Remembering Mom's Clothesline

[FarmChick]

I hang my clothes on the line, and I’m kind of anal about the way I do it… lots of my “rules” are included here, but I don’t do all of these! It’s not “tacky” to leave your pins out—it’s because they get black mildew on them in damp climates or wintertime.

Lois, I used to have to iron while Mom was at work. She left a big bag of laundry in the refrigerator for me. I would rather read than do anything, and I propped my book on my music rack. That didn’t work out so well for me. I got too engrossed in my book and scorched the whites… BIG trouble!!! We had no TV, so books were my entertainment. I also had a soda bottle with a sprinkler cap. I remember all those stretchers—pants and the lace/sheer curtains.

Since we built this house, I have a dryer now and only use it in bad weather. I find I fold my laundry as I take it off the clotheslines and it’s easier to put away than just taking it out of the dryer in a jumbled mess.

[meagsmom]

I remember those days so clearly. Maybe they should be brought back so our kids and grandkids see that life was a little different but not really bad and not that tough. What great memories.

[astitchintime]

Oh my goodness, can't even count the number of hours spent hanging out the wash. It was time alone to day dream and sing, to watch the clouds and smell the roses in the flowerbed. It was one of the only chores I wouldn't trade off with one of my sisters. Thanks for reminding me of the days when drying clothes was more than moving them from one machine to another.

[purrfect-lady]

My mom not only used the clothesline (as do I) but she used the washboard and tub outside as well, and heated the water over a fire. She was married in 1934 and had 3 little boys in short order. The diapers!! A zillion a day, I heard! She also had pant stretchers and even sock stretchers for my dad's heavy work sox.

Like Chickie, I'm a little anal about how I hang cloths, too. Like items with like items - all the tee shirts together (NEVER hung by shoulders!), pants hung by the bottoms, the legs on different lines so as to get a bit of a 'crease'. And big items to the center of my five lines so as not to block the breeze and sunlight on smaller items. Skivvies hung to the woods so only the squirrels see them!

And I have a clothespin apron. works great!

[WeSignificant]

Oh Lois is do remember Mom putting things like table runners, dresser scarfs and the like in the fridge before she ironed the wet. Not sure why she did that though

[ollie1shoe]

Brings back memories for sure