I’m still working hard to trim my new novel down to size and so I’m sharing some smiles tonight. This was a pass-around on social media a few years ago that I happened to save. I’ve hung out many lines of clothes in my life. There’s nothing quite as fragrant as sheets and towels off the line. But in the winter, a person’s fingers can freeze hanging out those clothes and then sometimes having to prize loose the corners that stayed frozen under the clothespins. But it is true that diapers will freeze dry on a clothesline. It’s also true that frisky pups will sometimes tear up your favorite sheets or towels when the wind starts blowing them around and the dog thinks that’s the best toy ever.
The rules below are true too. There is a certain way to hang up clothes. I’ve never had near neighbors so I didn’t have to worry about hiding those “unmentionables” behind the towels. I did have certain things that I hung on certain lines.
If you’ve ever hung out clothes or if you haven’t, these clothesline rules are fun to read.
THE BASIC RULES FOR CLOTHESLINES:
- You hang socks by the toes. NOT the top.
- You hang pants by the BOTTOM/cuffs… NOT the waistbands. (Oops. I broke this rule.)
- You have to WASH the clothesline(s) before hanging any clothes. Walk the entire length of each line with a damp cloth around the lines.
- You have to hang clothes in a certain order. Always hang “whites” with “whites,” and hang them first.
- You NEVER hang a shirt by the shoulders – always by the tail!
- Wash day on a Monday! NEVER hang clothes on the weekend, Or on Sunday, for Heaven’s sake!
- Hang the sheets and towels on the OUTSIDE lines so you can hide your “unmentionables” in the middle (perverts & busybodies, y’know!)
- It doesn’t matter if it’s sub-zero weather… clothes will “freeze-dry.”
- ALWAYS gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes! Pins left on the lines are tacky!
- To be efficient, you line the clothes up so that each item doesn’t need two clothespins, but can share a clothespin with the next washed item.
- Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket, and ready to be ironed. IRONED??!! Well, that’s a whole OTHER subject!
- Long wooden pole (clothes pole) is used to push the clotheslines up so longer items (sheets/pants/etc.) don’t brush the ground and get dirty.
And now a CLOTHESLINE POEM…
A clothesline was a news forecast to neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep when clothes were hung to dry.
It also was a friendly link, for neighbors always knew,
If company had stopped on by to spend a night or two.
For then you’d see the fancy sheets and towels upon the line;
You’d see the company table cloths with intricate designs.
The line announced a baby’s birth from folks who lived inside,
As brand new infant clothes were hung so carefully with pride!
The ages of the children could so readily be known,
By watching how the sizes changed, you’d know how much they’d grown!
It also told when illness struck, as extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe too, haphazardly were strung.
It also said, “On vacation now” when lines hung limp and bare.
It told “We’re back!” when full lines sagged with not an inch to spare!
New folks in town were scorned upon if wash was dingy and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows and looked the other way.
But clotheslines now are of the past, for dryers make work much less.
Now what goes on inside a home is anybody’s guess!
I really miss that way of life, it was a friendly sign,
When neighbors knew each other best by what hung on the line.
Hope you enjoyed the trip back in time. In some places these days, clotheslines are against neighborhood rules. I still have my clothesline in the backyard, but I don’t use it these days. That other thing about clotheslines that isn’t mentioned in this piece is that sometimes if you are running through a yard in the dark, you might get clothes-lined and come to a sudden, painful stop.
Have you ever hung clothes on a clothesline and if you have, did you follow the “rules?”
Comments 40
Oh goodness my hubby and i have different opinions about how to hang and to wash the clothes line first he just hangs and he hangs the socks first i am going to have him read this. Wow if I hung the clothes the wrong way and my foster mom looked out and saw that 2 pegs were on one item or anything i would have to take all the items down and redo it as they were renting us out to people to clean their house and wash their clothes this started at age 7 and if i did it wrong at home then how were we supposed to make money for them if i did it wrong for the person we were rented to. I was cooking washing and also there was a farm and we did it all with severe treatment if not done right. One of the biggest pet peeves of hers was when i hung the clothes i could barely reach the clothes line just like when my husband hung our clothes line it is 7 ft up and he thinks that everyone is that tall and i should be able to reach I start laughing when i do the 1st wash of spring as we have the same agruments every year.
Author
I makes me sorry when I read how badly you were treated as a foster child, Peggy. I would like to think that every child is loved and treasured, but I know that’s not true. I am glad that you made your way to a better life in spite of the hard times you had as a child. As for that clothesline, sounds as though you might need a stepladder. LOL.
