CasaSugar

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:15:52 -0800

Wow, talk about pretty in pink! Could a clothesline get any lovelier? The tall, gangly flower in this photo is one of my personal favorites. Can you name it?

Casa Verde: HERO-365 Drying Rack

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:30:11 -0700

I'm always championing hanging your clothes to dry, but if your clothesline doesn't look as picturesque as this, I don't blame you for avoiding it. Enter the HERO-365 DR-1 Drying Rack (inquire for price). Its lightweight, powder-coated aluminum, white and yellow frame has an adorable, retro, cutout trellis pattern. Each of its bars rotate outwards, allowing you to hang as many wet items as you need without hogging space during downtime. It also has a pull-up drying rack to air out your delicates, socks, etc. Who knew doing laundry could be so chic?

Casa Quickie: Pin in Pairs

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:55 -0700

If the Spring weather has you using your clothesline again, try this quick trick for making your job faster. Take a few seconds to clothespin your socks together in pairs. This way, when you take your clothes off the line, you can immediately roll them into pairs, cutting down on the amount of time you spend folding and organizing your fresh, sunshine-dried laundry.

DIY: Upcycled Clothespin Bag

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:00:28 -0700

Spring breezes, combined with Spring cleaning, are perfect excuses for abandoning your dryer for a clothesline, don't you think? The windy weather provides quick drying, and clearing out closets while Spring cleaning has probably yielded an old dress and a few wire hangers. Don't toss or donate them quite yet. Save a hanger and a dress to make this cute clothespin bag. It's super easy to whip up on your sewing machine, or you could try a no-sew version of the bag using fabric glue.

For this DIY, you'll need a sleeveless dress, a wire hanger, scissors, thread, and a sewing machine. Or alternately, replace the thread and sewing machine with fabric glue.

For directions, read more.

Place the dress (turned inside-out) on a flat surface. Cut a straight line approximately four to six inches below the bottom of the arm opening.
Now, using your sewing machine (or fabric glue) sew up the arm holes and the line you just cut, while the dress is still inside out.
Flip your dress top right side out. Insert the wire hanger into the dress. Now, using either your sewing machine or your fabric glue, sew/glue a line under the shoulders of the hanger. This will hold your hanger in place on your dress.
Fill your new clothespin bag with clothespins, and hang it on the line.

Midday Muse: Everyday Art

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:00:07 -0700

French photographer JR is known for his political art installations, but that doesn't mean every picture he captures is rife with controversial content. Sometimes, the message is more subtle. While JR may simply be showing us the gorgeous colors and patterns of the clothing on this line in Monrovia, Liberia, I, of course, will use the image to urge you to create your own fabric art installation in your backyard - on your clothesline.
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Casa Quickie: Save Money by Ditching Your Dryer

CasaSugar — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:34:56 -0700

Did you know that you can reduce your energy bill by an average of $75 to $100 a year by switching to line drying? That's right: Electric clothes dryers are huge energy users, and you can save money as well as energy and reduce your carbon profile by hanging clothes on the line to dry. And now that it's Spring, your clothes will smell superfresh as well.

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Casa Verde: Ontario Okays Clotheslines

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:47:14 -0800

According to Energy Minister Gerry Phillips, Ontario will lift its ban on clotheslines in time for residents to take advantage of warm summer breezes. Various municipal bylaws and contracts with home builders have outlawed the use of clotheslines until now. The lifting of the ban will mean that anyone living in a detached, semi-detached, or row house will be able to let their clothes flap in the breeze. The measure will not include condominiums or high-rise apartments.

Clothes dryers use approximately six percent of residential electricity consumption in Canada, and hanging just 25 percent of laundry on clotheslines could reduce bills by $30 a year while also helping to reduce greenhouse gases.

What do you think? Does your community or building outlaw clotheslines? If the ban was lifted, would you think about line drying your laundry?

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Do You Dry Your Clothes on a Clothesline?

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:32:49 -0800

I love the way my sheets feel and smell after I put them out on the clothesline-and I live in the middle of the city. I can't imagine how yummy fresh my laundry would smell if I hung it up to dry in the country.

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Steal of the Day: Shanghai Etched Metal Lantern

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:15:07 -0700

I think I'm developing a lantern problem, and it's only getting worse as I spend more time out of doors this month! As the nights get warmer, I want to dine and relax beneath the stars, with the twinkling light of hanging lanterns to keep me company. This Shanghai Small Etched Metal Lantern (on sale for $7.99, originally $12) is so charming. Pair a few of them with some DIYed recycled glass chandeliers, and you have the makings for a perfect Summer evening party. The painted metal lantern's intricate etching will cast pretty patterns all over your party, and the hooped handle will fit perfectly over tree branches or even on a length of clothesline.

Ask Casa: An Energy-Efficient Washer and Dryer?

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:00:09 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,

I'm going to have my first baby in August, and my mom wants to gift me a washer and a dryer to help me with all of the added laundry. I'm really grateful, but I'm not sure where to start looking. I know that I want something that's Energy Star rated, can be separated or stackable, and has a good warranty. Since my house is pretty small, I'd also like to have something that's not that big. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jen

To see my advice for Jen, read more.

Hi Jen,

Congratulations on the new baby, and the generous soon-to-be grandmommy! A new washer and dryer should definitely help to make your life a little easier once your baby arrives, and I'm glad to see that you're interested in getting an energy-efficient set.

You'll definitely want to get a front-load washer. Why? Since front-load washers don't use an agitator (the post in the middle of top-loading machines) you can get more laundry in there - an average of 30 percent more. They also have a high-speed, high-efficiency extractor, which means your clothes come out of the washer dryer than they would from a top-loading machine. They're gentler on clothes, quieter, and are often stackable. In addition, they're much more energy- and water-efficient, using half as much water as top loaders. And while I recommend using cold water cycles whenever possible, if you have to use hot water, front-loading machines use almost 70 percent less electricity to heat the water.

So, what machine do I recommend for you? I'm going to go with the Maytag Neptune MAH2400 ($750).It's pretty darn small, at just about two feet wide and deep and 34 inches high, but boasts a large, 2.4 cubic feet capacity (the equivalent of 16 bath towels). It's part of Maytag's QuietSeries 300, which means it won't wake up Baby while you're tossing in laundry during naptime. It also comes with a warranty, can be stacked, and has a high-efficiency wash system. And yes, it's Energy Star qualified.

Why a Maytag? Well, if your mom buys this machine by the end of the month, she can save big bucks. Maytag appliances are eligible for an up to $600 rebate through the Energy Star program.

You can, of course, pair this washer with the Maytag Neptune Electric Dryer ($700), but since dryer technology hasn't improved nearly as much as washer technology, it's not as much of an urgent issue. Since these two machines are matched, they will stack easily. However, whenever you can, be as eco-efficient as possible and dry your clothes on a clothesline.

If you're not interested in the Maytag, I've also included some stackable machines in the widget below. Good luck with your new baby and your new washer and dryer!

Congratulations,
Casa

Amana 3.5 Cu. Ft. Super Capacity Front Load Washer - $598.00	GE Profile 4.2 IEC Cu. Ft. Colossal Capacity Front Load Washer - $999.00
Maytag Neptune® 2.4 Cu. Ft. Large Capacity Compact Front Load Washer - $749.00	Speed 27" Stacked Electric Washer/Dryer with 3.3 cu. ft. Washer, 7.0 cu. ft. Dryer, 8 Wash Cycles, 3 Dry Cycles, 500/650/1000 RPM Spin Speed and Centrally Located Controls - $2,199.00
Bosch 27" Front Load Washer with 3.81 cu. ft. Capacity, 11 Wash Cycles, Energy Consumption of 146 kWh/year and Spin Speed of 800 RPMs - $639.00	Whirlpool 27" Front-Load Washer with 3.7 cu. ft. Capacity, 10 Wash Cycles, 4 Temperature Options, Built-in Heater, 1,100 RPM Spin Speed and CEE III Energy Star Rating - $769.00
Speed 27" Stacked Gas Washer/Dryer with 8 Wash Cycles, 3 Dry Cycles, Automatic Dry Cycles, Extra Rinse, Quiet Efficient Blower & ENERGY STAR Qualified Washer - $2,299.00	Speed 27" Front Load Washer with 8 Cycles, ADA Compliant, ENERGY STAR Qualified & Rear Control - $1,599.00

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