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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To hang my underwear on the washing line?

111 replies

lojanto · 20/04/2024 12:42

I've hung clothes out to dry a couple of times this year when the weather has been nicer.

My friend came over and was horrified that my underwear was hung out (a mix of bras, big pants, things etc.) with the rest of the clothes.

It's not something that's ever entered my mind before, am I BU?!

My garden is quite overlooked.

OP posts:
WhySoManySocks · 20/04/2024 13:09

My Mum does that. She hangs them out on a few parallel lines and always makes sure the underwear is shielded by sheets, Tshirts and similar. I guess she’s worried the neighbours will know she wears underwear?

BashfulClam · 20/04/2024 13:09

This type of thing is great as it takes up less line space and you can just grab it if it rains etc.

To hang my underwear on the washing line?
BashfulClam · 20/04/2024 13:08

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 20/04/2024 13:02

EVERYTHING I wash goes outside on the line. There's no room for it inside. Knickers, bras, dog beds, rugs, work uniform, everything. That prissy 'nobody must see my 'smalls' thing died out with the previous generation, didn't it?

My mother used to hang out underthings in the 'lean-to' (covered area just outside the back door), but that was mostly because they were a pain to bring in and take back out if the weather was showery.

That’s why I use the things that have a lot of small clips, I have my pants and socks on them and it just grabbing one thing if it rains. Yep put out in its full glory.

Dearg · 20/04/2024 13:06

Oh gosh, I do have a friend that is horrified that her male neighbour hangs his underpants on the communal whirlies outside her flat and she can see them from her kitchen. 😂 I did have to tell her she was being very unreasonable in wanting to ask him to stop.

justjudy · 20/04/2024 13:05

Yeah I'm a bit weird like this. I hang underwear on the inner lines so it's mostly covered by larger pieces of clothing on the outer lines. In winter, I dry them on the heated towel rail in our bathroom. It just feels more private, I don't know 🤷🏼‍♀️

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 20/04/2024 13:02

EVERYTHING I wash goes outside on the line. There's no room for it inside. Knickers, bras, dog beds, rugs, work uniform, everything. That prissy 'nobody must see my 'smalls' thing died out with the previous generation, didn't it?

My mother used to hang out underthings in the 'lean-to' (covered area just outside the back door), but that was mostly because they were a pain to bring in and take back out if the weather was showery.

Dweetfidilove · 20/04/2024 13:01

Whatineed · 20/04/2024 12:58

Tell her the sunshine naturally disinfects the gussets.

That'll end the conversation. 😂

😂😂🤣

Dweetfidilove · 20/04/2024 13:01

You’re only unreasonable if you’ve hidden them behind your larger garments or pegged them by the crotch.
Perfectly reasonable if they’re hung in full glory, pegged by the waist in a long tidy line .

Your poor friend - imagine being horrified by clean underwear 😂.

Sera1989 · 20/04/2024 12:59

Does this apply to men's underwear too? Sounds very misogynistic as though the neighbours can't deal with seeing women's underwear or they can't help imagining you wearing it 🤮. It's just normal pants not crotchless bodysuits and BDSM gear! (I assume!)

I've had pants on the radiators when tradesmen etc. have been round because they needed drying and where would I hide wet pants. Was I being indecent by wanting to dry my washing 😱

Whatineed · 20/04/2024 12:58

Tell her the sunshine naturally disinfects the gussets.

That'll end the conversation. 😂

Abra1t · 20/04/2024 12:57

I do dry them outside, but not on the line. Usually somewhere lower down, which isn't as visible.

SauvignonBlonk · 20/04/2024 12:56

I hang undies on the line, I delay putting them on the line if the window cleaner is coming though: not sure anyone would want to get too close to my pants. 😂

CrumpetandSausage · 20/04/2024 12:55

I also hang my reusable pads on the washing line. The socktopus is excellent for them allowing maximum sun exposure. Are they worse than undies? Are reusable nappies ok?

Groovy48592747 · 20/04/2024 12:55

I hang mine on the radiators. Is that worse 😅

Theoldwoman · 20/04/2024 12:55

They are clean, they are only elastic and material.

idontlikealdi · 20/04/2024 12:54

I hang my underwear on the inside lines, no idea why!

twohotwaterbottles · 20/04/2024 12:53

twohotwaterbottles · 20/04/2024 12:53

This is hilarious. They must literally have nothing else to think about

You are defo NBU

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/04/2024 12:53

She sounds like some Victorian old maid - the sort who used to cover up piano legs with frilly ‘drawers’, otherwise they were indecent and might give any visiting male Ideas 😱
Perhaps you’d better have some smelling salts ready next time.

Theoldwoman · 20/04/2024 12:53

She’s odd. Everything is hung outside to dry here.

Elebag · 20/04/2024 12:53

Yanbu.
Can't beat sunshine to keep undies fresh.

twohotwaterbottles · 20/04/2024 12:53

This is hilarious. They must literally have nothing else to think about

RampantIvy · 20/04/2024 12:53

I hang everything on the line.
Why wouldn't you?

My late MIL wouldn't put pants on the line, and I used to tease her and say that the neighbours would think she was going commando all the time.

Love51 · 20/04/2024 12:52

When we were younger and in a smaller house we hung washing over those racks that go over radiators. We got a message that people were dropping by in 5 minutes, unexpectedly, and my husband took all the underwear off the racks and put it upstairs. Just the underwear. I was asking why he wanted our family to think we always go commando. He was convinced it was the right thing to do.
He wouldn't comment on it at someone else's house though, your friend is odd!

JudgeJ · 20/04/2024 12:51

Hadalifeonce · 20/04/2024 12:43

What weirdo! Where should they hung to dry?

Memories of a friend whose mother was taken to task by a next door neighbour because she hung her daughter's racy underwear on the washing line, it was RED! and apparently it disturbed her, the neighbour's. husband.

PuttingDownRoots · 20/04/2024 12:51

Since there is a contraption whose sole purpose is to make ganging out socks and underwear easier (aka the Socktopus)... its logical to presume people hang out their underwear.