Is there right way to hang clothes on a washing line?

[loresho]

Do you hang clothes from the hem or the shoulder/waistband? Does it matter?

DH hung the washing out one way (pegged at hems) and I went out and changed it to the other way, because it felt wrong the way he had done it. I am aware that was a crazy thing to do, but it has made me wonder... is there a right way?

I'm thinking my line per person method might catch on. I was too scared to say it before, but every time I go home (NZ) I buy pegs, as they are much better than the ones I can get here. Though I do like the Lakeland non marking ones, which I use for tops and dresses. They aren't robust enough for bed linen and towels (or "Manchester" as we kiwis damn foreigners say....)

wow! I hadn't expected this much enthusiasm for the subject!

I'm intruiged now... are wooden pegs better than plastic, and why?

They're stronger for a start. More eco-friendly, too.

I found plastic ones faded and went brittle in the sun, and they definitely don't hold my washing in a fierce wind (I love to see my washing go horizontal - but not visiting my neighbours' gardens!).

I hang trousers by the legs as the weight pulls them down, making ironing easier. Tops and jumpers inside out, pegs under the arms. Shirts open and pegged on the seams. Everything turned regularly to avoid stiffening peg marks.

I used to have a line and prop and no path - it was a welly job to hang out. Now, I have a long line with a pulley system and a spare line underneath for smaller items or if it's really too windy to put the main line up. AND a proper path! Love it - the washing line of my dreams.

I no longer struggle with a hip washing basket, I have a proper handled washing basket (smug satisfaction going on here). And a cross-body peg bag. Thanks, Lakeland.

It's a shame I live in one of the wettest parts in the UK. And I WISH the bloody weather forecast was more accurate. Luckily, I have a lovely neighbour one side that not only brings my washing in when I'm not around, she folds it the way I like it done, too.

I'm OCD with a lot of stuff, but to the point of insanity with my washing.

Oh, oh, oh!

I forgot - my aunt's washing line. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

She lives in a split-level bungalow in the US. Her line is attached to her wall by her back door, which is several feet above ground. She hangs, pulls, hangs, pulls - all the while her washing goes further down the garden without her making a step into it. I was utterly gobsmacked the first time I saw it.

The only stuff she doesn't peg out is bedding. She puts that in her extra-large/almost industrial washer and dryer. That sits in her basement laundry room that has racks and shelves and a permanently-up ironing board. She even has a telly in there. Talk about washing

All she needs is the Levis guy to strip off down there

Bottoms by the bottom
Tops by the bottom
Towels at one end not flapped over in half
Socks by the opening
Pants / knickers any which way

Some of you are very wrong-thinking. But for those who realise there is correctness in laundry hanging, I urge you to google "Ursus Wehrli laundry" and appreciate how he does tidy laundry. And those who think random laundry hanging is acceptable, you should take a look and learn from it.

There should be a helpline for this. Mismatched pegs. Random socks unpaired. Clothing hung any side up. It's just Wrong.

P.S. I am totally normal.

My old neighbours used to leave their pegs out on the line even when there was no washing out. I don't think the new ones do.

I think it's common to leave the pegs out here ( in south Aus) at least no one I know takes them in? I have a basket on the line I keep mine in but neighbours just leave them on the line.

I hung my washing out yesterday and actually felt 'sensitive' about it.

I noticed that two-down were hanging their washing out correctly though - ie My Way.

I never leave the pegs out, they end up going manky or rusty. Or both. Plus our line is at eye level in direct view from the kitchen and looks better (ie almost invisible) without them.

I guess I'm probably in a much hotter/dryer climate as well so pegs don't go manky but I've had my fair share of plastic pegs snapping when I've tried to open them cause they've gone so brittle. We have the big hills hoists here too so no point trying to hide a line haha. I suddenly feel like I should be taking my washing more seriously...

Trousers and tops from the bottom! Waistband on jeans takes ages to dry otherwise.

Mine puts the peg IN THE MIDDLE on TShirts!!!! Would absolutely have to re-peg

Well I put a peg in the middle of T-shirts. 3 pegs and hung from the bottom.

Which is the RIGHT WAY of course.

I suppose I might stretch to four pegs on a very windy day to be fair.

Seriously? People go out and rehang washing? I bet you're also the people who end up complaining when their husbands end up not doing any housework because quite frankly, I'd stop doing it if someone always went out and redid it after. It's just washing. Let him hang it how he wants!

When I say middle, I mean right in the centre so you get weird, visible peg marks. He also doesn't straighten things out.

I am convinced he does this to get out of jobs. I try to ignore any job crapness but anything that make me more work I have to fix ASAP

I trust, Never, that you don't iron any of his washing?

When my husband brings in washing, he leaves all the pegs on the line. I've never understood how he does it.

I am very pleased to hear about other people matching pegs. I also hang everything together - trousers together, tops together, etc. My granny used to say "she hangs out a nice washing" and I always think of her when I'm hanging it up.

I do find, though, it takes me FOREVER to hang the washing out because of this. I've managed to wean myself off the need to match my pegs to the item of clothing (pink top, pink pegs...)

I leave everything inside out - have you seen how much the sunlight bleaches things?

Infact, I don't put my darks washes on the line at all (the line is at the bottom of my garden in a sunny spot) I dry them on a clothes horse in the shade.

I force myself not to use matching coloured pegs. I can't bear to be thought of as that anal .

I'm sorry to have to tell you, bibbity, but...................

I have found my people. Yy to darks not going outside. I have an indoor ceiling drier for darks lights go outside. I love nothing more than a flapping line of washing outside by 8:30 :)

I hate to have to say this but have you thought that acres of unrelieved and flapping white might not accord with 'community rules' ?

Well I put a peg in the middle of T-shirts

No! It leaves an obvious mark. Then you have to tuck them in.