When I was young, I didn't fully grasp the concept as we always had a dryer in the house, so why hang the clothes out to dry?
It didn't matter what season it was either, spring, summer fall or winter, the clothes went out on the line. I understood the warmer months of hanging them out as the sun and cool breeze dried them nicely, but in the winter? Really? There were some days that our jeans were so frozen, that it seemed that all she had to do was whistle and the jeans would walk themselves into the house they were so stiff. However, perhaps my mother was smarter than what I gave her credit for as it seems that drying laundry in freezing temperatures does actually work! First, the moisture in the laundry items will freeze and the clothing will become stiff. Then the frost on the clothes will sublimate into the air leaving the items dry. I wonder, did she really know that scientific explanation or was she just trying to save our electric bill?
Of course there are a host of different reasons why drying laundry is beneficial, but nine times out of ten when you ask a "clothesline hanger" why they hang their clothes, they will say, "The sheets smell so fresh". Indeed they do!
I am proud to say that I have taken after my mothers tradition of hanging clothes. I've hung clothes, sheets, towels and basically every article of clothing you can imagine out on my clotheslines. I remember my daughters getting embarrassed when I hung their bra's and panties out when they were young. "Who cares" I said!
Where I used to live, I lived in a home that had a backyard that was visible to others. It didn't matter, I still had a clothesline. Was it unappealing to those around me I wondered? To some maybe, but to a special "Back Door Neighbor" it apparently brought back special memories from when she was a child growing up in Newark, NJ where there were clotheslines being hung all the time. In fact, she nicknamed me "Newarky" after seeing my clothesline habit. Special memories for sure.
Now that I live in the country with no neighbors to see my laundry, I hang to my hearts delight. The only ones that see my laundry are the birds, the deer and the passing squirrels.
There is definitely something natural about hanging out your laundry. Not only does it save on my electric bill and of course, the clothes smell fresher, but it also eliminates wrinkles! For me, it's not only a cost savings, but it's a tradition..
Do you hang everything out there?
I used to hang everything out! Those years have come and gone. When we put this home in, we moved the clothes line. Neighbors had moved in next door and put their burn barrel right next to my clothes line- had in in the side yard where all the flower beds are now. Moved it from east & west to north & south. There isn't a clothes pin strong enough to keep it on the line. My newly washed sheets always ended up in the field, so I just gave up.
ReplyDeleteNow, physically, I can't do it anymore, but I do so miss the smell of the sheets, blankets and towels.
I remember my mother hanging clothes outside. We did have a basement for the rainy cold days! I have never hung clothes outside. Sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI still hang clothes out when the days look refreshed....not so much pollution in the air. They don't smell as good when there is pollution. Thanks for sharing.
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