I still love to hang clothes on the line.My neighbor who walks our road a lot says that’s the first sign of Spring, me hanging clothes in the line.I use the dryer in Winter and clothesline in Spring, Summer and Fall.
I don’t follow all the ” rules” but I do have my own “unwritten rules” I follow.
Author
I think that’s true of all of us who have spent some days hanging clothes out on the line to dry. It was always a little disconcerting if certain things got hung in the wrong places. I’m sounding a little OCD there now. LOL. Now I throw things in the dryer willy nilly.
I hung clothes a lot. My mom didn’t get a dryer til we moved to the farm, but she mostly used it in winter or bad weather days, or for special items. I had one when my kids were little. I really miss having one sometimes. I hung tees and things like that by the tail, but dress shirts open and by the inside shoulder. That’s how my mom did it, and they seem to wrinkle less. Pants. Knit, stretchy ones by the waist band, but jeans by the pant legs. Thick things had to be hung alone. The pin wouldn’t hold two. I guess that’s all. 😏
Author
Some good added rules, Ann. I’ve broken clothespins trying to hang heavy items like thick blue jeans. I would save those better older clothespins for that kind of thing. The new clothespins I’d bought always fell apart way easier than the old ones. But I have put a many of those spring ones back together. And we do do things the way our moms did and most of the time that’s good because it’s taking advantage of years of experience since she probably did the same.
Oh! I long for a clothesline sometimes. Not all the time, though. I had plumb forgot about the hanging the clothes inside out, so that was a good point someone made. A few memories you stirred up here: I used to be the one who had to fetch and carry the clothespin apron, I was forever scolded for letting the sheets touch the ground when I tried to fold them straight off the line, we always froze when a flock of starlings flew overhead, and we ran faster to the clothesline in a pop-up summer storm than we ran to the dinner table after church on Sundays!
Thanks for sharing. What lovely memories.
Author
I’ve done some mad dashes for the clothesline when it threatened rain too, Kristy, and sometimes got wet in the process of yanking those clothes off the line. I used to fold the sheets off the line too. I never had one of those clothespin aprons, but just kept my clothespin in a plastic bucket. I’m going to borrow your line about running faster to the clothesline in a pop-up summer storm than we ran to the dinner table after church on Sunday. Love it. Made me smile.
Yes, we always hung clothes on the clothesline when I was growing up! And I also used one when we were first married! And, even though I have never heard of the “clothesline rules” until I just read this article, we did almost every one of them! According to my Mom, the clothes had to be hung this way. But, she never mentioned any rules. I just assumed that’s how her Mom had done it and when I got married, that’s how I did it!
Author
I don’t guess these are “official rules,” Linda Dianne. Just rules that somehow got passed down from mom to daughter because it works better. And that no clothes on the line on Sundays was indicative of how people observed Sundays when most had to use clotheslines. We’re much more relaxed with what we do on Sundays these days. Years and years ago, before my time, a church member could get in trouble by going to the movies on Sundays.
Oh, memories! Yes, we hung our clothes out on the lines when I was at home. Colored blouses and dresses went on plastic hangers, hung on branches in our 2 plum trees so they didn’t fade. Whites were on hangers at the ends of the lines. Didn’t have a dryer till we were all gone; lines in the basement for winter or rainy days. I had lines when I left home, for several years, too. But when the posts rusted through and broke, we got a dryer. We followed some of the rules, but not all.
Author
I used to have lines in the basement too. Neat that you hung things on hangers to dry. That kept them from having those pinched up spots where the clothespins were. Smart. It’s interesting how thinking about hanging out clothes to dry has awakened so many memories. Makes us think of home, somehow. The kids of today will have their memories awakened in some different ways by what their parents or grandparents did.
Ann, I always enjoy your blogs as much as your books!
I’m in my early 40s and use a clothesline year round 🙂 We bought an Amish style wheel clothesline in Amish Country in Ohio several years ago. It is one of my favorite things about our house. I posted some pictures on your FB post that shared this blog.
The only rule I’ll add to this that I learned the hard way is that it is better to hang clothes inside-out so they don’t get faded by the sun.
Funny story, when our kid’s friends came over for the first time a couple of years ago, they both asked their mom why I had our clothes outside. One of them asked me if my dryer was broken.
