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Monday, April 7, 2014

The Clothesline Collection of Wash Day Inspiration

The Washing Line by Helen Allingham

"When that's all done," said Ma, "I want a clothes-line."
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie

Together by Daniel F. Gerhartz

“Oh no, I never do much ironing, except the outside clothes. We must not iron out the fresh air and sunshine, you know. It is much more healthful not to, the doctors say.” Seriously, there is something very refreshing about sheets and pillow slips just fresh from the line, after being washed and dried in the sun and air. Just try them that way and see if your sleep is not sweeter. ” 
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Wash Day by William Merritt Chase

Spring is in the air which means fresh breezes followed by a season of warm summer winds. It brings to mind our cozy little clothesline. Do you have one in your yard? A place to dry all your linens and garments? I have become a romantic when it comes to them. They have come to symbolize peace and tranquility in my daily routine. Here are some other reasons that I love our line:



"Sunshine and fresh air are valuable for the purposes of bleaching and purifying."

  • Less wear and tear on your clothing than from using a dryer.
  • Clothing doesn't shrink on the clothesline (but they can in a dryer). 
  • Extra exercise as you squat, pick up and stretch your hands to the line to hang out laundry.


"Truly the light is sweet,
And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun…"
~Ecclesiastes 11:7

  • Gives you that daily dose of vitamin D that we mothers sometimes lack because we hibernate inside our cozy homes. Fifteen minutes of time in the sun without sunscreen is recommended by the Nat'l Institution of Health. This is especially important for older women because it gets harder for your body to produce vitamin D as you age. This time in the sun will benefit in the following areas including an overactive immune system, heart disease, osteoporosis, breast, colon cancers, helps fight insomnia and depression. Vitamin D from the sun also aids your body to absorb calcium and utilize magnesium which affects many areas of the human body (source).
"I think you might dispense with half your doctors if you would only consult Dr. Sun more."
~Henry Ward Beecher


  • $aves money! 
  • A clothesline is energy efficient.
  • It is very therapeutic! Read the reasons here.



If you find yourself too busy and overwhelmed to maintain a full-time clothesline,  why not attempt to try your towels and sheets. These only take a few minutes to hang because of their size but will still provide you with some of the benefits which we described. You may find yourself longing for more time with that cozy little line!

Hanging the Washing by Helen Allingham

"There is always plenty of washing to do;
Beds to be made, and garments too;
Meals to be got, and clothes to mend,
And just for diversion (?) the babies to tend.
No matter how well these duties are done, 
They come again, with to-morrow's sun;
A never ending circle it swings,
Happy the woman who works as she sings."
~ Excerpt from The Ohio Farmer's Home Guide Book, 1888


I hope you have enjoyed this article and invite you to visit here for more Wash Day Inspiration!

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making MondaysModest Mom Monday'sMonday's MusingsMake Your Home Sing MondayGood Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a TwistRaising HomemakersThe Homesteader HopWise Woman Link UpHomestead Blog Hop Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and ConversationHomemaking ThursdaysHome Sweet HomeOur Simple HomesteadAwesome Life Friday Link Up and Shabbilicious Friday. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

29 comments:

  1. These lovely images make laundry look wonderful pastime! And really it is. Love being able to hang my laundry outside. Have a great week!

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    1. So, you are a clothesline gal too :) Thanks for sharing MagnoliasnTea!

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  2. I love this post!!! Such beautiful pictures... I have a clothesline too and I do love the smell of the fresh from the line clothes.

    blessings,
    Amy Jo

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    1. I should add the fresh scent to my list... how could I have forgotten that! :)

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  3. Oh I do love the clothesline :) I hung my clothes out on Saturday and when I open the dresser drawers I can still smell the sweet scent of fresh air.

    Lovely post, sweet JES! Enjoy your week.

