Fighting for a hybrid in every garage is cake compared to the battle to allow an outdoor clothesline in every yard. Still,  advocacy groups like Project Laundry List are urging a return to the days before newfangled cleaning machines drained our electric bills and resources – a time when nobody flinched at the sight of a big bra or jockey shorts flapping in the wind.

Why do these soldiers refuse to fold?

The advocacy group New American Dream calculates that if every American home switched to cold water for four out of five loads, together we can save $6.7 billion per year and keep nearly 50 million tons of carbon out of the atmosphere – the equivalent of removing 10 million cars from the road.

If only 40% of those households also line dried their clothes, the annual carbon savings would more than double.

Founded by Alexander Lee of Condord, NH, Project Laundry List has established a website that tracks states with ordinances banning outdoor clotheslines, such as Oregon. You can watch a compelling CBS video on the site of a feature Bill Geist did about a Bend woman engaging in civil disobedience in her subdivision by fighting for her right to conserve energy.

Nationwide, some 300,000 communities with home owner associations restrict outdoor laundry hanging, according to the Community Associations Institute.

Lee and others argue it is ridiculous to have to fight to hang clothes in your own backyard, and has spurred a national movement of likeminded enviromentalists. He has gone so far as to suggest the Obama White House reinstate clotheslines on the lawn as it once had in the early 1900s. You can vote for this as well, on the site.

Lee and his Laundry List have weight behind them with board advisors that include famed forward thinker,  Dr. Helen Caldicott and Dick McCormack, a former Vermont State Senator who re-introduced the Right to Dry bill in 1999, which his brother had introduced almost 10 years earlier. It resulted in passage this year, making it no longer a crime to do the right thing.

Helping push the bill along in Vermont was the owner of the wholesome Vermont Country Store. Owner Lyman Orton has written editorials in his national catalog and other media to egg on  homeowners to “set up a clothesline and hang your wash out even if you live in a neighborhood or subdivision where doing so is prohibited.” He asks rhetorically, “Is it not the height of snobbery to ban hanging clothes out to dry?”

Even before Vermont lawmakers got their act together, Orton was selling clothesline products, such as sheets specifically designed to billow in the breeze.

There are many such “Laundry Heroes” identified by Project Laundry List, including actress Daryl Hannah, Vermont Governor Jim Morris and Premier Dalton McGuinty of Ontario, Canada (above), who signed a rule allowing millions in the Province of Ontario to hang dry to their heart’s content.

To review more of the group’s accomplishments, check out the site and see what you can do to further the cause. Your backyard is standing by and waiting for you to feed it a line.

Ontario premier lifts outdoor clothesline ban (CTV.ca)

Images: Cyron, Vermont Country Store, CTV

Tired of that thong song when your sexiest undies collapse from too many wash machine beatings?

One way to lessen the damage is my mom’s method of washing her lingerie in a mesh bag on the delicate cycle of the wash machine, keeping the fabrics separated from towels and other heavier cottons. Bags also help protect fragile fabrics from too much machine agitation. Sadly, Mom still uses Tide detergent on everything. I wheeze from the chemical odor and wince at the notion of wearing tender garments marinated in Tide!

Mesh bags with green detergents are a good way to clean sturdier cotton undies and camisoles  in the machine, and for those who like using bags, Good Housekeeping has some great tips.

But when it comes to silks, I prefer to hand wash and hang undergarments, hose, bathing suits and work-out gear, finding it goes further to sustain these daily necessities while also rushing them through the wash and wear cycle faster.

Here are some safe and gentle products for soaking our most fragile garments:

1. Baby Shampoo

Even before having babies, I began soaking my delicates in the sink with a thimble-full of baby shampoo. My late Aunt Lorraine, one of the best knitters in the Midwest, taught me this trick for handwashing knitwear. For my hose, good thongs and bras, I use organic products, like California Baby , $20, finding a very small amount goes a long way in making suds. I add about a tablespoon to a sink full of water (lukewarm for anything that doesn’t need stain removal and warmer for garments that are spotted). I rinse in clean water and drape the wet garments over a towel to air dry. Experts say not to hang hose or they stretch out, so I usually fold mine over the bathtub rim on a dry towel.

