keeping pegs and washing insect free

emily_jackson

Hi,

As it's now so warm I've started hanging the washing oustide. However I find that the clothes and pegs seem to attract insects. Does anyone have any ideaas on how to keep them at bay? The only things I can think of are to bring the pegs inside after use and to not buy wooden pegs. Does it make a difference what sort of washing powder you use?

rosieben

I never leave my pegs outside (I use wooden) as they get damp and can go rusty/mouldy. I tried it years ago and had dirty marks on my clothes.

I think insects are just a fact of life if you dry washing outdoors, but I shake my clothes when I take it from the line and fold it straight away and the shaking gets rid of them; I dont use fabric conditioner either - dont know if the smell might attract insects?

thriftlady_2

Keep your pegs inside and brush or shake insects off clothes when you take them off the line. Simple really:)

emily_jackson

thriftlady wrote: »

Keep your pegs inside and brush or shake insects off clothes when you take them off the line. Simple really:)

Sorry, I thought you could ask for advice on here :rolleyes: :mad:

rosieben

emily_jackson wrote: »

Sorry, I thought you could ask for advice on here :rolleyes: :mad:

and that's what I thought we had both given you???

Magentasue

I have wooden dolly pegs that I keep in a plastic box with a lid and handle. That stays outside and the peg stay clean and dry unless I leave the lid open and it rains. I also have some plastic pegs that stay on the line or their hang-on-the-line basket. That way, when I yell at the kids to hang their swimming stuff on the line, they can't say they can't find the pegs.

As for insects, yes, I just shake them off unless it's a ladybird - they get put on my tomato plants.

I don't know about washing powder but I know somw insects are attracted to yellow (and white?).

emily_jackson

rosieben wrote: »

and that's what I thought we had both given you???

I was referring to thriftlady's post. I did put her quote in my post. Yes she did give me advice but her post was rather patronising

emily_jackson

I find that the insects are leaving stringy stuff on the line and in the pegs, similar to cobwebs. Cleaning the line is no problem but I was finding the stuff difficult to remove from the pegs and I was just throwing them away (not very MSE I know )

thriftlady_2

emily_jackson wrote: »

I was referring to thriftlady's post. I did put her quote in my post. Yes she did give me advice but her post was rather patronising

You're right, my comment does come over as a bit patronising. Sorry Emily. I meant the 'simple really' bit to be taken like 'Bob's your uncle' that's why I put the smiley face in. Sorry again.

I must say in all my years of line drying washing I've never come across stringy cobwebby stuff left by insects. I don't know what could be making it (apart from spiders).

Occasionally on a really sunny day I have found a cluster of bright green butterfly eggs laid on my washing. After showing them to the kids I found they were easy to scrape off with a knife.

jcr16

i have only once had a prob with insect on my washing and that was one day when i didn't get my washing in until about 9 at night. so i don't know if that is why because it was cooler.

But i am always changing my washing powders.

also i have a long straight washing line instead of a whirly gig one. so not sure if this makes a difference

as for peg's i only ever use the hurricane peg and bring them in each evening) well they go in a peg basket im the shed.

but i hate the thought of dirty peg's. so i buy new each year. crazy i know . i just can't help it.

trying-very-trying

I started reading this thread convinced that vinegar would be in at least one of the answers but no, it seems like i've been doing it right for years.:rotfl: