My Mother is a Genius

Have you heard of the term drip dry?

(No silly, not the Urban Dictionary definition … defined as a move that females have perfected as a result of no toilet paper/lack of sanitary conditions. Try again.)

I recently tackled the chore of ironing the mini-curtains we have for our new Glamper (debut very soon) with even tinier ruffles. Mothers are always good for aiding in the tackling of such quandaries and sure enough, she had the perfect solution (that for some reason has escaped me all these years).

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Drip dry: simply hang your lovely little curtains on the clothesline and spritz them with a spray bottle full of water where wrinkled, then smooth with your fingers, and let dry in the sun and wind. Viola! My curtains were perfectly ironed, courtesy of my mother.

Disclaimer: I am sure this idea is not original to my mother and has probably been passed down for several generations of linen-minded women. This farmgirl intends to continue passing it on. Genius!

  1. Laurie Dimno says:

    Hi Meg!
    Sometimes we think so hard that the simple basics escape us! LOL.
    Here is yet another reason why we can never have enough of you and your mom!
    Can’t wait to see the debut of your new glamper!
    Hugs to both of you! XOXOXO

  2. Deborah Granay says:

    Do you remember the laundry product that came out in the late l990’s that you sprayed on laundry and then “straightened” it out while lying the item out flat? I saw it demonstrated in a supermarket and thought it was great to keep t-shirts looking fresh and unwrinkled. After buying the product, it dawned on me that a spray bottle with water would do the same thing. It was only missing the “perfume”.
    I do admit that I love to iron shirts, though. I love to smell the hot iron and spray starch. It reminds me of my Mom and how she was so proud to send her family off to school in freshly ironed clothing.

  3. Wow, I don’t even own an iron and trust me, I have perfected all the ” drip-dry” methods! Hanging your tablecloths on the line makes them wrinkle free and so on for most other clothes and items. Natural fiber clothes and linens work best this way. And, as for clothing, if it must be ironed I wouldn’t think of buying it.
    Sheets, needless to say, should ALWAYS be dried on the line outdoors. I recently inherited many hand woven all real linen sheets from the early to mid 1800’s. They are wonderful and oh so soft but are not sized for modern beds. They are square and too small, although they could work on a single or child’s bed. When I get some time I intend on sewing some together to fit my bed. But they already were hand sewn in the middle from the narrow looms they were originally woven on , so I guess I need to hand sew these antique sheets as well. The original makers/owners embroidered their initials in the corners in red. They are very special. Friends have suggested I could use these sheets for craft projects but that would be so wrong. I intend on keeping them as the hardworking women and men ( most weaving was by men in those days in this part of PA where they are from) intended.

  4. Terry Steinmetz says:

    Simple, simple, simple.

  5. CJ Armstrong says:

    Yup, an old and tried method. It also works to have the rain come and SATURATE your almost dry laundry so that it has to drip . . . .and I mean drip-dry all over again. Just like hanging it out before it goes through the spin cycle! 😀

  6. Eileen says:

    Great ideas as usual!

  7. Winnie Nielsen says:

    This is new to me but I am loving the tip!! And yes your Mom is a genius!!

  8. Travelin' sister, Sandi says:

    Not that my life (time) allows me to iron sheets, but those that come off the clothes line sure have fewer wrinkles than out of a hot dryer! Not to mention they smell better too!

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