You know, I think that clotheslines are gradually becoming trendy, because they are echo-friendly. It may take a little while longer, but I’m pretty sure that very soon, they will NOT be considered a sign of poverty.

You should do a clothes line and if/when you neighbors complain, tell them in your best snooty voice, that you are doing your part for the environment and ask if you can climb over the fence to fetch your whitey-tighties that blew over last week.

We worried about the same issue, whether it seemed “ghetto” to hang out a clothesline in view of our (much more affluent) neighbors. We did. No one ever complained, and several people approached me and mentioned that they admire our green efforts; they themselves would hang laundry but they didn’t have time.

Incidentally, our clothesline cost about $5 for two hooks and the line itself. We used a post we had left over from something else. This line services a family of five.

Do it! How can we change people’s minds about the type of people who hang laundry, unless “normal” people do it?

You make a good point that frugality has in some ways become synonymous with poor because of marketing, but the whole green movement is bringing it back in a lot of ways since green is (sometimes) cheaper than not.

Clotheslines are technically not allowed in my community, but we have one anyway. All the homes/yards have wooden “privacy fences” around the back yards. This is a very common practice in the town and surrounding communities. Our clothesline is shorter than the fence and in a somewhat inconspicuous place.

Another option is to use the indoor drying racks outside or a retractable clothesline. If you are conscientious about not keeping your clothes out on the line longer than necessary, this may not be a problem.

You can always say you have a solar clothes dryer. Solar energy is very chic these days. You’re just cutting out the middle man.

I think you’re making one error in your calculations, though. You’re assuming that the only value in the clothesline vs. dryer equation is the monetary cost-per-load. What about the amount of time and energy that you will spend attaching clothes to the line? You would be turning every attempt to do laundry into an ordeal (believe me, I’ve been there). And wasn’t your decision to buy a dryer based on the fact that you’d use it for a certain number of years?

Even if you had complete privacy and no one cared about your backyard, I doubt if you would completely give up the dryer. I’m sure it’s kind of romantic and fun the first few times you did it, and maybe it’d be great for some of your clothes to have that fresh smell. But all of your laundry? Constantly? Forever?

Also, it sounds to me that you’re experiencing some faux nostalgia for WWII frugality (I’m saying faux since I doubt you lived through it). The real reason that none of your neighbors use clotheslines is because it would be too much of a hassle to use one *if you can afford a dryer*. Which is the real reason you sense the social pressure to not use a clothesline — it’s a signifier that you can’t afford to dry your clothes.

I think it’s easy to mock modern convenience items like dryers, and hanker after the “good old days”. We forget how difficult life was back then, and how every housewife living in WWII would have been enormously grateful to have a dryer in the house. See if you can watch the BBC series “The 1940’s House”, or one of the others in that series (”1900 House”, “Colonial House”, etc).

When I lived in Europe, I had a multi-arm clothes dryer rack thing, the kind you can buy for $20 at Target. You could put one of those on your back porch, and no one would care or even notice. You also wouldn’t have to deal with the clothespins, which I can’t believe you didn’t even mention as a major con.

Hey, I’m French, and I gotta say that here clotheslines are not and never were considered a sign of poverty. I find this whole story extremely wrong and very sad.

I can definitely relate. I grew up in the country, and we had a clothesline. But I would avoid using one here at my house for exactly the reasons you describe.

It seems like a reasonable compromise, if you have the space, would be an inside clothes rack. On warm sunny days, clothing might dry more slowly. But it will dry.

In Ontario, Canada, a law has recently passed that allows clothesline use even where previously prohibited by home owner’s associations. The only exception is apartment buildings. This is to encourage energy conservation. I have to admit I was quite surprised by your perception that using clotheslines were a sign of poverty. That thought had NEVER occurred to me! The only reason I would choose a dryer over a clothesline would be weather, high pollen counts or convenience. I don’t think a clothesline would lower your property value, I don’t find them offensive. I certainly wouldn’t let the neighbours’ attitude stop me!!!

All of the cons listed were good and made sense… but none of them would ever, ever convince me to stop hanging my laundry! (For me) that’s like saying I’m going to stop eating healthy food because McDonalds is more socially acceptable.

Usually I find your website to offer some interesting reads, but this article I find to be off base. Maybe you are correct in your analysis of social pressure, but that shouldn’t mean that you base your actions on these pressures. You can always boast about your going green, which is becoming very trendy of late. Be the leader in your neighborhood.

You should be less concerned with what your neighbors think than knowing that what you are doing is right for your finances AND the environment.

Here in Europe, clotheslines are everywhere, and they are not seen as a sign of poverty. It’s better for the clothes and waaaay more eco-friendly than using the dryer.

It’s amazing how people there care so much about image and social status. Isn’t that how people get into consumer debt?

I have three clotheslines hanging in the basement laundry area that together hold one large load of laundry. I use them all year round and spent $3 for the rope and $1 for the clothespins at the dollar store. I wash a load in the morning and then hang them until the next morning when I do it all again. I average 30 loads a month and my electric bill was $14 less the month after I first began hanging clothes to dry. If I have jeans to dry, I start them in the dryer for 15 minutes and then hang otherwise they wouldn’t dry by morning. Hanging clothes is rather a Zen thing!

