Backyard clotheslines

They argue that hanging clothes in your yard isn't esthetic. It's an eyesore that detracts from the beauty of the neighborhood and brings down house prices..

Remember when backyard clotheslines were as standard as front porch swings? No one thought it cheapened a neighborhood.

Every house had one.

Each blue Monday morning, the housewife would wash the family laundry, often on the back porch, using a wringer washer. It was usually an all day affair, starting in early morning.

After the clothes were washed, they were rinsed in tubs, then carried in baskets to the clothesline where they were hung to dry in the fresh breeze and sunshine.

The clothesline was usually a long strand of heavy wire or rope hung between two posts or between sturdy trees..The clothes were hung on the line with wooden forked clothes pegs or spring pins, usually two pins to a garment. All manner of clothing was hung on the long straight clothesline, including sheets, pillow cases, undergarments, work pants, dresses and shirts.

Women had the hanging of clothes down to a science. They would first hang the big items, (like bedsheets) then the clothing, right down to the socks and hankies. Some washer women had cloth clothespin bags that hung on the line and could be pushed along the line for easy access.

Other housewives filled pockets of their aprons with the wooden pins. When the pockets were empty, then they would refill them with more pins as needed..Neighbors sometimes borrowed each other's clothespins. (And they sometimes fussed if they thought all their pins weren't returned).

After the clothes were hung to dry, the housewife kept an eye out for dark clouds. If it looked like rain, she rushed outside and started taking down those clothes that had dried.

Women claimed that the outdoors gave the clothes a refreshing smell that only sunshine and fresh air can provide.

Much later, they realized it was a source of saving electricity too.

When clothes dryers became prevalent in homes, drying clothes was more convenient, less work, and, surprisingly, the clothes were softer, less stiff than those hung outdoors.

Now, even in the south, there are few backyard clotheslines. Fewer and fewer houses have them.

Oh, yes, they still exist. But I was surprised to learn that in some big cities, they are outlawed.

I hope swings are never outlawed.

I'd be in big trouble.

I have two on the front porch.

And another on the patio.