Bloomers in the Wind: Hanging Laundry to Dry
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | November 24, 2009
We’ve written before about different ways to green your laundry– skipping both dryer sheets and dry cleaning, saving massive amounts of energy by washing your clothes in cold water and hanging it to dry… but I’ve been shocked to read about folks around the country (and I do hope this ridiculous issue is contained within the U.S. borders and hasn’t spread) who are not allowed to hang their clothing to dry on clotheslines outside their homes. This is so bizarre it’s hard to comprehend… and yet, it’s true.
Turns out, many homeowners & neighborhood associations are worried about maintaining some arbitrary level of decorum under their watch, and either actively discourage or outright forbid their neighbors from what seems like an inalienable right: the right to hang their sheets to dry in the sun and their shirts in the wind. The clothesline seems like a classic image of Americana, and a classic image of life in the most beautiful places around the world. Heck, even Doonsebury has addressed this disheartening situation.
So instead of a cheerful feeling of lived-in homes and yards full of life, many Americans are relegated to sterile identical backyards, and forced to either hang their stuff to dry indoors or use a dryer. And the thing with driers is that 1. they use massive amounts of energy and spike your electric/gas bills (“About 5.8 percent of residential electricity use goes towards the clothes dryer”), and 2. make your clothes wear out faster. Ever wonder where lint comes from? It’s your clothing.
So, what can we do? Hang it up, America!
If you’ve got a backyard, side yard, or front yard (we’re all about making a statement), then string up a clothesline or pop up an umbrella-style dryer.
If you lack outdoors space (as do I), there are many options: folding drying racks, drying racks which hang from the ceiling,
And most noblely, there is clothesline activism: Alexander Lee has been the preeminent U.S. right-to-dry advocate since 1995, “after hearing Dr. Helen Caldicott say we could shut down the nuclear industry if we all did things like hang out our clothes.” He’s dedicated his life to the cause and has created Project Laundry List, and a petition to the White House for our right to line dry (go ahead, sign it!). You can also support the org by shopping at their online store, and celebrating National Hanging Out Day every April 19th.
Lastly, check out this in-production documentary titled Right to Dry:
Tell us, Tiny Choosers: do you hang dry? Wish you could? If not, what’s stopping you? If so, what’re your thoughts?
Topics: Activism, Home | 7 Comments »
I live in a condo building where hanging clothing on our private balconies is not allowed, and I have received a couple of nasty notes from the condo board telling me to remove my laundry rack from the balcony. It’s frustrating, but I still hang some of my laundry outside to dry in the warmer months – I love laundry that’s been dried in fresh air. I have a folding rack that doesn’t go higher than the solid fence around the balcony, so I really don’t understand who would get their knickers in a bunch about it, but people do seem to love to complain. I try to meet them half-way, and put my laundry outside overnight, and remove it in the morning.
Jenn, it’s so bizarre that your laundry rack is below the level of your balcony fence, and still people complain… keep the faith, sister!
My Mom hung everything out to dry. Dad set up a cool clothes line for her. Mom was cool before it was in.
I live in an apartment and while, I don’t hang up clothes outside, I do dry some clothing on a wooden hanging horse thingee in my apartment.
Jennifer, how fab that your mom was cool way back in the day! Clearly that gene was passed down to you :)
i currently live in a house with no dryer (and the wiring isn’t exactly set up so that a dryer would be easily installed). i actually love to hang my clothes out (i’ve always dried about 1/2 on a rack and 1/2 in the dryer before this)– except that i have to plan ahead if it’s going to rain, etc. no one can imagine living without a dyer–but i find that it’s a nice way to slow down and also, enjoy being outside!
i can’t imagine owning a piece of land and not being allowed to hang my clothes on MY property. that’s nuts!
Linda, do you find that your neighbors also hang to dry, or no?
[...] for collapsible drying space that takes up minimal space when not in use (check out the links in this Tiny Choices post for some options). Due to limited yard space, we just use the clotheslines in our basement [...]