The Story Behind the Wooden Clothespin
Long before electric dryers existed, everyday laundry depended on one simple tool: the wooden clothespin. The earliest versions were nothing more than solid wooden pegs, carved to grip fabric on a line. That changed in 1853, when David M.
Smith patented the spring-loaded clothespin — a design that solved what he famously described as a “serious evil to washerwomen,” helping clothes stay put even in strong winds.
As industrial production expanded, clothespins shifted from handmade wooden tools to mass-produced household staples.
Plastic models have become widespread in recent decades, but wooden clothespins never truly disappeared.
Many people still prefer them for their strength, sustainability, and the comforting nostalgia they carry.
And if you’ve come across a simple wooden peg with two legs, you’re probably holding a vintage clothespin — a charming reminder of quieter days and eco-minded living.