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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hanging my knickers on the line

159 replies

Boysgrownbutstillathome · 12/05/2024 19:32

When I was growing up all washing went on the line. I have carried this on - everything goes on the line, including undies. I can see three neighbours' gardens and washing lines from my bedroom window and they never hang their undies out. Is it now considered shameful? I am not embarrassed by my family's clean underpants. AIBU?

OP posts:
MillicentMaybe · 12/05/2024 21:13

I put everything on the line, but nobody can see in my garden.

However, this reminds me of being about 19 and complaining to my mother I had no clean pants left . I came home to two dozen pairs of bikini underpants hanging in the garden. Over half a century later, I’ve never run out of clean pants again.

Miss my Mum mind.

Tatatara · 12/05/2024 21:11

likepebblesonabeach · 12/05/2024 19:36

I hang ours outside on an ikea octopus on the line

Yes I have two of those. Jolly little octopuses drying my undies in full of all the neighbours 🐙

PurpleBugz · 12/05/2024 21:08

Hang them out it's fine. I hand mine in the middle so the rest of the washing hides them but I'm a prude lol

catlady7 · 12/05/2024 21:08

From*

Peonies12 · 12/05/2024 21:08

I use one of those Octopus peg things, you can’t really see what’s on it

catlady7 · 12/05/2024 21:08

I should put mine out aw my son likes to grab my undies of the clothes horse and put them round his neck 😆

Galliano · 12/05/2024 21:07

I tend to tumble dry pants and socks - heat pump dryer and solar panels so not an expensive or unsustainable choice. It's not because I am worried about them being visible but because I'm lazy and they are the faffiest thing to hang out.

Theoldwoman · 12/05/2024 21:05

How ridiculous!
Everything is line dried here, it was growing up too.
They are presumably clean right? They are just elastic and material. No big deal.

Riverlee · 12/05/2024 21:05

I hang mine in the line, but tend to put them on the inside of our whirligig washing line, so they’re hidden!

Gonetothewind · 12/05/2024 21:03

I have two washing lines and my massive bras and knickers are always on the one behind so no one can see them.

bloodyplumbing · 12/05/2024 21:02

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 12/05/2024 20:59

Maybe your neighbours don't wear knickers.

I hang mine on the line, and always think of an old playground rhyme when I do so:

What's the time/Half past nine/Hang your knickers on the line/What's the time/Half past ten/Put them on your bum again.

Presumably it was very good drying weather the day that was written.

Oh remember that rhyme now!! GrinGrinGrin

andfinallyhereweare · 12/05/2024 21:01

At 10 past 9?

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 12/05/2024 20:59

Maybe your neighbours don't wear knickers.

I hang mine on the line, and always think of an old playground rhyme when I do so:

What's the time/Half past nine/Hang your knickers on the line/What's the time/Half past ten/Put them on your bum again.

Presumably it was very good drying weather the day that was written.

Sprogonthetyne · 12/05/2024 20:58

I often hang undies inside and bigger stuff outside, not because I'm prudish but because I'm lazy and don't want to have to peg every single sock or pair of pants.

caringcarer · 12/05/2024 20:50

Sunnydaysaregone · 12/05/2024 19:48

When I was a teenager there was a spate of women’s undies being stolen from washing lines. I don’t think the knicker knocker was ever caught.

This happened where I lived too. The knicker thief was never caught but lots of women stopped hanging their knickers up outside. I still hang mine out in my back garden.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 12/05/2024 20:47

I hang mine proudly in the front garden for everyone passing by to admire. The rest of the washing goes in the back garden.

Yellowpingu · 12/05/2024 20:46

Depends if it’s a weekday or the weekend. At the weekend yes, weekdays I usually hang them inside but only because we have a line right outside our back door and my boss just tends to barge right through it when I’m WFH although, to be fair, he most likely wouldn’t notice!

bluetopazlove · 12/05/2024 20:40

Yes when I growing all underwear went the line /clothes horse . The idea back in 70s you would be embarrassed is funny . It's just his funny Y fronts ,we probably threw them about a bit laughing a bit .
I did have a neighbour in Norfolk who was skint as fuck put no washing out and put it through the dryer 🙄 .She was younger that me at the time , I think I was only in thirties , must have had tatty knickers 😁

chattyness · 12/05/2024 20:31

I don't like anyone seeing my undies, I'm not ashamed of them, it's purely a privacy thing for me. I use a sock hanger so I can hang them up in the garden where we're not overlooked, to save space on my line and I can grab back them in much quicker if it rains sock dryer

buffyslayer · 12/05/2024 20:25

I'm not allowed to dry washing in my garden

But the person who would report me isn't here any more so I put an airer outside today BlushGrin

KeepYourFingersOutOfMySoup · 12/05/2024 20:19

I got a new pack of drawers recently. DH declared them "3-peg pairs" 😆 I'm yet to prove test that assertion...

webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 12/05/2024 20:19

I don't but only because I'm lazy and can't be arsed pegging out socks and knickers so I tend to sling them over the edge of the laundry basket instead

Boysgrownbutstillathome · 12/05/2024 20:14

crumbpet · 12/05/2024 20:08

Maybe they've noticed you staring so now don't put their knickers out.

Or.

They don't wear any.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:
Boysgrownbutstillathome · 12/05/2024 20:14

crumbpet · 12/05/2024 20:06

Why are you stalking their washing?

🤣🤣🤣
I'm not!

OP posts:
PelvicFloorClenchReminder · 12/05/2024 20:13

BlackboardMonitorVimes · 12/05/2024 19:37

I dry my reusable sanitary pads on the line.

Me too. If anyone is offended at the sight of them it's their own fault for gawping at my laundry instead of doing anything worthwhile with their lives.