Another reason I love gentle baby shampoo is that I’m highly allergic to most scented shampoos and lingerie washes, and I have no reaction to this gentle alternative. When out of the shampoo, I have also used gentle baby soaps, simply lathering the bar a bit with my hands under the tap to make suds for soaking.

2. Forever New Fabric Care Wash

A product that has been on the market for 25 years, Forever New , $15 – $17, has several organic formulas that address various garments from lights and darks to swimwear, work-out wear and items in need of stain removal. It works great for hand-washing bras. I have a friend who is quite well endowed and she washes a dozen bras at a time and then strings them to dry inside her shower. The site is something to behold. It’s important to remember to reshape the cups when hanging to dry. The washing is easy: you just fill the sink with lukewarm water, add the liquid and swish with your hand to mix the soap. Rinse twice and dry. Your bras will have a longer life if you avoid the tumbling of the machine.

3. Hanky Panky

The maker of organic thongs and undies, Hanky Panky has introduced a biodegradable lingerie wash powder that is hypoallergenic, fragrance free and made in the USA. It’s sold at site like A Brief Affair for $8.50 for an 8 oz. jar. Be sure to follow the directions for mixing so you don’t make the wash too potent.

Main image: Daniele Butera

To alleviate stress, some people indulge in aromatherapy, others depend on their monthly massage, while you hit up the tennis courts and leave it to the wrath of your racket. Along with a peaceful state of mind, this effective method of release has left you a basket full of old tennis balls that you can’t bring yourself to throw away. Here are some clever ways to take them out of retirement and save them from life in a landfill.

Slice a tennis ball down the middle and push the concave side onto the top a stubborn jar. Just squeeze and twist to open it with ease.

Pour beer into the other half and set it out in your garden to trap slugs before they feast on your plants and flowers.

Are you sick of stiff clothing, linens and towels? Toss a tennis ball into the dryer to fluff your laundry. Plus, it helps eliminate static cling.

Cut a slit into a tennis ball, secure it onto the end of a broom stick and rub away scuffs on wood or linoleum floors.

Once your floors are gleaming, this homemade tool can also be used to get rid of all those cobwebs lurking in the corners of your ceiling. So long, Swiffer.

When your significant other turns his nose up at your request for a foot massage, put a tennis ball under each sole and do it yourself.

Who actually rinses off their sunscreen or lotion before taking a dip? Just throw some tennis balls in your swimming pool to soak up oils.

Image: Steve Punter

Sure, you’ve switched to greener cleaning products, but how eco-friendly is the storage and folding apparatus in your laundry room? Are you still married to cold chrome and first-use plastic?

Here’s the scoop on several better choices for the oh-so-natural laundry maven.

Roll out the bamboo because it’s a better way to store and hang your laundry. It may be designed for the guest room but the bamboo rack, $130, from The Container Store is a natural in the laundry room.

 
Take stock in how you’ve been schlepping those tees and towels. The Whitmor totes from Kohl’s  (below) are so much more wholesome than their woven plastic rivals. The ample Vetiver bins from VivaTerra sell for $69 and are made of wild root and grass and also deliver a more gentle storage option for hauling clean and dirty clothes. And for splashes of color to contrast with the neutral green textiles, stir in the Rice and Feed bags, just $20-$36, also from VivaTerra.

 

We always had wicker hampers when I was a kid and these canvas and woven houses for dirty clothes are also woven of healthy fibers. The folding cedar hamper with a cotton canvas bag is only $30 at Organize and is another space saver with adorably simple lines. Station one in every room and bring them down for laundry time. Other pure storage containers include the reed or sea grass hampers from The Container Store.

