March 1, 2022 - Anyone who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s like me will probably remember the clothes-lines that dotted most every back yard in our small town of San Augustine, Texas. I still recall the one that my parents had, which was strung between two posts for about thirty feet. Actually, mother's line consisted of two thirty-feet wires so as to double the amount of wet clothes that could be dried at the same time.
I remember that Monday was normally the day the clothes were washed in a large black wash pot placed over hot coals. There were also usually two large wash tubs full of rinse water and bluing water. Once the clothes were washed, blued, and starch applied, they were wrung out and placed in a large basket. Mother would inspect the wire clothes line to make sure there was no rust present. Rust would do an unwanted number on a white dress shirt. She always hoped that the sun would shine all afternoon so as to get the clothes dry.
There was always a chance that a shower might pop up and necessitate quick removal of the clothes. I recall several times when mother had clothes drying and a storm cloud would roll in from the southwest. She would call me on our rural telephone line and say, “Neal, there's a storm coming. Go get all the clothes off the line. And make sure all the windows are shut.” I had just earned my supper.
I recall that Tuesday was the day when all the dried clothes were examined, and those that needed ironing (most of them did) were sprinkled with water, folded or rolled, then tucked away awaiting the hot iron on Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday was usually ironing day at our house.
Home dryers did not become popular with homeowners until the early sixties. As I recall mother purchased a home dryer around 1965. The backyard clothes lines were retired from active service at that time, though she left them up and occasionally used them to beat dust and dirt out of her rugs.
Folk history says that sailors invented the clothes line around 1830. They had rope, They knew how to tie knots. They did not have a convenient bush or boulder on which to dry their clothes. They also had time to whittle away on the first clothes line to pass the time. Clothes dryer users claim that there are a number of advantages over clothes-lines. Among them are:
1. Saves time over placing clothes on lines separately.
2. Clothes not subject to abrupt weather changes.
3. Less fabric wear and tear.
4. Clothes do not shrink as much.
5. Clothes often do not need to be ironed.
6. No static cling.
7. Avoids airborne lint and reduced air quality
Others claim the following disadvantages of the clothes dryer. Among them are:
1. Costs money to purchase, then to operate.
2. More fabric wear and tear.
3. Greenhouse gas emissions with each load.
4. Possible static cling on clothes.
5. Noise from the mechanical clothes dryer.
One would think that there would be no opposition to homeowners drying their clothes on any outside clothes line. One would be wrong. As of this writing, there are 19 states that have passed laws prohibiting the use of clothes lines by their citizens. On the flip side, there are 28 states that have passed “Right to Dry” laws. Perhaps the remaining 3 states just don't give a rip either way.
Some people prefer to hang their laundry outdoors. Those who choose open-air drying may congratulate themselves and follow my grandmother Mary Murphy's advice to “brew a cup of tea – sit and rock a spell – and count your blessings”. Mother would have added, “...and hope it doesn't rain”.
