How to hang clothes on a washing line
Is there are a right way and a wrong way to hang clothes on the line? You bet there is! If you’ve ever wondered why your clothes take so long to dry, or why they’re an odd shape, or why you have to iron every single item to get it looking presentable to wear, read on for my advice on the correct way to hang clothes on the line allowing fast-drying, wrinkle-free results!
USE THE BEST PEGS
Your choice of clothes peg is important and there is no one size fits all the choice is huge and if you are not sure what to look for then check out my top peg buying tips.
Material & Size
Plastic clothes pegs are durable and weather resistant, but they can be flimsy. Stainless steel clothes pegs are durable and strong. Smaller clothes pegs struggle to hold heavier items like wet jeans; large and robust clothes pegs are suitable for heavier items.
Grip & Durability
If your garden is exposed to the elements, you’ll need clothes pegs with good grip. For silks, satins and delicate items of clothing, go for soft grip and gentle pegs. Ensure you read reviews before you make a purchase.
INVEST IN THE BEST WASHING LINE FOR YOUR FAMILY
Ensure you get a clothesline that matches your largest laundry load. If you use a washing line that is too small this will mean you have to do multiple, smaller loads; or overload your clothesline, which leads to longer drying times, potentially wrinkles and much more of your time.
PEG SHARING
Sharing pegs on the line might be quicker when hanging out and save line space, however, it’s not recommended to give your clothes the best chance to dry quickly. Give your laundry enough space between items to allow better airflow for drying and to avoid causing wrinkles. The more airflow the better.
SHAKE BEFORE HANGING THEM
As soon as you take your washing out of your washing machine you must shake them and make sure nothing has got tangled. Pull it back into shape and give it a light shake. but be mindful that items can stretch when wet so be careful not to shake to hard.
HANGING ITEMS THE WRONG WAY UP
We all hate unsightly peg marks on shoulders and shirt hems, but which is better – hanging clothes upside-down or right-side-up? Hanging your items upside-down will mean you won’t stretch the shoulders/arms of shirts, or the waist of trousers.
The old fashioned saying is:
If you wear it on top hang it from the top
If you wear it on the bottom hang it from the bottom
But this rule doesn’t work for everything, sometimes you just need to make your own judgement call with laundry hacks.
The best way to hang sheets on the line is to hang your sheets over multiple lines to give them the best airflow for drying. This also works for heavy items, such as blankets and throws. Hanging heavy items over multiple lines will spread the weight so your clothesline stays taught for longer.
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxo
