It's so satisfying to hang the laundry out on the line in the summer!

It smells great! uses free renewable energy, dries fast, and in my case, gives me an opportunity to daydream... The other day while hanging out a load of laundry, I thought about some of the things that I do out of habit to solve little problems that have come up over time. These are not earth shattering, but they are useful! and I thought others hanging out their clothes, just might like to know about them too!

Step 1: Materials and Equipment:

a pile of clean wet laundry
a good supply of clothespegs
access to a clothesline
clothesline spreader (optional)

Step 2: Crisp Up the Collars

When hanging up a shirt that has a collar, especially a button down one, begin by pegging the shirt on the line from the bottom hem. To crisp up the collar and make it look like it was actually ironed!, fold the collar up along the collar seam (photo 2) and peg it in place in a few spots around the collar. This will add some weight and help it dry in place (photo 3).

Step 3: Keep the Spreader Wheel Clear

My clothesline stretches across the backyard, and when I hang up a full load of laundry, the lower line will inevitably sag down with the weight of the wet clothes. To counteract that, I use a clothesline spreader which I place on the line, about half way through the load.

Occasionally in the past, usually when the wind picked up, clothing on either side of the spreader would get caught in the wheel... After damaging a particularly precious piece of clothing that was caught in the wheel, while trying to get the rest of the clothes off the line, I was determined to make sure it didn't happen again.

Now, as a habit I place a clothes peg, that has a strong grip, a few inches in front of the wheel and another one a few inches after it (photos 3 & 4). This stops anything from getting caught in the wheel!

Since I also use the 'good' grippy pegs when I'm hanging up heavier items, I have marked them with a permanent marker (photo 2) so that I can find them more easily when I need them.

Step 4: Cool Down

This was a recent, happy discovery. The other day while hanging up a big load of laundry, it felt like the sun was just baking the back of my neck. I grabbed a wet t-shirt form the basket and threw it over my shoulders and neck and it felt awesome! Handy, cool, and by the time I was done hanging the rest of the load and adding the t-shirt, it was almost dry enough to fold up and put away!

Step 5: Pack It In!

This is my last tip, and really only applies to those who have really full loads! I usually save the little stuff; socks and underwear to the last and once the lower line is completely full, I peg the small stuff on the top line as far as i can reach, to pack the line for maximum capacity. The clothes that are pegged on the top line will of course need to be removed first, before you will be able to haul the clothes in from the lower line.

Happy laundry day!