Clothesline memories!
04-11-2011, 10:10 AM
#71
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 93
In our 8-apartment complex, I am the only one who consistently use the chothes lines in the back of the property, for the same reasons all of you have given. On "rules" my father's sister told me that, many years ago, a young lady in their apartment building hung her undies out like anything else, NOT inside pillow cases and sheets. This was noted by the neighborhood ladies; Rachel defended the young tenant by asking why should she be ashamed of her lacy, silk items, unlike those in some wearer's laundry; at least she proved that she did wear such garments--all of which, I am sure, suitably shocked those clothes laundry watchers. I wonder how they hung girdles, stocking supporters and rayon stockings!
04-11-2011, 10:12 AM
#72
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Winston-Salem
Posts: 99
My parents, brother and I lived with my Grandparents. Always had to help with the wash. Always done on Monday unless raining. My Grandma and Mother must have been related to your Mother as we had the same rules!
Eventually we hung jeans and work pants on the metal pants hangers which meant, if you did it correctly, there was very little ironing to do. Have a pair of those in a closet even though our clothes line was taken down probably 30 years ago. The posts make a good place to hang bird feeders.
Eventually we hung jeans and work pants on the metal pants hangers which meant, if you did it correctly, there was very little ironing to do. Have a pair of those in a closet even though our clothes line was taken down probably 30 years ago. The posts make a good place to hang bird feeders.
Originally Posted by Ditter43
Does any of this bring back memories?
I remember
1. Hung socks by the toes not the top.
2. Hung pants by the bottoms not the waistband.
Remember?
You have to be a certain age to appreciate this. I can hear my mother now ....
THE BASIC RULES FOR CLOTHESLINES: (if you don't know what clotheslines are, better skip this)
1. You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes - walk the entire lengths of each line with a damp cloth around the lines.
2. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order, and always hang "whites" with "whites," and hang them first.
3. You never hung a shirt by the shoulders - always by the tail!. What would the neighbors think?
4.. Wash day on a Monday! . ... . Never hang clothes on the weekend, or Sunday, for Heaven's sake!
5. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide your "unmentionables" in the middle (perverts & busybodies, y'know!)
6. It didn't matter if it was sub zero weather ... clothes would "freeze-dry."
7. Always gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes! Pins left on the lines were "tacky!"
8. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did not need two clothes pins, but shared one of the clothes pins with the next washed item.
9. Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket, and ready to be ironed.
10. IRONED?! Well, that's a whole other subject!
A 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, "Gone 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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I remember
1. Hung socks by the toes not the top.
2. Hung pants by the bottoms not the waistband.
Remember?
You have to be a certain age to appreciate this. I can hear my mother now ....
THE BASIC RULES FOR CLOTHESLINES: (if you don't know what clotheslines are, better skip this)
1. You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes - walk the entire lengths of each line with a damp cloth around the lines.
2. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order, and always hang "whites" with "whites," and hang them first.
3. You never hung a shirt by the shoulders - always by the tail!. What would the neighbors think?
4.. Wash day on a Monday! . ... . Never hang clothes on the weekend, or Sunday, for Heaven's sake!
5. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide your "unmentionables" in the middle (perverts & busybodies, y'know!)
6. It didn't matter if it was sub zero weather ... clothes would "freeze-dry."
7. Always gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes! Pins left on the lines were "tacky!"
8. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did not need two clothes pins, but shared one of the clothes pins with the next washed item.
9. Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket, and ready to be ironed.
10. IRONED?! Well, that's a whole other subject!
A 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, "Gone 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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
04-11-2011, 10:18 AM
#73
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cleveland OH
Posts: 3,220
Originally Posted by purplemem
I love hanging clothes on the line. And yes, those were the rules I had to follow.
In my current home, I don't have a clothesline and I really want one.
Do you remember the metal frames we put inside jeans to dry and make a crease in them?
In my current home, I don't have a clothesline and I really want one.
Do you remember the metal frames we put inside jeans to dry and make a crease in them?
04-11-2011, 10:32 AM
#75
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 93
When I was in boarding school during WWII near Kansas City, we had curtain stretchers. The curtains were starched, I believe; we girls carefully stretched and pinned the edges, one curtain on top of another.
Dress shirts were put aside after the rinse, so that someone could dip each collar and cuff into cooked starch, with excess starch hand squeezed before hanging to dry. Many of us will recall using a square-shaped tub with ringer, and the order in which clothes were placed in that tub, finishing with throw rugs and rags that were laid out to dry on the grass, bushes and fences. Auntie even starched and iironed pillow cases. Thanks for the memories.
Dress shirts were put aside after the rinse, so that someone could dip each collar and cuff into cooked starch, with excess starch hand squeezed before hanging to dry. Many of us will recall using a square-shaped tub with ringer, and the order in which clothes were placed in that tub, finishing with throw rugs and rags that were laid out to dry on the grass, bushes and fences. Auntie even starched and iironed pillow cases. Thanks for the memories.
04-11-2011, 11:50 AM
#77
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Murrysville, Pa.
Posts: 51
Does anyone starch anything anymore? I starch my pillow cases, but now I cannot find liquid starch in stores. I'm thinking about making my own. Had to go online to find a "recipe" for making it. I don't care for spray starch.
04-11-2011, 12:20 PM
#78
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas (that's me!)
Posts: 3,771
Originally Posted by raedar63
I still use a cloths line as well, I remember several years ago my mom getting after me for leaving my cloths pins on the line . LOL
I love driving through the country and seeing the wash hung out.
I love driving through the country and seeing the wash hung out.
If it rains, I use the line inside the utility room.
My dyers sits in the utility room collecting dust.
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