(If you don't even know what clotheslines are, press the X in the upper right hand corner!.)
1. You had to hang the socks by the toes... NOT the top. (and it was wise to hang them in a pair)
2. You hung pants by the BOTTOM/cuffs... NOT the waistbands.
3. You had to WASH the clothesline(s) before hanging any clothes - walk the entire length of each line with a damp cloth around the lines.
4. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order, and always hang "whites" with "whites," and hang them first.
5. You NEVER hung a shirt by the shoulders - always by the tail! What would the neighbors think?
6. Wash day on a Monday! NEVER hang clothes on the weekend, or on Sunday, for Heaven's sake!
7. Hang the sheets and towels on the OUTSIDE lines so you could hide your "unmentionables" in the middle (perverts & busybodies, y'know!)
8. It didn't matter if it was sub-zero weather... clothes would "freeze-dry."
9. ALWAYS gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes! Pins left on the lines were "tacky"!
10. 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.
11. Clothes off of the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket, and ready to be ironed.
12. IRONED???!! Well, that's a whole OTHER subject!
I indeed learned well. And now that we're firmly entrenched in the 21st century, our electric bills are another fine reason for using the clothesline. Last I knew, air was free and breezes abundant! Just think of the exercise value too... A little walk to and from the line and all that arm raising might help you hold off on acquiring those underarm wings (too late for me I'm sorry to say although it has helped me bond with other winged creatures in my backyard.) If nothing else, everyone should hang their bed linens in the fresh air to dry. There is no better smell, OK maybe lilacs and freshly baked bread, than line dried sheets on a freshly made bed.... works better than a Tylenol PM. Now I'm not saying to hoist your poles in your front yard or hang your clothes over a fence.. that's real faux pas but most everybody has room to go between a couple of trees or from your house to your garage or even buy a line that works like a table umbrella that can be raised and lowered. Don't make excuses why you can't be a "clothesliner," find ways to just do it! You won't be sorry! Here are a few lines to make you smile!
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, "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 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 out on that line !!
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