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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:
TinyGingerCat · 12/08/2026 11:48

Those of you who don’t hang them out - do you look at other people’s pants on washing lines and actively think things about them? If so, please share what these thoughts are.

i do hang all washing out and can honestly say in my five decades on this earth I have never had a conscious thought about others peoples washing lines.

CurlewKate · 12/08/2026 11:48

FallenNight · 12/08/2026 11:28

Can you tell me more about managing the devil please? I though salt on the threshold was all that was needed to keep him at bay.

I think that’s spiders….

Theyreeatingthedogs · 12/08/2026 11:47

Your friend is nuts. Why do you associate with such weirdos?

ponyprincess · 12/08/2026 11:46

Another vote to hang them out. Same rule for DP's pants. I think my neighbours have better things to do than stare at my washing and vice versa

ForestHog · 12/08/2026 11:46

I did, but our dog saw it as an eat the crotch challenge whilst they were hanging and it got expensive so now they go into the airing cupboard.

Neighbours both sides hang theirs out.

Maisymouse2 · 12/08/2026 11:46

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.

Please explain

mtobrokeme · 12/08/2026 11:45

Course I do! The sexy ones, the periods ones and the comfortable ones and I care not a shit what people think because it’s my house and my garden and I’ll do whatever I want in it!

DrSeuss · 12/08/2026 11:45

I hang mine out. The village church recently asked to borrow them as they were short of marquees for the Church Fete. Obviously, they only wanted the hole ones!

I did at one time have designated period pants, not the proper ones with pads, just some stained, saggy, sad looking things with the elastic coming off that I didn't mind my hideous peri periods ruining. They stayed indoors as they were grim!

dizzydizzydizzy · 12/08/2026 11:43

Yes. I hang my knicker and bras ion the line. Apart from refusing to hide away normal clothing, it is also better for hygiene to hang them outside. The sun and wind helps to kill any bacteria, fungal spores etc. Most of that will not be eliminated with a 40C wash.

fridgegrazer · 12/08/2026 11:42

I peg it all out and shame the devil! 😈

I do however make sure that my massive pants are anchored by at least 3 pegs each in case they take off in the breeze and get mistaken for a barrage balloon. If they landed in someone's garden I would have to disown them.

PDAalltheway · 12/08/2026 11:41

Never occurred to me not to.

oldwhyno · 12/08/2026 11:37

Yes of course we do. There would be literally zero embarrassment if any neighbours or visitors saw any of our underwear on the line.

I do put my arse-less biker chaps and nipple tassels in the airing cupboard though.

deedeemegadoodoo · 12/08/2026 11:37

I put mine out. I have one of those hangers where you clip multiple pairs to them; doesn’t seem as obviously on display.

SevenYellowHammers · 12/08/2026 11:37

@sweetpickle2 she’s the weird one.

AtlasPine · 12/08/2026 11:36

I helicopter mine over my head up and down the high street singing Gregorian chants to ensure the front and back bottom devils leave and fresh genital angels enter.

Its always worked for me and means they don’t have to be visible on the line in my back garden.

MightyGoldBear · 12/08/2026 11:36

I gladly hang my period underwear out in the sun feels like they get a good drying out in the sun.
I really don't think any of my neighbours care.

Ifailed · 12/08/2026 11:35

StripyHorse · 12/08/2026 11:22

I put them on the maid inside. Don't like them on the line. This is not something I have picked up from my mum because she hangs them out.

Does she have to stand still until they are dry?

Intheswing · 12/08/2026 11:35

I hang out my knickers on the line we all know what we wear and we all have different tastes of style

chichi001 · 12/08/2026 11:35

Yep.

Everything goes outside. I dont own a drier and its awful in the winter when we have to have clothes drying inside so at every possible opportunity, whatever is washed goes outside. Including period pants, tiny thongs, other lingerie, even reusable period pads.

I'm not embarrassed that I wear underwear. What is embarrassing about knickers?

venmor · 12/08/2026 11:35

No, I don't. I used to be a size 24 though and the idea of hanging my absolutely huge granny pants on the line just didn’t appeal. Turns out I am a creature of habit, I’m now a size 10 and dry the granny pants inside.

MsIceSandwich · 12/08/2026 11:34

FallenNight · 12/08/2026 11:28

Can you tell me more about managing the devil please? I though salt on the threshold was all that was needed to keep him at bay.

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

tartyflette · 12/08/2026 11:32

MsIceSandwich · 12/08/2026 11:26

When we renovated our house we specifically built a cupboard to dry wet underwear in, it saves us any embarrassment from the neighbours seeing them. It's also a good way of stopping the devil from entering.

Er, right….
Luckily I have a tumble dryer.

Seeline · 12/08/2026 11:31

When there is room on the line they go out like everything else, but if space is tight, they go on the airer in doors as they are easier to fit there than clothes.
If the neighbours want to ogle my granny pants they are welcome. And I doubt they can see my DDs pants - they barely exist!

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.

FallenNight · 12/08/2026 11:28

MsIceSandwich · 12/08/2026 11:26

When we renovated our house we specifically built a cupboard to dry wet underwear in, it saves us any embarrassment from the neighbours seeing them. It's also a good way of stopping the devil from entering.

Can you tell me more about managing the devil please? I though salt on the threshold was all that was needed to keep him at bay.

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