Right to Dry: Are Outdoor Clotheslines Going Extinct?
You have the right to bear arms.
But do you have the right to bare underwear—or sheets, shirts, socks, and the rest of your laundry—on an outdoor clothesline on your private property?
Perhaps not, if you’re one of tens of millions of Americans who live in houses and condos governed by local homeowners associations, many of which ban outdoor clotheslines for aesthetic reasons.
There’s more on the line than laundry, which the associations contend is responsible for lower property values.
“When realtors show a home, as a buyer do you want to see clothes hanging in the backyard of the neighboring home?” asks a supporter of the ban. “Or if clotheslines are allowed, what if a homeowner chooses to leave the same clothes hanging for weeks on end?”
But where some see an eyesore flapping in the breeze, others see an answer blowing in the wind. According to the Right to Dry movement, clothes dryers account for five to ten per cent of residential electricity use, second only to refrigerators. Line drying allows environmentally responsible consumers to reduce their energy use and save money.
“Everybody has to do their laundry,” says a proponent of the movement. “The clothesline is beautiful, gorgeous, sentimental and nostalgic for many.”
And the clothesline has become the focus of protective legislation. Florida, Utah, and Colorado have enacted laws upholding their citizens’ right to dry. Seven other states are considering similar safeguards.
That the clothesline would be hung out to dry as an unsightly endangered species has left many people scratching their heads and putting their thoughts on the line. “We see clothes, including underwear, in stores all the time, and no one I heard was offended,” said one. “What’s the worst that can happen hanging laundry?” asked another. “Heaven forbid you might actually have to talk to a neighbor hanging theirs.” And this: “I believe that we all have to take some responsibility in ‘cutting back’ and ‘going green.’ It just seems that a ban on clotheslines is a step backward and shows irresponsibility on the part of the homeowner’s associations.”
Tell us what you think: Should outdoor clotheslines be banned as irresponsible, view-ruining relics of the past? Should you show greater responsibility to a homeowner’s association or to what you think is best for your family and the environment? Where do we draw the line—if clotheslines can be banned for aesthetic reasons, what about pink flamingos, holiday decorations, and other personal public displays?
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Long Live the Clothesline
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder……Count the many ways that the clothesline is beneficial…compared to non-beneficial ways……than ask yourself…“Do I believe in the right to dry my clothes in the fresh sunlight???”…….I say yes…….One good reason…..because…HOA’s motivation is based on the complexity of avaricious………& the one good reason…… the homeowner motivation is simply to avoid unnecessary waste………again just count the ways…& you would agree……LONG LIVE THE CLOTHESLINE…..
Franklin Lagura | 8 months, 1 week ago
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Choices
I don’t have a problem with clotheslines. I grew up hanging clothes outside. In the community I live in, it is a choice whether to hang clothing to dry or not.
Last Sunday morning, on “Sunday Morning”, they showed an article about a family hanging clothing outside to dry and the neighbors all complaining. In fact, some of them cut the clothesline down.
All the people in the neighborhood had signed an agreement not to paint their houses unacceptable (to them) colors, grow a certain type of lawn and plants, not to hang clothing on clotheslines. The family hanging its clothing out signed the agreement also but now feels they do not have to follow the rules they helped develop. They supposedly moved into that neighborhood because they liked the way it looked and because it had neighbors who wanted to preserve the way it looks. Now they have set themselves up as the rule makers; they think they “know best” what their community needs. I truly believe if you don’t like a rule, seek to change it by going through channels; if you can’t change it and can’t stand it, move out. Go to a place where people want to live the way you want to; in a few years you (or one of them) will probably want to change a rule again. What if it’s them and you don’t want the rule changed.
Sandy DeWitt | 8 months ago
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Ms.
I love the wonderful fresh smell of clothes dried on the line. I especially love the wonderful smell of bed linens that have been air dried in the sun, you can actually smell the sunshine when you lay on the pillow! Besides the pleasure aspects there are also environmental benefits, cost benefits, fitness benefits, and social benefits. There nothing like a casual chat with a neighbor over the back fence. Yes, we definitely need more clotheslines!
bernadette callister | 7 months, 3 weeks ago
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WOW
This is getting out of control, no clotheslines, no smoking in your own home, no eating the foods you want… Where are all our choices going, where are our rights going? I grew up with clotheslines, i used to hate that i would have to go outdoors and get my clothes down and that anyone driving by would see those are my clothes. But i loved playing in the laundry and i loved the smell of the outdoors on the clothes. Yes fabric softeners are nice and its nice to have clothes smell like roses but it does cost way too much. I live in an apt and my neighbors have had their jeans hanging up outside for days it doesn’t bother me, it does make me wonder how long they think it takes to dry them :) I’ve tried the drying them indoors hanging them in the shower or on doors but it takes up too much space. Clotheslines are not bothering anyone. If its in my yard don’t look in my yard. I may be against having a swimming pool in the back yard with young ones outside playing, it could be dangerous but I’m not going to make a law or rule saying that the neighbors aren’t allowed to have it because i don’t like it. I don’t like half the clothes that people wear but to them those clothes are perfect. why would i concern myself with their lifestyles when i should be concerned with my own lifestyle. Its like the rumors back in high school that john and Becky where fighting and blah blah blah its not my business why should i worry about it. If i hang my panties outside, don’t look at my yard if it bothers you, and don’t concern yourself with my business!!
me | 6 months, 4 weeks ago
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Mrs
Have we become so sophisticated that we have forgotten the basics of life. We are willing to put up solar panels, investing $$$ to conserve energy but there is a debate over whether we should make use of the energy that is freely available to us? Convenience has become the mantra of the day. I think we need to become more responsible for the sake of the future(me included)
Divya Santosh | 5 months ago
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people should not be judged
i see people all the time drying there clothes on clothesline i dont think people should have a say so in how they do things about there clothes and where they buy them or how they dry them.
some people save energy by doing it the old fashion way,
high school student | 4 months, 3 weeks ago
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innockinete | 4 months, 2 weeks ago
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hanging clothes on fences
i agree with the environmental and electricity saving reasons. but when u have a wooden fence & your back neighbor uses your fence to throw their clothing and personal across, it’s no welcomed visual. also if it is your fence, (which it is) then u have the repairing of the rotten wood. i am glad to have no HOA. i have asked them to stop. they haven’t. i have even thought of buying them a retractable line but don’t want to start something. it’s like if you buy that and they do something else, looking for u to buy something else. are there agencies u can call for help, meaning keeping out of it totally? any suggestions?
barbara days | 3 months ago
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An Attractive Outdoor Clothes Line
I would like to tell of another outdoor clothesline I think is very good. The Sunshine Clothes Dryer folds up like an upside down umbrella and can be taken inside for storage letting you use your yard for other things. Its very durable and is made here in the USA. Best of all works GREAT!
Keith Wilson | 2 months ago
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