The Best Way to Hang Your Washing - Tips & Advice

Believe it or not, there really is an art to hanging out your washing the correct way, if you want to ensure it dries properly and has as few creases and clothes peg marks as possible.

When you first remove your laundry from the washing machine you should give each item a good shake, just to straighten it out and remove creases.

Towels in particular need a good shaking to let air reach all of the surface, thereby releasing water molecules which will probably contain residue from washing powder and any other solutions you've used.

It's important to attach your pegs correctly to your washing otherwise you can easily end up with ugly peg marks in the corners of T-shirts, tops and other items, which you will have the hassle of ironing out later

Hastily attaching pegs can also result in shirts and tops being stretched out of shape and hanging down at the sides.

It makes sense to hang upper body garments such as T-shirts, blouses, jumpers, and shirts from the bottom so any peg marks will be less obvious. There's also the option to place your pegs in the armpit area of the garment, again so any marks will be mainly out of sight.

The design and shape of a rotary washing line means it's important to place larger items, such as towels and sheets, near the centre of the unit and smaller items on the outside. Failure to do this would result in large items on the exterior preventing the wind for passing through effectively to the smaller garments in the inner area - meaning they would not dry as quickly.

You should also consider turning items of clothing inside out if you are drying them on a hot and sunny day - this will prevent the risk of the sun bleaching the colour out of the main outer side of your garments. Jeans, in particular, should be turned inside out to allow the pockets to dry completely and also avoid the risk of sun causing fading - unless, of course, you want them to fade!

A towel should always be hung with three pegs - if you only use two, in time you will end up with badly shaped towels with 'donkey ear' corners.

You should also avoid sharing pegs between two items of laundry as this may result in them working loose in the wind - then you will have the unenviable task of hunting around your neighbours' gardens, search for your windswept missing garments!

Duvet covers and sheets should be folded over your line, but not vertically - you should hang them horizontally to allow them to blow much for vigorously in the wind, an consequently dry more quickly. A good tip is to also peg sheets at the base to prevent them blowing up over the top of the line hoist and getting tangled.

You can hang shirts on clothes hangers in order to make ironing much easier - ensure shirt seams run along the full length of the hanger in order to keep collars firm.

If you want to be discreet you can consider hanging bras, smalls and underwear on the inner area of a rotary line, with larger items surrounding them. And don't forget to hang socks in pairs so they can be easily matched and folded into each other after drying.

 Obviously you should ensure no large items, such as sheet and blankets are touching the ground - this will hinder the turning motion of your rotary line and you'll also end up with items which will need to go back in your washing machine!

The type of pegs you use can also play a key part in the whole process of drying clothing on a rotary washing line - so make sure you invest in a decent quality product.

Many people prefer traditional wooden pegs as they are generally pretty solid and reliable, unlike some of the inferior quality cheap plastic pegs you find in bargain stores. There's also the fact they are more environmentally friendly. 

The downside of wooden pegs is that their springs are prone to rusting, which can leave horrible little marks on your clothing. If you opt for wooden pegs it's advisable to keep them indoors when not in use to preventing rusting and the wood from becoming black and softer as a result of exposure to rain.

If you opt for plastic pegs, make sure you buy ones which are made to a reasonable standard - those with padding on the clip are a good choice as they are less including to leave marks on your clothing. Spring-less pegs are also worth considering as they won't mark your laundry items, but make sure they are have a strong grip and won't blow off in the wind.

Finally, don't forget to treat yourself to a bag to keep all your little coloured pegs in one place - there's plenty of choice when it comes to peg bags and holders and most have a hook or hanger at the top so you can attach it to your washing line for easy access to your pegs when hanging up your laundry. They are available in various materials and sizes, and often have fancy patterns and designs on the outside.