Our Favorite Things: Brabantia clothesline

Almost every product and service we rely on today is manufactured with or transported by some amount of fossil fuels. Of course, the most important thing we can do to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels is to use less. However, when you do make a purchase, we encourage you to shop for energy-smart products that use less energy.

At CEC, we're all about energy-smart products that help us move towards a fossil-free lifestyle and a fossil-free future for Santa Barbara.Last time, you heard about Michael's favorite LED lightbulb and today, we're hearing from Eileen Daley, CEC's Accounting Specialist and lifelong clothesline owner.

Favorite eco-product: Brabantia Lift-O-Matic All Weather Rotary Dryer – clothesline for outdoor air-drying

Price: $149.97

Owned it for: 5 monthsI've been hanging my clothes on a clothesline to dry for years. Clothes dryers are one of the most energy intensive appliances in a household, and all that energy's not cheap or environmentally responsible. Not only that, but I like to air dry my clothes because they smell fresh from the breeze without having to use dryer sheets. Nothing quite beats sliding into sheets that have been hung in the sun!

Recently, my trusty clothesline of 22 years came apart and I needed a new one. I enlisted some help from my friend Mike, a retired engineer and all-around genius who likes to build things.

My favorite part of the old line was that it had two straight lines close enough together that you could hang items on both lines for maximum drying. I was hoping he could build a similar one for me. A couple of days later Mike brought me the "plans" for my new clothesline. I was expecting some sketches, but instead he brought me a print out from Amazon for an "umbrella like clothesline".

Needless to say, I was skeptical. I've used clotheslines my entire life and have never used one like this. But I trust him, so I went for it. The install went faster than I would have ever imagined – all it took was a couple of hits with a sledgehammer and POOF it was up and running.

Now that I have been using this clothesline for the last 5 months I have to admit it has surpassed anything I could have asked for or thought possible in a clothesline.

It holds just as much as my old lines did and the rotation component really dries things faster with a little breeze. The best part is I can collapse the line (like an umbrella) and bring it inside when I'm not using it. This has opened up the backyard in a way I never would have expected. I no longer have to remind my tall friends at a BBQ to duck under the lines, and can enjoy my cup of tea and look into the backyard with an unobstructed view.I have since called Mike and thanked him profusely for convincing me that this is the next big thing! I am happy to once again be living my simple life. Now, maybe I can get Mike to build me a new fence....

You can get a clothesline of your own at CEC's Amazon Store in the Gadgets section. We hope you'll find an idea to inspire you.Did you miss one of our favorite things? Catch up and read them all in Our Favorite Things blog category.