 

We have sung the praises of resurrecting the clothesline for sustainable drying (and we’ve also shared a bevy of green laundry tips, including how to make your own detergent, so don’t miss it). Just tell nosy neighbors who don’t like it to nose right out! There are many sources for picking up rotary and rectractable lines, including Green and More, where I found this rotary model for around $120.

For indoor drying of delicates, a wall-mounted bamboo folding rack is a good way to go, such as this one for $80 from Gaiam.

In the mad dash to go green, grow green and glow green, some  energetic gadget makers are marketing devices that are so darn friendly, we might as well ask them to move into our homes. Plug into these and see:

Philips Eco TV

A 42-inch, flat-panel LCD, this TV broadcasts power-saving features, such as a backlight dimmer the viewer controls for darker scenes. It also has a power-saving mode for capping peak light output. It retails for around $1,400 at Amazon and other electronics suppliers. (Shown above.)

Bamboo Laptop

How chic can a computer get? The green batteries in the Asus boast a 35 to 70% longer life. The bamboo exterior houses all the usual extras of a notebook. Check it out at Ecomoves.

The Studio Hybrid Eco-Friendly Small Desktop

Ideal for the little green home office that could, this engine has optional upgrades to include built-in Wi-Fi Blue Rayâ„¢ and a wireless keyboard and mouse. This PC is Dell’s greenest and most powerful desktop to date, using 70 percent less energy while arriving 80 percent smaller than a typical desktop minitower.  Beginning at $499, it’s available in cool color options. It gets a 4.0 Energy Star rating with packing material made from 95 percent recyclable material.

Jonta LED Flashlight

Described as one of the best “human powered” flashlights, you can recharge this wind-up toy by cranking it to your heart’s content. Keep one handy in your nightstand drawer, the kitchen cabinet, in your kid’s room. Let it shine the new fashioned way. $49.99 at Green and More.

Solar Christmas Lights

If you are inclined to deck the halls and the roof, opt for these solar lights from Eco Geek Living, $39.97 for a set.

Spin-X Spindryer

This will cut down on drying time so much, it will make you dizzy. It costs $599.95 (plus shipping) but saves an estimaed $1,104 in three years. I believe it. The Spin-X can remove one quart of water from clothes taken out of your machine. The extracted water goes into a storage container. It also removes soap, detergents, perfumes and chemicals into the container. You can order one at Spin-X.

Helios Solar Grill

Invented by Sean McGreevy, this energy-efficient outdoor grill (great for that Thanksgiving turkey in Miami) has a coil inside that heats up like the hottest coal. The dish looks like it should be receiving your favorite show, Top Chef, but instead it collects the solar power while you cook away. Fire up your curiosity at Coolest Gadgets.

Eco Fan 800

No batteries, cords or chargers required for these blades of glory. The Eco Fan generates its own electricity using the heat of your wood burning stove. The thermo-electric module inside acts as the generator, letting you cut down on those insane power bills. $119 at Northline Express.

Barbar Ceramic ECO 8000 Blow Dryer


A hair greener than other styilng tools, the ceramic ECO Dryer is equipped with a low EMF heating output, negating radiation while keeping your locks soft and shiny. $109 at Beauty Choice.

Kill-A-Watt

It’s the favorite gismo of Alter Eco’s Darren Moore. This tool lets you test how much energy is being sucked out by your appliances, helping you to calculate and cut costs. $23.89 at Smart home.

The simple task of buying dryer sheets is never a pleasant experience. None of the scents available appeal to my taste, and I agonize over the fact that these disposable essentials are anything but green or healthy.

Thankfully, you can settle both of these dilemmas with one easy solution. Just moisten a clean washcloth, apply several drops of your favorite essential oil (floral, herbal or otherwise) and throw in a tennis ball to soften each load. And, this isn’t your only eco-friendly option. In A Static Cling Solution, Kim tells us how to make aromatic herb sachets that last up to six months and can add fragrance to your drawers once their shelf life is up.

