Ode to a clothes line.

Ah, the simple pleasures of spring.  Yes, spring:  it's really, truly here.  I hung my laundry out twice this week.  Oh joy of joys...  THIS is what makes life worth living!  Okay, so that's dramatic language, I know, but hanging laundry on the line is something that makes me deeply glad.  For one thing, it's such a simple act of resistance to our reliance on extractive energy technology.  It takes neither coal strip-mined from Appalachia nor oil taken from the Middle East, both at great personal, economic and ecological cost, to dry my laundry on the line.  I LOVE things that are free!  And while we're talking about saving money, hanging your clothes to dry makes them last longer.  (All that lint in your dryer screen?  That's your clothes breaking down under the stress of being tumble dried.)  For another thing, it's just plain FUN, and it's something that Little C can help out with.  We set up the drying rack (which gets used by the wood-stove in the winter) in the sun, and Little C puts all her underpants, socks and other small items on there while I hang the larger stuff on the line overhead.  And the aesthetic experience of the colors against the spring blue sky...  It just makes me happy, plain and simple.

Apparently I'm not the only one.  There is a thriving underground laundry scene, with people subversively hanging laundry illegally in the backyards of their suburban McMansions in gated communities.  This short and entertaining NY Times article chronicles the adventures of one suburban mom hanging her laundry out.  Check out the non-profit organization Project Laundry List for more detailed information on the environmental benefits of hanging your clothes outside. 

So here's a rallying cry to all those laundry-hangers among us...  Have fun hanging in the sun--it's good for you, your clothes and the environment!  And remember, household chores should be enjoyed!

Comments

[Nicole]

Caren, It is so lovely to hear that Spring has paid her visit to N.H. your first picture of the bright clothing against the blue sky is beautiful!
I really love (for many reasons) to use a clothesline, we like to see the clothing as peace flags blowing in the wind. There definitely is a sense of happiness that goes along with the art of hanging laundry! It is a big part of my childhood memories, so vividly I remember doing housework with my Nana, it was such a joy to her that it never felt like "work". I loved putting the laundry on and taking it off the line with her, she had a heavy old fashioned iron that she happily ironed everything with. I helped her fold all the while having wonderful conversation. We would then put fresh sheets on all of the beds, I loved having sleepovers at her house where the sheets and blankets smelled of fresh air and sunshine! Sadly, she recently passed away. Her linens were passed on to me, my Mom and I washed all of them together and then on one single line on her great big clothesline we hung everything. Beautiful white flags blowing in the breeze! I took pictures with my camera and in my mind, a gorgeous monarch butterfly danced around us the entire time we were outside at the line I felt my Nana's presence for sure that day!

[Caren]

Nicole, what a beautiful image of your grandmother's sheets blowing in the wind as peace flags! I'm glad to think of you using and caring for her linens. I'd love to see one of your pictures.

[Maria Kenney]

Miranda and I will be setting ours up this week. Since it's our first spring in our new house, I'm not sure where it will go, but I'll post pictures.

Will you never stop encouraging me on to better things??? Stop it now!

[Dharmamama]

I'm so glad to hear about the "movement". lol I now know I'm not alone in my love of hanging out the laundry! It is deeply satisfying.