# hanging laundry tv show style... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715 "2016-11-05T16:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flaming\_yawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cab0a1/32.png) [@flaming\_yawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flaming_yawn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/1 "2016-11-05T16:41:16Z")
Ok this is a strange subject but twice while watching walking dead I have shouted at the tv.“the laundry is hanging wrong!” then my husband thinks I am crazy for a bit. How do you hang t-shirts on a line? from the shoulders or from the bottom hem? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/2 "2016-11-05T16:47:55Z")
Hanging to dry I would hang from the hem. Hanging in a closet to store, I would hang from the shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/3 "2016-11-05T16:53:26Z")
Finally, a nuts-and-bolts question. According to [this site](http://harmonioushomestead.com/2011/06/30/how-to-hang-laundry-like-a-pro/), hang from the bottom hem at the side seams. I hang my tees in the house with a plastic coat hanger on an X-frame rack under a ceiling fan. Many HOAs forbid clotheslines because it looks too “low rent.” :rolleyes: And if you live near the airport, expect jet engine soot occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/4 "2016-11-05T16:53:45Z")
Shoulders. Hanging from the hem results in too much stress on the hem which stretches them out in the wind. The shoulders are more reinforced plus they’re only short stretches of cloth. The neck hole creates a good slack region. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/5 "2016-11-05T17:27:35Z")
All shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and such garments are hung from the hem at the side seams. Shorts and jeans are hung from the waistband. Socks from the toe. OK, I no longer hang socks out because it takes too long and occupies too much of my limited clothesline space, so unders and socks go in the dryer. But everything else goes out on the line if weather permits. I lurves my clotheslines and I lurves my HOA-free neighborhood. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/6 "2016-11-05T17:46:40Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Shoulders. Hanging from the hem results in too much stress on the hem which stretches them out in the wind. The shoulders are more reinforced plus they’re only short stretches of cloth. The neck hole creates a good slack region. And the sleeves hang too low if your shirts are upside down as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/7 "2016-11-05T18:16:49Z")
Knit shirts like polos or tees are hung at the hem, from side seams. If you hang them from the shoulders you will get weird little mountains where the clothespins were. You can hang non-knit shirts from the shoulder seams. I’ve been hanging out my laundry for forty years, I’ve worked it out. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/8 "2016-11-05T19:43:01Z")
I usually hang t-shirts on hangers to dry. If I need to hang them on a line, I’d probably drape them over the line. But the OP never told us what he or she thinks is the correct way to do so. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/9 "2016-11-05T19:50:37Z")
We drape ours over a drying rack; presumably we would do the same if we used a line. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/10 "2016-11-05T21:38:17Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I usually hang t-shirts on hangers to dry. If I need to hang them on a line, I’d probably drape them over the line. > > But the OP never told us what he or she thinks is the correct way to do so. Does that leave a ridge in the shirt? Or do you iron it then? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/11 "2016-11-05T21:42:21Z")
No, I’m not about to iron t-shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/12 "2016-11-05T21:46:11Z")
From the shoulders, otherwise the blood would rush to their heads. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/13 "2016-11-05T21:52:46Z")
You pin them by their sleeves, BDSM-style. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/14 "2016-11-06T05:10:06Z")
In Singapore we hang from bamboo poles - so the pole goes through the arms. In New Zealand at times I will hang from a clothes hanger, then peg the hanger to the line - but very rarely. Otherwise from the bottom hem at the side seam - but this can stretch some shirts, so the other way is hang over the line and then peg at the armpits to minimise the peg mark. Generally try to avoid hanging from the shoulders as it does weird things to the shirt ---
**Author:** ![flaming\_yawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cab0a1/32.png) [@flaming\_yawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flaming_yawn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/15 "2016-11-06T16:32:10Z")
thank you to all the hem hangers… it just freaks me out to see a t shirt hung by the shoulders…go to high school once with those marks on a shirt or sweater and it will haunt you for life. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/16 "2016-11-06T17:08:26Z")
Wow. Never thought about this. The whys I mean. Growing up, I’m pretty sure we used to hang by the shoulders, but we folded over a fair amount. Never noticed a peak, but I was a kid. Now I use I hanger if I don’t use the dryer. I have to think about the lower seam idea. My husband is particular about his shirts. By think about, I mean I’ll have to try it and see how they look. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/17 "2016-11-06T17:41:38Z")
Inside out, on a fat plastic hanger, hung from a rod mounted to the patio cover. I’ve found hanging them inside out prevents those shoulder nipples. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/18 "2016-11-06T17:44:27Z")
> [@Lightlystarched](#): > > Inside out, on a fat plastic hanger, hung from a rod mounted to the patio cover. I’ve found hanging them inside out prevents those shoulder nipples. Oooh. Good tip. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/19 "2016-11-06T17:57:06Z")
My mother always hung them by the shoulders. Never noticed any peg marks or anything on them. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715/20 "2016-11-07T13:12:20Z")
Mine dry on a padded hanger. No clothesline; I live in a condo. Things dry in the bathroom or in the small drying rack space in the laundry closet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanging-laundry-tv-show-style/770715.md?page=2)