I have vivid and fond memories of my Grannie Murphy standing out in the back garden wearing her paisley patterned wrap around pinny. She was a real earth mother who would reward me with secret sweets for no reason at all.
The garden was complete with a washing line and fixed poles. These were square wooden stretcher poles with a vee shaped cut in the end which pushed the line as high as possible so the washing caught the wind. In those days the domestic tumble dryer or even automatic washing machine was not yet invented and washing was placed, wrung out but still wet, on the line. Washing every day was essential and most kitchens were also equipped with a ceiling airer. On bad weather days the kitchen became a steam laundry with bed sheets and bath towels hanging down to clog the floor space.
Today the indoor washing line, installed over the bath, can provide a permanent five washing lines up to 4m long and, fully expanded, could provide nearly 70 feet of usable washing line.
Just imaging how this could have freed up my Grannie's kitchen and made her life so much easier on bad weather or dark sky days.
Indoor washing lines are extremely useful because they expand wall to wall and lock into position. When not in use they can retract using the sprung loaded retracting mechanism to tuck the multiway washing lines out of sight leaving the bath completely free.
My Grannie would have loved the security the indoor washing lines would have given her since she could have hung clothes to dry at any time of the day or night, in any weather or wind or temperature conditions. She would never have to step out into the back garden during dark winter nights. Later when she became old and less able she could still maintain the drying cycle using the indoor washing lines.
I am glad to report she lived to a ripe old age without resorting to a wheelchair. However, if she had the eco friendly washing lines it would have made her life easier The full range of wall mounted drying racks which also expand and retract would, if required, give a waist level clothes hanging centre for wheelchair access.
