Hanging Out Day

When:
🗓️ April 19

Since:
🥂 1998

Fresh air, fresh clothes: Hang ’em high for Hanging Out Day! 👕☀️🩲🧺🌬️🧦

Why Hang Out?

No matter where on Earth you live, if your climate is fit for drying your laundry outside, there are significant benefits to consider. Invest in a sturdy clothesline and some trusty clothespins and let your laundry dance in the wind like it’s auditioning for a music video.
Even if your climate isn’t exactly “go outside weather” year-round, you can still celebrate indoors. Indoor clotheslines are all the rage, turning your living room into a makeshift laundromat with a hint of bohemian charm and letting the air circulation work its magic. It’s like a free spa day for your wardrobe.
Hang out your laundry and stick it to the dryer-industrial complex!

The Origins of Hanging Out Day

The roots of Hanging Out Day can be traced back to 1995, when Dr. Helen Caldicott, during a symposium at Middlebury College, made the statement: “If we all did things like hang out our clothes, we could shut down the nuclear industry.”
Her call to action resonated with many, sparking the creation of Project Laundry List, a movement dedicated to educating folks about the environmental benefits of air-drying.

Fast forward to 1998 and we have Dick McCormack, a State Senator from Vermont, introducing the state’s Right to Dry bill, fighting back against local bans on outdoor clothes drying. To promote this bill the first Hanging Out Day was celebrated.

Hanging Out Day has since grown into a beloved global celebration of eco-friendly living and rebellion against the dryer-industrial complex.
It serves as a reminder of the simple, everyday actions we can take to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a sustainable future.
It’s your laundry’s day in the sun!

The Line Drying Lowdown:

Now, let’s hang out some facts about clotheslines. Here’s a quick rundown of the good, the bad and the wrinkle-free:

Benefits of Clotheslines:

Energy and Eco Efficient: Clotheslines use zero electricity because they’re powered by the sun and wind. You’ll be saving the planet, one dry sock at a time!
Gentle on Clothes: Clotheslines are kinder to delicate fabrics than the tumble dryer’s feral wrath. Keeping your favorite threads looking fresh for longer.
Fresh Smell: There’s nothing quite like the crisp, sun-kissed scent of air-dried laundry.
Saves you money: Ditch the dryer, ditch the electricity bill. Clotheslines are nature’s free drying service
Sunshine Sanitizer: The sun’s ultraviolet rays are a natural sanitizer. Your clothes get a free disinfecting session!
Zen Factor: Adds a touch of nostalgia and simplicity to daily chores

Drawbacks of Clotheslines:

Weather Dependent: Line drying is at the mercy of Mother Nature. Rain or shine? More like rain, forget the line!
Patience Is A Virtue: Hanging clothes one by one can be time-consuming compared to just tossing them in the dryer.
Space Requirement: You need enough outdoor space to hang a clothesline. Limited space can put a damper on your line drying dreams.
Bird Droppings: There’s always a risk of bird droppings or other outdoor debris to land on laundry
Planning required: Can’t just shove your clothes in the dryer and forget it. Patience and a little planning are your new laundry BFFs.
Allergies: For those with allergies, clotheslines can be a problem as clothes may pick up pollen or other allergens.

Ditch the Dryer, Join the Clothesline Cult

So, how do you celebrate Hanging Out Day?
Simple. Grab your laundry, some pegs and head out to your backyard. Imagine your clothes bill shrinking faster than a woolen sweater in the dryer and your garments emerging smelling like a gentle spring breeze instead of burnt toast.
If you don’t have a clothesline, now’s the perfect time to set one up.
And if you’re living in an apartment, no problem! String up a laundry line across your living room (just make sure Aunt Mildred doesn’t trip over your strings). Drape delicates over a strategically placed pool cue. Hang your bras on that poor neglected hometrainer. Hang some flags in between just for fun. And if anyone questions your avant-garde drying technique, just tell them Wild Calendar gave you permission and invite them to help you find new places to dry your fan-shirt collection.

Let’s Get Line Dancing!

Skip the dryer, breathe easy and join the line-up. Because your laundry deserves a day out too!
Hang your laundry, not your hopes. Fresh air, fresh clothes, fresh you!

Happy Hanging Out Day!
May your clothes be forever sun-kissed and wind-swept!

#HangingOutDay #HangItOutDay #NationalHangingOutDay