Today marks the first day of the summertime season (even though it’s still technically spring) as I hung a couple of loads of laundry on the line. There’s an old-timey, soothing feeling to the practice of pinning garments and linens on a clothesline outside.
I’m dismayed that some neighborhoods ban hanging clothes on the line. It’s true, those neighborhoods actually exist! You’d think drying clothes by the natural means of sunlight and wind would be embraced as opposed to using the energy needed to dry things in a dryer, but no. Apparently it’s ghastly for neighbors to see t-shirts, jeans, and sheets flowing in the breeze.
Linens kissed with sunshine.
There’s nothing like the fresh fragrance of clothes that have been hung outside to dry. And sheets? I like nothing better than crawling into a bed with sheets fresh off the line. In fact, there are candle fragrances out there that mimic the aroma of laundry fresh off the line. I’ve used one of those fragrances in my candles and they sell like mad. People love it, and could have it in their own closets and dressers if they’d only hang their laundry to dry outside.
If you’re sad because you can’t or don’t have time to hang clothes on the line, these candles will give you the same fresh scent. Burn them around your house, or use as a “sachet” in your closet. Don’t burn them in your closet though. That would be a fire hazard extraordinaire. If you’d care for a set of these votives, click on the picture and you’ll be directed to the listing in my Etsy shop.
I highly encourage people to hang clean laundry on a clothesline outside if at all possible. It saves energy and makes everything feel and smell fresh. I, for one, am very glad to be able to air my laundry in nature for the next few months. And I’ve never yet had a neighbor complain about this summertime practice of mine.
Auntie B's Wax 