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    1. Yes, one of the main reasons I forgot, the sweet scent of fresh air is lovely. Thanks for sharing Stephanie :)

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  4. Ooh, thank you for this, I love the photos:) I'm posting about our clothesline today as well! My hubby just built me one. I adore it, for all the reasons you listed here. And I find that I stay on top of the laundry better too! Its more enjoyable and it seems to be easier to get it done with toddlers around. They are less interested in throwing clothes all over the place if they can run around outside:)

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    1. Good point, the outdoors and fresh air is wonderful for the toddlers too! And they love to pass you clothespins like little helpers :)

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  5. I just love this post-am going to share on my facebook page

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    1. Thank you Kathy! It excites me to hear how others love the simple moments in life too :)

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  6. I love my clothesline! I have the umbrella type (perfect for small yard), and I also have a clothespin carousel (http://www.amazon.com/Dryer-PVC-12in-18in-Dia/dp/B001QWZUZ6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396962883&sr=8-2&keywords=clothespin+carousel) that I use for “unmentionables”. I hang clothes 9-10 months of the year…usually only using the dryer for part of Dec, Jan, and part of Feb… (and I don’t live in the south, either, btw, I live in PA!) I use it for the reasons you mentioned. It just makes me HAPPY! :-)
    Love, Joy

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    1. Hi Joy, thanks for sharing! I am able to use ours year round since we don't get snow but during winter, I can only do one line a day if started early in the morning because of the cold weather. And I do NEED to get the carousel for the unmentionables, great idea!

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    2. I need a carousel, too! I'm so glad you mentioned that, Joy. I NEVER, ever hang out my lingerie. It's just not a good idea in today's society. Toddling off to amazon.com now... :)

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  7. Jes, I love to hang my clothes out!!!! I can also watch my vegetables garden grow, play a little bit with my cat.....
    I also love your writting, I love to read you and just see you have some wonderful clothes with all those feminine flowers.
    Thank you so much for sharing this all with us.
    Sandra from France

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    1. Hi Sandra, So nice to hear from you! I am amazed at how many women still use clotheslines and love them... Thank you for sharing here today, it makes me smile to hear back...

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  8. What a beautiful pictures!
    Yes, I've a clothesline, and I love it!
    Love, Carolien

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    1. I am glad that you like the paintings. They are favorites of mine as well... Thanks for taking the time to visit today, Carolien :)

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  9. I love hanging laundry - it is very therapeutic, I believe! To be outside, with your children, in the sunshine and the breeze of the spring, summer and autumn .... we now hang dry our clothes with an indoor clothesline by our woodstove during the winter months, as well, so we never use the dryer. I absolutely love it - so efficient, better on the clothes (as you mentioned) and free! More homes should have laundry lines. :)

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    1. Thanks for sharing Gillian! We sold our dryer last year so have been able to dry year round as well. However, that indoor drying rack for winter sounds like it would be VERY helpful! :)

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  10. There is something so nostalgic about clotheslines! I grew up in the country---the land of clotheslines---so I always long for that fresh smell. Now that I'm married and live in an apartment in the city, I long so much for those days. I've found a way, though! I hang my clothes on a clothesline I bought from Walmart that retracts into a small wheel when not in use! I also tend to hang some clothing or sheets over the balcony rails. :-D

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    1. I agree Dolly! Sounds like you made the best of it which is wonderful! :) Thank you for sharing here today~

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  11. Good Morning, I really enjoyed this sweet post! I think now that much of our coldest weather is finished I will be inspired by this and get back to using my line for at least a few loads.
    I really think you have such a sweet ministry with this Blog!
    Blessings to you this Easter week! Roxy

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    1. Thank you Roxy, you always leave the kindest comments :)

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  12. As I work my way through your blog and not getting dinner I love this post!

    I've been hanging clothes out for many, many years-one of the "jobs" I had as a child was to hang up all my grandmothers wash and believe me there was quite a bit.

    I live in the woods on Long Island and there was a local law forbidding wash to be hung outside in the village- I live outside of the village but I would of been outside of town hall protesting why my wash could not be hung out if our home was in the village--

    I love the smell of sheets when they come in on a cool day-

    Linda

    Now to get dinner and bookmark where I am so I don't miss a post!

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    1. How sad about the clothesline law! It is energy efficient, you would think it would be encouraged. Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself, I love to hear back from the other side of the screen :)

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  13. I would love to have a clothesline, but it is prohibited in my community. We used one when I lived in England and I loved it.

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    1. Oh, that is too bad! At least you have your England memories to fall back on :)

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  14. Where do you buy your clothes?!?! Your shirts are lovely!!!

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    1. Thank you Robin! :) I shop second hand stores mostly... and once in a while, the clearance section at J.Jill, April Cornell and Anthropologie. I will also look for these store brands on Ebay. Hope this helps!

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