Author
Thank you for that, Barbee. It makes writing posts more fun when I know some readers are enjoying them. Of course, I really like hearing you like my books too. I saw your pictures of your clothesline. The wheel ones must be neat.
That is a funny story, but those kids had probably never seen clothes hanging outside. You’re showing them a energy saving device. Well, electricity energy. Might not be saving your energy. 🙂
I still love to hang clothes on the line, but oops I broke some of the rules.
Author
So did I, Lucy. But then there were some of those laundry rules one couldn’t break if that was how mom did it. 🙂
Love this Ann! I have an umbrella line that is used on occasion. But I remember as a child, my Mother having a LONG one that she would have to use a long pole to keep sheets and such from touching the ground and I would get to “clean” the lines before clothes were hung…….what beautiful memories!! Oh what a delicious smell clean clothes have from being dried outside in the sunshine!!
Author
My aunt had a clothesline that had to have the pole to keep it high enough. Mom’s were just on clothesline posts. Four lines and then one extra attached to a tree for the extras. Usually overalls hung on that line. Of course, that’s also where she tied the poor frying chickens by the feet and cut off their heads. We’ve gotten squeamish these days, but people couldn’t afford to be squeamish then. They had to do what they had to do to put supper on the table.
One more rule, hang heavy clothes closet to the end posts.
There’s reasons for these rules. The movable pole also keeps ’em out of reach of pets.
Clothes pins left can rust and leave spots, and can be home to pests like spiders.
Shirts hung by the shoulders will inevitably have stretched spots.
My neighbor once told me she loved seeing our white cloth diapers flying in the wind, sigh, 35 years long gone.
Another time, I had my back to the neighbors and got the snot scared out of me when their dog snuck up and started barking like mad!
Author
Oh yes, there are reasons for the rules, Pamela. And I did have to practice that rule about the heavy clothes closest to the end posts. I also had to sometimes balance things out. Clothes blowing in the wind is a great picture for some reason. A clothesline of clothes gives you a feeling of accomplishment that I don’t think a dryer full of clothes can do. 🙂
I have the most wonderful memories of helping Mama hang clothes on the line in the back yard. We didn’t get a dryer until I was a teenager, and even when we had the dryer, there were some things that just needed to be “air dried”. Mama and I would have great conversations while hanging clothes. Thank you for reminding me of those special times.
Author
What sweet memories, Melissa. I have some of those too. I remember loving to hear the mockingbird sing while I hung out clothes in the morning. Of course, I was glad he was singing out in a tree away from the clothesline. My mother didn’t have a dryer until long after I was married. But she liked it then. 🙂
I am waiting for the washer to finish as I read this, so that I can hang them on the line. I still hang laundry out, until the weather grows to cold and then they go in the dryer. For a few years I didn’t own a dryer and my friends thought I was crazy as I either hung the clothes inside or outside to dry. I have broken a few of the “rules” though. I keep the unmentionables inside to dry though-our lines are a little too close to the road and easily viewed, no matter how they would be hung. 🙂 I guess not too many people my age (40’s) or otherwise hang laundry anymore, but it saves on the electric bill and like you mentioned-there is nothing like the scent of fresh line dried sheets and blankets.
Author
I suppose the only place you will see many clotheslines full of clothes is in Amish or Mennonite neighborhoods these days, Hope. But used to be every house had a clothesline that was used. At least out in the country where I grew up. I’m sure your friends admire your clothes when they are on the line. And whether they do or not, you have those wonderfully scented sheets and blankets.
By the way, I insisted my husband put up a clothesline for me when we bought this house in 1974. I used it for awhile and then for one reason or another I quit??? We still have it and have used it to hang up portable pools and slip and slides. After Katrina we hung the clothes from the closets to dry before taking them to the laundromat. That way we could shake mud and debris off. But I agree about sheets and towels smelling so fresh when hung outside! 😊
Definitely have hung clothes on a clothesline-growing up and the first few years of married life. At first we didn’t have a washer but would leave the laundry mat to save a dime or two and use the clothesline. Clothes always smelled so fresh after hanging outside. When diapers froze on the line trips to the laundromat were inevitable. Five years into married life I was blessed with a dryer! Yes, I followed most of those rules but never heard the one about in before dinner. I took the clothespins in because they discolored when left outside and didn’t last as long. 😊
Author
I didn’t have a dryer until I’d been married a few years either, Karen. I liked it and used it when I had to but still hung most of my clothes out. To save money mostly. It’s interesting that you found a use for your clothesline after Katrina. That wouldn’t have been something I’d have thought of. But I’m like you in that I still have my clothesline and used it for swimming towels when the grandkids were still little enough for the wading pool in the backyard. After reading all these comments, I’m going to feel guilty throwing my sheets in the dryer next time.
