Long before technology made laundry easier, people had to find simple ways to dry their clothes.
One tool that helped with this was the wooden clothespin, which started as a single wooden peg and later changed into a two-piece design that held clothes more securely.
Before this improvement, older clothespins often let clothes fly away in the wind, which was a big problem for those doing laundry.
Recently, someone found small wooden dowels with two legs and asked online what they were.
The post quickly got responses from older generations, who explained that they were old-fashioned clothespins. Many recalled using them to hang clothes outside, letting them dry naturally in the sun and fresh air.
A clothespin is a simple tool made of two wooden pieces connected by a spring, allowing it to grip clothing.
The History of Clothespins
People have used different ways to keep laundry in place while drying for centuries.
The earliest clothespins were made from materials like wood, bone, or even stone and sometimes had decorative carvings.
The clothespin design we use today became popular in the 19th century. Early versions were made of solid wood, often maple or birch, and featured a basic hinge or metal wire to hold clothes tightly.
A Big Improvement
In 1853, David M. Smith from Vermont patented a new clothespin design.
His clothespin used a spring mechanism, making it easier to grip clothing. This design kept clothes from being blown away, solving a major problem for those doing laundry.
Smith explained in his patent that the spring-loaded pin held onto clothes better than older versions, which often let garments slip off the line.
Changing Over Time
As factories developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, clothespin production became faster and cheaper.
By the 20th century, clothespins were a common household item. Even when plastic clothespins appeared, many still preferred wooden ones for their durability and simplicity.
Still in Use Today
While modern dryers have replaced clotheslines for many, wooden clothespins are still used in homes today.
Some people use them for crafts, while others prefer them for drying clothes, especially for their eco-friendly and nostalgic appeal.