Categories: History

How Do You Use Clothes Pins Today?

The origin and use

The first clothes pins were designed by the Shakers, who did not patent their many inventions. Between 1852 and 1887 the U.S. Patient Office granted 146 different patents for clothes pins.

Clothes pins were a staple in any household when I was growing up, and for a lot of years in my own home. Clothes were hung outside on a clothesline. (Another outdated object) Sunny days with a breeze were relished with glee as the clothes would dry quickly and be somewhat soft. No chemical they have invented even comes close to the fresh small of line-dried sheets! The sun used to be a very good disinfectant also. Today, I have to add chemicals to the wash to accomplish this.

Deterrents

There were many deterrents to using clothes pins on an outside clothes line. Rain for days was a problem and freezing weather another. With our first child, we had no dryer so the cloth diapers (No, Pampers had not been invented yet) would freeze on the line and have to be brought in and finished drying on a rack over the floor furnace. Once dried, the diapers would be strenuously “rubbed together” to try to soften them somewhat before folding. Clothing would be hung on coat hangers, with clothes pins, all over the house. Thus, ironing was a necessity. If the neighbor decided to burn his trash the same day as the laundry was done….that was a real problem. There were mulberry trees. Birds leave very purple deposits after eating mulberries and they leave red deposits after eating polk salad berries. The stain was impossible to remove. Ah, the good old days….” I bet you never heard your grandmother say that one!

Outdated

With the affordability of the clothes dryer, clothes pins became outdated. I never did away with my clothes pin bag. I still have the original one filled with wooden pins. Several years ago I purchased a new package of clothes pins at a local hardware store. When I arrived home and opened the package, I discovered about half of the pins were not put together. After assembling the contents I still had several pieces left over with no springs. I decided to write a letter to the factory to complain about their Quality Control. I commented to them that if I had run my business the way they ran theirs, I would no longer be in business. The factory responded with a letter of apology and a new package of pins. Yes, they were all put together and no spare parts! The last American factory closed its doors in 2007. China now has the corner on the clothes pin market. Sad, isn’t it.

Uses today

I have asked several of my friends if they still have clothes pins and how do they use them. (I am curious about silly things like that.) The responses I have received have been mixed. One has none at all in her house, but then she is younger than I am. Several of the others tell me they still have pins and use them, although they are plastic. Like me, they use them on hangers in the laundry room for use in drying lingerie and other smaller items not recommended for the dryer or for hanging slacks by the cuff to dry. Some are in the freezer or refrigerator to re-seal bags. Some in the pantry on bread, chips, and soda crackers or anything that needs to stay securely closed. I have purchased various “Chip Clips” and none work as well or secure as a dependable wooden clothes pin.

I have noticed in the craft stores there are wooden clothes pins, especially with no springs like the ones the Shakers invented. Pins are widely used in crafts today.

Making a comeback? Doubtful

I have noticed some items in magazines I receive that are making a comeback. Pant stretchers are one. I doubt the wooden clothes pins will return. I would like to have another clothes line in my back yard, only to use occasionally. I am not willing to give up my clothes dryer! However, should the need become so great to conserve electricity or just the need to save on monthly expenses, I could do it. I have done it many times in the past years and would do it again. (when you are self-employed you are broke a lot.) I would probably even enjoy it……for a time or two…..