Yes, in fact today my mother & I comment that it would be a good day hang the sheets out in the wind. I love when the wind blow high in the trees & turns the leaves inside out. I hope it’s nice again tomorrow I’ll open the windows to freshen the house, I followed the clothes hanging rules. Do you remember the trouser frames so you didn’t have to iron the slacks? Boy, the sleep of freshly washed sleets is so relaxing & you always go to sleep faster??? Could it be the outdoor freshness or the tiredness?
Author
I did have some of those frames, but I rarely used them. I thought it was more trouble than ironing. And my mom had something she used to stretch out curtains when they were drying. I like how you’re not sure if it’s the freshness or the tiredness that helps you sleep better, Betty. Maybe some of both. So many things we used to have to do were more work than these days. I’m always amazed when I hear younger people complain about doing the laundry when I remember how I used to have to do it and even more, how my mother did. Now the machines do it all.
Yes I hung clothes on the line for years. Didn’t follow all the rules but I did a lot of them. This brings back so many memories especially when I hung out men’s Long Johns in the winter, they always were frozen stiff even when they were dry, they probably could have walked in by themselves lol. Thanks so much for this post, those were the good old days.
Author
I do remember those frozen long johns, Marjorie. So many memories. It’s fun to read things to make them come to mind. You had to take some of those things in my the stove to let them thaw out.
I still have a clothesline, and I still use it! I love the fresh smell on sheets, towels and underwear hung out to dry. I use my dryer for permanent press stuff, but much prefer everything else hung out to dry. I have certain lines on which I dry certain things, but don’t follow many of the old rules 🙂
Author
There isn’t much nicer than the fresh smell of clothes from being sun dried, Margaret. I do remember that good smell. All of these comments are making me think I should dig out my clothespins again. I still have them.
I still have a bag of clothespins hanging in my laundry room in an actual clothespin bag. They are great for keeping cereal, cracker and chip bags closed! Hence staying fresh longer. And I might add a lot cheaper than the plastic variety. 😊
What a fun post and poem!
I still use my clothesline, but only when it’s sunny and above 50 degrees. I don’t like frozen fingers! When my kids were all at home I hung everything out. Now I hang sheets and towels and clothes that don’t need ironing. Since I only have one long line across my backyard, and it’s visible from the lake, I don’t hang my unmentionables. I follow all the other rules except hanging the pants upside down…oops! And I would never hang anything outside (or do any laundry) on Sunday! I’d add a rule though….give everything a good hard shake when you take it off the line, to remove any bugs. Nothing smells better than fresh sheets from the line….but nothing ruins a good night’s sleep faster than a spider brought in with them. 😉
Author
I do prefer no spiders in my sheets, Lavon. LOL. And I do remember giving the towels a shake and the other things too when I took them off the line. I also remember not being happy when a bird decided to poop on my sheets. I also broke that rule about handing the pants upside down. I always pinned them on at the waist. For a long time I did what you do and only hung out the sheets and towels. But when I had to start staying with Mom during her long illness, I had to wash whenever I could. So I got in the dryer only habit.
I hung out clothes with my mom all my childhood years. I loved it so much. She taught me exactly how to hang each item. Would you believe I have hung out clothes my whole marriage and I have been married 52 years. My girls think it is unbelievable. They have never helped me or hung out their own clothes. At times my husband has helped me if I had surgery or an illness. His mother had taught him also. I always plan to do this. I think it helps me stay in touch with the past and all the pleasant memories with my mom! So blessed!
Author
That’s neat, Rosemary, and think of all the electricity you saved. I used to like taking the clothes off the line and folding the towels as I unpinned them. It was a way I could be outside more when the children were little. They liked being out too. I’m sure I had my kids helping sometimes to bring in the clothes. Not sure if they helped hang them out although they did like to help their granny when they were too little to really be a help.
I absolutely used the clothes line at my parents home in the country! I agree with all the clothes line rules, especially not hanging clothes on the line on Sunday! That would be a disgraceful thing to do!
Author
I broke some of the rules, Carolyn, but I would have felt bad hanging clothes out on Sunday unless there was some sort of emergency. Say, no diapers. I don’t remember that happening but no diapers would have been an emergency. 🙂