I remember my Mom putting sprinkled clothes in the fridge too. I can't say if she ever threw them into the freezer. But laundry was hung outside even in the winter. It helped to keep the whites white and also to bleach things like flour bag fabric, which would then be embroidered and hemmed for 'everyday' teatowels. Sugar sack fabric was made into 'fancy' or 'Sunday' teatowels. I can also remember it being so cold that whoever took the washing off the line had to be careful not to break the corners of the towels and sheets.
Thank goodness for dryers!!