To think that it takes more than 5 minutes to hang out a load of washing

[Resurgam2016]

All over Mumsnet people are heard saying 'it only takes 5 minutes' to hang out a load. Kim and Aggie say it too.

I am sorry you are all WRONG. I have done time trials under controlled scientific conditions timed myself and it takes at least 10. I am not a slow pegger but I am a thorough one. So WIBU to declare that a proper 'hang' (

Working from home today & it took 7 minutes to hang my washing out

9'31" from opening the washing machine to coming back in the door. 8kg machine, full load of darks, including DH's socks & boxers. The socks are hung in pairs but don't need matching because he buys 20 pairs of priest's black socks in M&S once a year.

There was some re-arrangement of pegs needed because the teenager actually got off her backside yesterday and brought in clothes from the line but left the pegs all over the place so they had to be sorted back in pairs by type (but not colour because that would be taking it too far).

The current load is jeans so that should be a lot quicker, then I'll get an average of the two

New hypothesis: The WAH person is a more efficient pegger than the SAH person?

Maybe it is a no go. Probably depends on whether they were breastfed or not. Soooo many variables to consider. How do those scientific chappies do it?

Haven't heard much about peg type yet

I have a mix of those old fashioned wooden ones that you used to see on Blue Peter and plastic ones with a spring. Plastic more physically satisfying (in the pegging department). Wooden more emotionally so. Do I peg faster when I am emotionally replete?? Might have to stage a series of tests over a week or so.

Takes me a good ten mins with a 10kg wash load ! Couple of minutes is a load of bollocks unless you have super human powers

Takes dh one second. Throw at drying rack.

My garden is a graveyard for old wooden pegs, may they rest in peices. Plastic all the way now. But what is everyone's stance on leaving the pegs out? I can't be arsed collecting them and bringing them in, am I a slattern?

This is my least favourite job. I hate it, my second least favourite job is getting it all off the line once it's dried.

It takes me around 10 minutes to hang the washing out, but there's the ordeal of emptying the washing machine before I get to that stage too.

Takes me ages because I like to hide in the garden away from DH and DS for as long as possible!

I believe it doesn't necessarily have to be warm to line dry, but if it's not, there has to be a breeze. I once left a load of bedding out all day in 'nothing' weather and it was still wet, it had just hung there in the cold, windless atmosphere.

You ARE working.
This IS work. It's very, very, very important. For instance, if I hired SallyGardens to hang out my washing, I could clearly save 10 minutes and 18 seconds on the average two load week. That's long enough to pour a gin and tonic and start sipping.

5-10 is a reasonable estimate. Depends on the number of smalls and size of load. Dh is just as fast only his technique needs improving.

I have a large 7 kg washer. It takes me just under half an hour but I do have minor mobility issues in hands. I struggle with cleaning and keeping on top of it all but realising how quick everyone else is in comparison makes me feel a bit better about it.

Just hung a load up. It did take approximately 5 mins, but then you need to factor in the fact like it looks like it might bl**dy rain any minute now and the additional time pulling down clothes whilst getting soaking only to have to use the tumble dryer anyway.

The only 5 minutes is just another stick to beat women up with and can be used for anything from hanging out the washing, to cleaning the toilet or emptying the dishwasher. It may well only take 5 minutes to do any of these tasks, but when I'm in a rush to get to work/supervise homework/make tea or whatever I'm not going to feel guilty about using short cuts ( Disclaimer: I do feel a wee bit guilty about the environment, but it's lower on my list of worries).

Perhaps we should refocus on the whole crushing the patriarchy aspect of this exercise rookiemere . Now how many minutes do you think that would take???

Probably about 5 mins to execute and then 3 hrs to have it mansplained back to us resurgam2016. Maybe 10 mins if we polish the hob whilst we're doing it.

CRUSH THE PATRIARCHY

Amen.

I fucking hate wooden pegs. They make my hands sad. Plastic please. And they must NOT be left on the line.

rookiemere

My parents bought me these new plastic pegs, because apparently my wooden ones were past their prime ( who knew I was meant to be house-proud about my damn pegs). They're so cheap that they snap and bend when I use them and that extends the time quite a lot.

Took me 5m and 53s to hang a full load out. Two pegs per item, making sure not to peg where it's then really obvious on the clothes etc.

Maybe I'm just speedy.

It seems that the peg factor is quite a significant variable in the time taken to hang:

a) where are the pegs? Are they to hand in a little baggy attached to the line or has DH left them pinned to the line/ lying on the ground

b) are they fit for purpose? Has the metal bit rusted (see above re pinning to the line). If they are wooden are they wet and difficult to handle?

c) [and perhaps most important] Are there enough?

Have I missed anything?

Doesn't take long to hang out, but takes MONTHS to bring it all in and invariably have to rewash it.

My pegs live in a cupboard by the back door, in a long-handled cotton shopping bag. As I go outside I pick up the bag and carry it on my right shoulder. This places pegs just where my right hand rests. Highly recommend.

Regularly weed out and mend or replace pegs to avoid annoyance.

No such thing as enough pegs. I ran out even when I had 250 good pegs (we counted them on the line). That was in the days of baby clothes and pegging out socks, mind you. Fuck that shit.

Changes makes an important point about the size of washing machine! I also have a 7kg drum and therefore shouldn't be time pegged () against someone with a standard 5kg one.

Just timed myself, 10 min 39 for a white load, so not a full load, including pants and 3 pairs of socks, that includes getting washing out of machine, grabbing peg bag, pulling out line and turning clothes right way round and flapping them. Pegs were not colour coordinated, as much as it pains me, haven't had time for that since having kids.

Full disclosure - did pause timer to go upstairs and grab hangers for DH shirts.