednesday at:
    http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/01/wildcrafting-wednesday-7.html

    and The HomeAcre Hop tonight at:
    http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/01/the-homeacre-hop-5.html

    Hope to see you there!

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    1. Thank you for the invite! I will stop on by. Thank you for the comment.

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    2. Thanks for linking up! Hope to see you next week!

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