Crawford-Lehigh LA84P-1 Large Capacity Deluxe Parallel Clothes Dryer
by Crawford-Lehigh
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List Price: Our Price: $44.99 You Save: $35.00 (44%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Crawford-Lehigh LA84P-1 Large Capacity Deluxe Parallel Clothes Dryer
Customer Review: Economical and relaxing
Summary: 4 Stars
There was one arm that had a bend in it when it arrived but since it still closed up all the way and doesn't seem to affect its use I didn't want to hassle with an exchange. I used it nearly every day for 5 months and like it much better than any of the more traditional straight line closelines I have had. The retractables were the worst of those. This one is very lightweight and easy to handle.
This has very little line sag on heavier items because of its design and thanks to the height adjustments draping things like a sleeping bag and comforter over the top is easy. Large sheets are folded so as not to drag on the ground and easily wrap around. After the first few uses you may need to tighten up the line but this is easy and takes just a few short minutes.
I love how much more economical and quiet this is than a gas or electric dryer and is so much easier on the clothing. If you are concerned about sun fade most things dry in less than 1 hr and sometimes before you're done haging the full load and can be hung inside out. You can also buy a large patio or picnic umbrella and run the pole up next to the clothesline pole for shade. We had to lift the umbella pole up a ways, open the umbrella then let the pole back down again and tied the two poles together but it worked great. I also hang our undergarments, socks and ugly work or play clothes out by putting them on the short inner lines with larger things around them which allows complete privacy and you still get to enjoy seeing only the "nice" things blowing in the breeze.
Added bonuses.
1. Sunlight is a natural stain remover and fabric whitener.
2. The kids love to hand old sheets and use this as a fort or play house.
3. If you forget or must leave there is no risk of fire and your clothes won't get wrinkled by laying in a heap in the automatic dryer.
4. Good way to remove bad smells such as gasoline, grease, animal scents(hunters and their wives know about this), and smoke. Some may take few days and a couple of washings but thus far I have only lost one pair of jeans.
Customer Review: When I get it in the ground...
Summary: 3 Stars
The "ground socket" is made of plastic, and broke while trying to get it fixed into the ground. British parallel dryers come with metal spikes rather than plastic ones for this reason, so I'm on the lookout for a metal spike so I can actually use the dryer.
But it looks good, apart from that. I wish I could've been using it already. The dryer itself looks very sturdy, particularly when compared to my old dryer (which I had for 4 years), so I expect it to last a long time. Shame it was let down by as small a thing as the ground socket.
Edited after first use:
When I purchased this, it was in anticipation of having a yard. I didn't get out of the apartment immediately, and now it's unfortunately too late to return, otherwise it'd be going back today.
The first time I unwrapped this dryer, one of the plastic things that attaches the arms to the main pole was broken. No problem, I thought, though it was annoying. No problem until ANOTHER one broken while I was hanging up the first round of wet laundry. It's now completely useless. And, as another reviewer said, the tension in the ropes is terrible and awkward to adjust. It doesn't even spin round, as I expected, so whatever I hung in sunlight stayed there, rather than drying evenly when the wind turned it.
I will not buy another of these. The construction looks good, but appearances are deceptive. If I could change my initial review it would get 2 stars.
ETA: I replaced the cheaply-made one with the Brabantia 311048 Lift-O-Matic All Weather Rotary Dryer and wow, what a difference! The lines are well-threaded, it is sturdy, it comes with a cover AND a metal spike. I can fit loads of laundry on there and with no fear of the arms breaking. I wish I'd bought this one first - it is *definitely* worth the money, and what I thought I was getting before.
Customer Review: I bought it twice
Summary: 4 Stars
I first bought this clothes line two years ago and I was thrilled to find I was saving almost $50 a month on my gas bill (gas dryer.) It didn't take long to save the cost of the dryer and the fee to a handyman to set the base in concrete. At first I took it down whenever it wasn't in use -which is a great option. Now I only take it down if we have guests or need more space in the yard for a game. Why did I buy it twice? The sliding plastic part where the four arms come together cracked - it took me months to realize why the dryer was gradually getting more rectangular! I'm not sure what happened - I always try to load it in a balanced way. I see now that they say it should carry a maximum of 35 pounds but I rarely hang more than three large loads of laundry at a time. By the way, the lines are too close together - I use every other one so the clothes dry quicker - but there is room for three loads that way. If you are comparing dryers, take the claimed capacity with a grain of salt. Despite all that, I took a risk buying it again since I can still use the same base. I may reinforce the plastic with duct tape. If it only lasts another two years I'll have to think about using a different product.
General thoughts on using a clothesline: it took my family a few months to get used to stiffer clothes coming off the line, but now they are even accustomed to the towels (though I have found one type that stays soft, zero twist towels.) You can put partly dry cotton undies and towels in the dryer - it saves some energy, at the cost of more work for you! Use wooden spring clothespins - the plastic ones only work for the lightest loads, where the wooden ones work even for jeans and towels. (And the doll-type no spring wooden ones are useless for anything.) I live in the desert (Los Angeles) and clothes dry very fast. Unless, of course, you leave the clothes on the line overnight and the sprinklers come on first thing in the morning! Clothes smell great when they've been line dried.
Customer Review: Highly recommended
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not only a good product but it is made/sold by a responsible company. The latter - a critical component of my buying habits.
My older outdoor dryer, finally, after 6 years of dependable service, died. The Lehigh replacement arrived on time and was promptly planted into the existing socket. While opening the gizmo, the upper button broke off. I could open the dryer with the other button, but I wasn't sure how long the dryer would hold up the weight of wet laundry. With some trepidation, I called Lehigh's customer service. What a lovely surprise! I had no need to whine, wail, beg and/or prostrate myself. The sweet Lady Kim promptly offered to send a replacement. Just like that! I'm still in shock...
Stuff happens. I'm not going to huff & puff, even cancel out a company that takes ownership of its product. Judging by the number of reviews, the design of the buttons needs to be improved. It's silly to replace an otherwise perfectly good product over a detail that should be readily replaceable, but that is not my concern.
Bottom line: I am sufficiently impressed with Lehigh's dryer and customer service to have asked for their catalogue to be sent with the replacement dryer. I am always willing to support any company that is ready and willing to stand behind its product(s).
Lehigh - fix the buttons! Use a tougher kind of plastic or introduce a metal push pin of the kind the outdoor patio umbrellas have. The pin outlasts the cloth, the stand, and most likely the patio itself!
Customer Review: Great clothesline for the price -- super quick shipping
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been wanting a clothesline for some time since I left my retractable one at my old house -- I wanted something that was not permanently attached to anything and that I can put up for a few hours then take down and store. I don't yet have the ground sleeve in, but it is very similar to how my old one worked. But I read another review that said they just used their patio umbrella base -- so I was able to use right away:) Obviously it is important to keep load distributed evenly so that dryer holds up and does not get bent, etc...they mention that in the instructions and it is just plain common sense and physics. So I turn it regularly while hanging clothes -- I like to hang things every other line for more airflow so I won't have quite as much hanging space, but on a hot, sunny day things dry very quickly. I looked at lots of clotheslines, and this seems to be one of the best deals. It probably is not as sturdy as the super expensive ones that feature their own websites --- however, I could buy 4 of these for the price of some of the "better" ones out there -- and it is light enough to easily put up/down and lift out. I hung a huge load from the xtra-lg capacity front-load washer and still had lots of room left -- seems to be just what I was looking for and I can't wait to have air-dried sheets again! Oh yeah -- I received this in only a few days using the super-saver shipping option -- surprised at how quickly I received it.