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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you hang your undies on the washing line?

212 replies

sweetpickle2 · 12/08/2026 11:17

Just that really.

I had a friend round for a cup of tea and as I was hanging up my washing she was horrified I was putting up my undies (just basic M&S black knickers, nothing out of the ordinary!) and said she always hangs her delicates inside as she "doesn't think her neighbours want to see that".

Am I the weird one??

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 12/08/2026 22:40

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 12/08/2026 22:05

No - I put them on a rack on the radiator. DP’s boxers go out, and my bras, I just don’t put knickers out.

Why?

This is 2026 not 1926.

PawsForTea · 12/08/2026 22:38

ComtesseDeSpair · 12/08/2026 11:30

They go on the clothes horse outside. I doubt my neighbours look or care. And I mean, if we really want to put a lot of thought into it, perhaps if you never hang your laundered underwear out for anyone to see, your neighbours assume you simply never wear any and refer to you as “No Knickers Pam” to themselves.

Edited

Love this - "No knickers Pam' lmao

AliTheMinx · 12/08/2026 22:30

YANBU. I hang everything out. Don't see the problem with it, but I have a friend who thinks I am mad and hangs her underwear inside too...

hiredandsqueak · 12/08/2026 22:19

I hang everything out. Socks and underwear are hung on the bit of the line that isn't overlooked though.

Rollergirl79 · 12/08/2026 22:18

Yes I hang my underwear on the washing line, but then I don't have any neighbours. At my previous house I would put them out on a clothes horse but out of sight from neighbours. I love putting my big granny pants on the line now and not having to worry about anyone seeing them!

Dontevenlookatme · 12/08/2026 22:17

I hang undies on an IKEA octopus. They get dried outside but they don’t look quite so obviously underwearish.

NotAnotherScarf · 12/08/2026 22:11

I think I've seen this thread before...

ChocolateCinderToffee · 12/08/2026 22:11

I hang mine on the IKEA thingy for socks so they whirl around in the breeze.

user1471538275 · 12/08/2026 22:08

What do those with a fear of underwear do when walking through supermarkets?

Do they faint when they pass the knickers aisle?

Do they cover their husband and sons eyes in case they suddenly lunge away from the tomatoes and into the bras?

If you don't want your own underwear on the line - fine, but keep your (batshit) opinions to yourself - your neighbours have no obligation to prevent your menfolk from thinking salacious thoughts when they see granny pants.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 12/08/2026 22:05

No - I put them on a rack on the radiator. DP’s boxers go out, and my bras, I just don’t put knickers out.

RaspberryRiddle · 12/08/2026 22:04

Everything gets hung out. If I'm in a hurry and it's warm, the underwear may get spread out on the trampoline instead...

letshavetea · 12/08/2026 22:04

I hang mine indoors on the airer as they’re fairly delicate and I don’t like peg marks.
Same with clothes and bras. Husband pegs his out on the line!

Fibrous · 12/08/2026 22:00

I hang everything out. I'm currently living with my DP and his father, they don't hang theirs. I enjoy their silent mortification at mine on the line (we all do our washing separately).

RampantIvy · 12/08/2026 21:59

FairViewRosie25 · 12/08/2026 20:43

Underwear socks towels go in the dryer everything else on the line

Why?

Nattalot · 12/08/2026 21:58

MurielTheTerrible · 12/08/2026 11:48

Mine are dangling from the socktopus as I type. I can't imagine anyone is particularly wanting to hang out of their bathroom window to lust after my apple catchers.

No way I thought my family made up the term socktopus! I even googled it once and nothing came up!

EDIT: There's loads of posts of people using the term! My mind is blown.

GOODCAT · 12/08/2026 21:58

I hang mine out and my cycling shorts which have a bright red chamois in them which I also turn inside out to make sure it dries better.

My neighbour doesn't, but does hang them on an indoor airer that I can see when I hang up my washing outside.

LadyChilli · 12/08/2026 21:57

Yes. Out they go on the IKEA socktopus, proud as punch.

hotmumshit · 12/08/2026 21:50

I think yabu, underwear stays indoors!

Zippedydoobaah · 12/08/2026 21:49

MsIceSandwich · 12/08/2026 11:34

The devil laughs at salt, displaying your undergarments like a flag of sin is far more enticing to him.

The greatest enticement is on the line though. That way the devil also puts erotic thoughts into the neighbours heads, that might not be fulfilled righteously. There is no challenge on him when the flags of sin are concealed in a cupboard.

TwoBagsOfCompost · 12/08/2026 21:49

Guarddogdaschunds · 12/08/2026 21:14

Sorry, but I think hanging up your undergarments is incredibly undignified and slovenly. I was always taught that it was something the common neighbours would do, so I ensure that my undergarments are hung up to dry inside rather than letting them hang in the garden in the manner of discoloured bunting. There may well be men in the surrounding houses that may feel uncomfortable at the sight of your underwear. I certainly wouldn't want the men in the surrounding houses gawping at my M&S briefs!

Edited

How did PP think this was serious 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣

TwoBagsOfCompost · 12/08/2026 21:47

Everything goes on the line, even the sexy stuff 🤣 never occurred to me to do otherwise. I’ve also literally never ever looked at a neighbours’ washing line.

YellingAway · 12/08/2026 21:45

No as it takes too long to get them in when rushing to avoid the inevitable rain.

YourWinter · 12/08/2026 21:40

I peg mine onto a socktopus hung on the washing line, my garden isn’t overlooked but I’d hang them out anyway.

Screamingabdabz · 12/08/2026 21:38

Guarddogdaschunds · 12/08/2026 21:14

Sorry, but I think hanging up your undergarments is incredibly undignified and slovenly. I was always taught that it was something the common neighbours would do, so I ensure that my undergarments are hung up to dry inside rather than letting them hang in the garden in the manner of discoloured bunting. There may well be men in the surrounding houses that may feel uncomfortable at the sight of your underwear. I certainly wouldn't want the men in the surrounding houses gawping at my M&S briefs!

Edited

God forbid our small domestic necessary actions might make men ‘uncomfortable’ 🙄 If only the world of men gave one iota of a shit about making women uncomfortable in every. single. sphere. of. life.

Wake up to your own internalised misogny 👏🏻👏🏻

AggroPotato · 12/08/2026 21:29

So let's say your neighbours look at your washing.

But you hung your pants up indoors.

They would see no pants.

Might they not conclude that you wear no pants? Isn't that worse?

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