Image: jtravism

Who would have ever imagined the day when Clorox, makers of the ubiquitous chlorine bleach, would come out with a line of eco-friendly cleansers? 

But here they are, 7 Green Works natural products such as bathroom cleanser, dishwashing liquid, and glass  & surface cleaner. Fragrance comes from essential oils, there is no phosphorus or bleach, and cleaning agents are coconut based.
Green Works has been endorsed by both the The Sierra Club and the Design for the Environment Program. It will be very interesting to see over time if Clorox is merely testing the marketing waters or committed to cleaning them.

A good hour of yoga can leave you feeling relaxed, energized, and introspective. It can also leave you with soggy clothes and a wet mat.

Kathy Swanson, a New Englander with a passion for everything natural, recently added Happy Yoga Mat to her collection of Kathy’s Family Products. It’s made with certified organic castile soap (that’s antifungal and antibacterial) and organic vegetable oils, extracts, and botanicals. Like all of the Kathy’s Family products it’s free of things like synthetic fragrances, dyes, preservatives and parabens, and naturally, is not tested on animals.

What you will find inside the bottle are organic oils such as coconut, olive, jojoba, tea tree and lavender. There are also citrus essential oils, organic aloe vera, and rosemary extract.

"Unfortunately, many new mats and balance balls on the market today have chemical residues on them,” said Swanson. So a thorough cleaning before use is a good idea. Removing chemicals from the manufacturing process as well as sweat, dirt and other impurities extends the life of a yoga mat, maintains its non-slip surface, and keeping it hygienic.

The fresh scent of the Happy Yoga Mat Wash was respectfully crafted for chemically sensitive and immune system impaired individuals who often react to detergents and perfumes. Happy Yoga Mat Wash comes in a 4-ounce travel bottle ($7.80), a 32-ounce studio size ($16.95) and a gallon refill ($51.95), and can be found at health food and natural product stores and online.

Image: adra.richards

I’d always had a gut feeling that those laboratory-cocktail laundry scents were toxic. When I would go for a run and smell dryer sheets or fabric softeners waft by, my cheeks felt as if they were on fire and my nose would run. Now there’s scientific proof that my physical reactions were not in my head. 

Don’t miss these green reads:

When you’re picking your way through a furniture sale – what’s perfect for renovation? Here are ten good suggestions, based on years of experience!

Another ten – this time, America’s top 10 walkable cities, from The Daily Green. We’re all for rediscovering our legs – and other time-honored ways of using them, like walking buses.

So, we have this word "garbage", and we associate it with the word "useless". Problem. Take these 20 works of garbage art over at Weburbanist, for example – or this garbage mirror. We need a new word.

Urban tumbleweed, begone! Sprawling Los Angeles is the latest city to show this plastic plague the door (after 2010). And good riddance, too.

You may be enjoying American oysters over the Pond, but here in Europe the industry is in crisis. In just a few days, the entire 2009 crop of 1-year-old oysters has been wiped out – perhaps a direct or knock-on effect of rising sea temperatures. Read the full story in The Independent here (and a 2003 article from The Times, showing how dramatic this turnaround is).

Also at The Daily Green, a handy list of 6 plants that will grow anywhere – perfect for those agricultural skyscrapers!

Blaine Brownell wants to tell us about the latest in sustainable building materials – and he’s doing so in a video here. (Thanks to Sew Green for finding this one). 

We need to conserve our planet’s natural habitats, land and sea – because they’re helping keep a lid on runaway global warming. Wetlands are amongst the most important places on earth – they hold 20% of the world’s carbon, and if threatened they could act as "carbon bombs".

If we hadn’t made clear by now our dislike of manufactured antibacterial cleaners, this Scientific American article from July last year nicely covers the science side of our argument (via Green SAHM).

Lastly, a little psychology: the sneaky tricks that retailers use to make shoppers part with their money – courtesy of Robert Roy Britt for LiveScience.

Image: Javier Kohen