Clotheslining is a century old tradition that will truly brighten your day, and your clothes

(Iced Chai Tea Recipe found at the bottom!)

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Is this a trick? No. You can truly brighten your day by doing laundry.

“But I hate doing laundry.” (me too)

How can I do this, you ask? By doing it on a clothes line.

DON’T STOP READING.

I already know what you are thinking, because I thought all the same things. I remember when my husband told me to try clotheslining. Our dryer had just broken and I was in a pit of despair.

 

Me: “What am I going to do??? We have no dryer!!! This is just terrible!”

James (Husband): “Why don’t you try clotheslining? My parents always did it.”

Excuse # 1: “James, your parents were poor.”

“Honey, we’re poor.” (oh yeah)

Excuse # 2: “That’s too much work.”

“You can’t say that until you try it (maybe you should do your own laundry sometime) ……Fine.”

4 years later, come summer time, I am still clotheslining. Why?

Because it is a great excuse to:

• Be outside (and force your kids to be outside)
• Listen to music
• Drink a chai tea latte (I will provide a very simple recipe at the end of this)
• Soak up Vitamin D (extremely important for your mood and health, especially for us Oregonians)
• If you cloth diaper, it is the best way to clean them and maintain them
• SAVE MONEY
• Whiten your clothes without bleach – it truly works.

And there is ALWAYS LAUNDRY. It’s like it never goes away. So, you might as well bring some JOY into it.

If vintage clothes can come back into style, so can clotheslining.

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Now, this blog is about being a whatever mom – how does this tie into the picture?

1. There are dark moments throughout the day of a mom’s life. And it can be heavy. Dwelling on darkness will only make it worse. It is necessary to take a moment of pause, to get out of it, to run away from it – the temptations of what you want to do in those dark moments (yell at your child in anger, think bad thoughts, hold a grudge, resent your child)

GET OUTSIDE before you fall into one of these temptations.

Statistically speaking – spending time in the sun helps you sleep better, helps keep off weight (why not?!), and fights off depression. And by being outside – it improves your short term memory, restores your mental energy, relieves stress, and sharpens your mom-brain!

2. Use this as one-on-one time with your children. I know it is tempting to turn this into one other thing that is off limits and to use it as “me-time” (which you can totally do and I have done), but here is a way to pour more into your children.

• Have them hand you clothes (I started doing this with my 1 year old. And when they just pull clothes out of the bin, just take a chill pill, take the moment in, and laugh. Because its adorable, and you need fond memories in your life to look back on. And because it WILL happen)
• Play hide and seek/tag through them
• Let them get in trouble for pulling it down (because they will)
  • A learning moment is a lifetime lesson – some things are not allowed. KIDS NEED BOUNDARIES AND DISCIPLINE.
• Have fun – teach your children that you can work AND have fun

3. You are getting something done!
   • You are doing laundry, and getting a sun tan….Come on, that is truly the best of both worlds.
   • Results drive us! By getting things done, you truly motivate yourself to get more done.

4. You get amazing-smelling clothes without any fabric softener!

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I have done all of the research for you –  Clothes Lining can be as cheap as possible, or you can put some money into this endeavor and make it somewhat better. Either way, you’re saving money by not using your dryer.

Cheapest Option ($3)

1. Buy a rope clothesline from the Dollar Store ($1)
   1. Though this doesn’t hold weight very well, I am still using mine 4 years later. Just get it wrapped as tight around something as you can. (husbands are great at this)
2. Buy two bags of wooden clothes pins ($1 a bag)
   1. You can buy plastic ones that won’t deteriorate over time, but I just buy wooden ones every year.

Now, if you do it and find that you really enjoy it – here are some options to make it work better.

Decently cheap option ($24.61)

If you think the typical clothes line looks gaudy, try using this for clotheslining. I have never used it, but it has great reviews. I may upgrade myself!

 

Somewhat Expensive but way worth it option (ranging $45 – $65)

If you know you are going to be living somewhere for more than a year, I would highly recommend these next two – the wind wont blow it over, they’re sturdy, your clothes wont drag, and you can hang multiple loads at a time.

1600 Collapsible Clothesline

 

Assembly Outdoor Clothesline

 

And that’s it! It’s that easy.

(Anyone who purchases through these links do provide funding for me towards this website – thank you!)

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Things to Remember:

• What you are doing is extremely Honorable
• You are raising a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
• One day, your child will rise up and call you blessed
• Its vintage, awesome, and green– NOT TACKY. No matter what your parents or friends might think

Own it. #Whatever Mom.

And Have fun! Please let me know if you try it!!!

As promised, here is my amazing, super complicated Iced Chai Tea Recipe!

• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup chai tea (I buy Oregon Chai – found in your basic grocery store in the tea section)
• 1 cup milk (whole tastes the best obviously. But even almond milk would be delicious)
• 1 straw
• 1 mason jar