Most people ignore the two holes in clothespins; using them separately may prevent marks and wrinkles

"Don't sweat the small stuff” they say. However, sometimes in the smallest things lie bigger lessons. Consider the little old clothespins. They've been there for generations and, thankfully, have withstood the advances of electric dryers, smart appliances, and “wrinkle-free” clothes. But most of us have probably been using them on autopilot for a while now.

It's not a new attraction. A 1992 Los Angeles Times feature followed the clothespin's journey from its American mid-19th-century roots to its place as a common household object that survived through various technologies and lifestyles, concluding that more than a household tool, the clothespin was a little piece of history that's been hiding in plain sight. Today, almost 30 years later, that same under-used household item is again in the news, not for being reinvented, but because people are discovering its hidden value.

From laundry staple to cultural icon: the remarkable journey of the clothespin


The clothespin was already entrenched in American history long before it was a new social media hack. As American University historian Thomas V. DiBacco notes in the Los Angeles Times, it was developed in the United States in the 1840s; some of the innovations were David M. Smith's spring-loaded patent in the 1850s and mail-order retailers like Montgomery Ward and Sears bringing millions into American homes.

Soon its uses extended beyond the laundry line. Clothespin makers in 1852 were documented in Harper's Magazine, and in the 1990s, Harper's Bazaar reimagined clothespins as mediums for toys, crafts, and home projects. They were a common icon of American daily life by the beginning of the twentieth century. There has also been a shift in attitudes towards clotheslines.

In some places, clotheslines were once seen as a sign of poverty or messiness, but today they are associated with sustainability and energy conservation. The clothespin, once a common household item, has become a testament to how small, seemingly mundane details can make a big difference.

The mystery of the two holes

Carefully examine a common spring-loaded wooden clothespin. There will be two circular holes, one on each side of the metal spring. Most people have used it as one clip and pushed both sides together and then added it to the clothesline. Technically, that works. Practically? Not always.

A recent The Mirror article points out that in some cases, one side grips the line and the other holds fabric underneath the line, and this is something that laundry experts and home-care enthusiasts know. Each side is positioned more purposefully, resulting in less pressure in one area and distributing it across the garment. That possibly causes fewer clip marks and less distortion on lightweight or delicate fabrics.

Why pressure matters

Anyone who has taken the shirt off the clothesline only to discover two little dents in the shirt is familiar with the issue. It's not magic; it's physics. The two-hole design lets the peg sit on the clothesline, and the fabric hang underneath, helping reduce creases on soft material. Those folds that are compressed may remain a bit wet enough to require ironing or steaming.

Ideally, the fabric should rest between the two gripping points, rather than in one fold, thus creating a more even pressure throughout the fabric. Not a cure-all, but it will definitely help make wrinkles less noticeable. Consider it more as distributing the force intelligently, rather than applying greater force.

Not every garment should be clipped the same way

A common misconception about laundry is that all clothes go on the clothesline in the same manner. It doesn't. Heavy clothing is recommended to be clipped at hems, waistbands, seams, or other reinforced areas where pressure marks are not visible. It is important to clip lightweight fabrics at the thicker stitched edges, fold bed sheets over the line, and dry knitwear flat to prevent them from stretching. That is, the placement of your clothespin is as significant as the work your clothespin is doing.

The comeback of line drying

Clotheslines are a reminder of childhood summers, grandparents' backyards, and neighborhoods where freshly washed sheets fluttered like unofficial community flags for many Americans. Next, the drying was done by dryers. Convenience replaced patience.

Today, however, line drying has begun to return, not necessarily for the sake of nostalgia, but because of a new awareness regarding the importance of clothing longevity, energy efficiency, and environmental concerns. Air drying will allow for less mechanical damage to fabrics, which results in longer life of elastic fibers, prints, and other delicate fabrics. The clothespin that used to mean 'necessary' now means 'purposeful living.’ Perhaps not all old-fashioned things are out of style. Sometimes it's just a matter of making others realize what it was doing right all along.

Small design, surprisingly thoughtful engineering

The beauty of a good design often lies in how unobtrusive it becomes. No one likes to see the mechanics of a paper clip, zipper, or clothespin. However, they all have been honed over the years as they have proven to be a brilliant solution to a common household problem.

It isn't a decorative thing; the twin openings around a clothespin's spring. They provide better distribution of gripping forces and more flexibility for fabric holding. Today, discussions simply encourage using that design more deliberately. Innovation might not always be about creating a new product. It can also be about learning to see what has always been there.

The bottom line

So, the next time you hang clothes on the clothesline, consider pausing before starting to clip all the shirts in the same manner. Place the pin so the fabric hangs naturally, and if possible, hold reinforced seams to distribute pressure on both sides of the clothespin rather than having the pressure applied by only one side. Will it take care of all wrinkles? No.

In a world where there are so many “smart” gadgets and technology, it's nice to know that there is a very simple and cost-free technology that has been successful for almost 200 years in American households.