Hung out to dry - Letters - Letter to the Editor

Sierra, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Alexander Lee

I was disheartened to see Sierra canonize people who use the clothesline--"The saints among us line-dry every load" ("The Hidden Life of Laundry," September/October 2002). At least in some parts of New England, where we still take the values of thrift and conservation seriously, it is the responsible citizen who hangs out, not just environmental zealots. Most people don't even know anymore that clothes will dry quickly on a clear, sub-zero winter's day. Betty's Book of Laundry Secrets and The Clothesline are fabulous resources for those who are interested in the hidden life of laundry. Join me in celebrating National Hanging Out Day on April 19 and put the fun back in doing the right thing.

Alexander Lee
Executive Director, Project Laundry List
www.laundrylist.org
South Royalton, Vermont

Editor's note: One reader asked why "The Hidden Life of Laundry" didn't mention reusable laundry discs, which purportedly eliminate the need for detergent. As it turns out, the science behind these discs is badly soiled. In 1999 the Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert stating that laundry discs "do little more than clean out your wallet."

* ON THE WEB The Professional Wet-cleaners Network, one of the groups we mentioned in "The Hidden Life of Laundry," no longer uses the Web address listed in that article. You can contact them by e-mail at ahargr7630@aol.com instead. Greenpeace also provides a nationwide list of stores using nontoxic wet-cleaning processes at www.greenpeaceusa.org/ media/factsheets/wetcleanlist.htm.