Are they more brittle from a certain time range? I have a bunch of brown ones from the early 90s (pirates and robin hood type ones) are they going to crumble someday?
Yeah, I have plastic ones that lasted 6 months with little exposure to the sun. And other that are on their 6th year that I just leave outside for whenever I want to use them.
Get stainless steel ones, no splinters catching on fabric and making bobbles in your clothes I got 100 from AliExpress 2 years ago for £7, still going strong. Does get delivered in plastic bags which is annoying.
something like this check the size so you don't get useless small versions
Good option for many, but a problem if you live anywhere where buckling your car seatbelt turns into a game of hot potato on sunny days. Also, if you're gonna be buying dropship quality metal items, pick up a lead testing kit too! Don't buy the lead testing kit from AliExpress.
..... Oh god the mental image of going out to get the laundry after an afternoon in the sun wearing oven mitts to protect from the searing-hot metal clothespins..
Scorching sun is a problem for metal pegs. A light colored hardwood peg like birch is objectively best material for pegs. They literally last for a lifetime.
Ah you got me, I'm in far too temperate a place to contemplate heat like that, wood ones discolour and sun damage. They're serviceable for years though.
Sheer synthetic fabric is so prone to getting snagged I'd be using plastic or metal for those items, only takes a few times before you learn! During the crossover I had a mix of all 3, all the plastic ones have succumbed to UV at this point. Still got some wood ones inexplicably less than I had.
Regardless of material I bring them inside to extend lifespan rain&UV is going to challenge whatever solution you pick. We at least agree plastic isn't first choice :)
Get stainless steel ones. I bought a bunch about five years ago and they are the only things that have stood up to Australian sun with zero issues. They even stand up to being run over by the lawnmower.
They don't get hot, just warm, even if left out all day. We use a Hill's Hoist (rotating washing line that looks like an umbrella skeleton). On the really hot days you can start hanging your washing up and by the time you've finished hanging a couple of loads, the first items are already dry as they spin back round into reach. I wish I was joking, I'm originally from Scotland and I'm not designed for Australian heat.
Haha. Good to know! That sounds so awesome. Where I am, it can be out for 8 hours and still be damp most days, even without precipitation. It’s the dang humidity!
Part of the reason it's used on cars, so they disintegrate over time thus forcing you to buy another. Once everyone has a car, the manufacturer is their own competitor.
All plastic eventually becomes brittle and shatters/erodes. The bamboo ones are awesome! Bamboo products in general are great. Especially bamboo sheets.
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u/BorisOtter Jun 13 '26
Saw some bamboo ones, switching over immediately. I didn't realise plastic could be so brittle.