I agree with others that the green movement is making this accetable again. It is so important that we find ways to lessen our impact on the earth, and this is such a simple one.
One thought I had was to install a retractable set of lines, so that they can be out of sight when not in use, and free up yard space when you have friends over, etc. We also hang clothes indoors all winter in our laundry room. I wind up drying about one load a week, mostly socks and underwear. It is certainly making an impact on our electricity bill!

I think that your reasoning is very silly, frankly. Lead by example, and quit worrying about why the neighbors think. Just imagine if they embraced a greener lifestyle because you dared to set the tone…

I found today’s blog interesting as Toronto Hydro just had a Take a Load Off (and Let It All Hang Out) Campaign where they gave away free clotheslines to 75000 Toronto residents.

There was also a “right to dry” campaign which led to the Ontario government lifting a clothesline ban in other Ontario communities.

I think you should rethink your decision. I agree with the other comments…the green movement will lead to more people choosing environmentally friendly options. You could lead the way in your community.

I was surprised to read that people (in Iowa?) think that hanging laundry outside is a sign of poverty. I have observed that few people hang their laundry outside, but I assumed they either decided it took too much time or did not have a place to hang it outside.

My two hurdles to hanging laundry outside were having my undergarments exposed to the world and the small umbrella clothesline was not impressive. Once I got over myself and my impressions, I look forward to hanging laundry and hate rainy weather on the weekends, which forces me to dry my freshly laundered clothing indoors.

I do not agree hanging laundry outside will decrease property values. While I have felt the pressure to keep up my lawn in my suburban surroundings, I do not have the impression that people disapprove of clothes hanging in the backyard.

I expect if you wait just a little bit, you will see more and more people using a clothes line in your neighborhood. With the focus on “green” living and the escalting cost of energy, it’s just a smart choice.

Alternatively (supposing I’m wrong!) you can plant a screen of oh, lilacs or privet to hide your clothesline from your neighbors.

“Being frugal does not equate to being poor. It just equates with enough intelligence that you realize you don’t have to buy your way out of every problem.”

Forget the clothesline story; the above quote was the most sensible thing I have read in some time.
Bravo Trent!
Thanks for the kick in the pants.
-Tyler

Frugal Pursuit, slightly ot, but we always hung our unmentionables under a towel that was also drying. :-)

Gotta agree with the Europeans. My parents (who still live in America) have neighbors who use clotheslines, and as far as I can tell, nobody’s ever bugged them about it–and they live in one of those McMansion neighborhoods.

We line dry all of our laundry because we don’t own a dryer. I don’t want to think about how much money we’ve saved.

And for what it’s worth, if it really bugs you that badly, you can just string up a few lines inside–get some eyelets and some good strong hooks, and you can take them down whenever there’s company.

Nonsense! clothelines have nothing to do with being poor. You have become brainwashed into believing that more products makes you a better/richer person and socially accepted. A clothesline is simply a tool to dry and fragrance clothes. It is cheaper and more eco friendly than a clothes dryer.
Banish this ridiculous concern of “looking poor” and start the energy saving move in your neighbourhood, be the trend setter.
Buy some tacky bling type hood ornament with the money saved to “show how rich you are”…..:)
After your long “born to buy” review I’m surprised you did not notice your own programming.

While it’s nice you’re trying to consider your neighbors, it is your land and there is no homeowner’s association. It’s not like it’s going to be up front in the front lawn, right? It’s a back yard, for crying out loud. I lived next to someone who had christmas lights up for three years straight—turned them on every day and our property value continued to go up. If it’s a good neighborhood as you say it is, then when a house does go on the market, use the dryer if you’re that concerned.

Dude,

As a long-time fan of your blog I honestly am shocked that you are bowing to peer pressure and not installing a clothesline. Shocked and disappointed in you. For two reasons (1) given the info in the post it appears that you don’t *know* what your neighbors would think — have you asked them? and (2) honestly, who cares what your neighbors think!?!?!? Answer: you shouldn’t with respect to this issue, for two more reasons. First, superficially, if your neighbors are that shallow, no offense, but F them. More fundamentally, Trent, this is about your values. Frugality. Wisdom. The long view. You make a living writing about these things and showing many of us how to put them into practice, and you do it admirably. To not put them into practice in this instance is not right. Also, you have to take a stand sometimes. Moreover, this is a teaching moment for your children, Trent. And for your neighbors - wouldn’t you like your kid to remember you explaining to the neighbors that the clothesline is better for you, the environment, your wallet, and the clothes? You might convince them to install their own clothesline! What a neat lesson for your kiddos. It is so much better than, the lesson, “The negatives here from a social perspective and a property value perspective are much higher than the positives from a money-saving perspective.”

Let the clothes fly!

What about setting up a privacy screen with a fence or better yet, tall plants? My dream garden includes a stand of dwarf fruit trees around a secluded area for this kind of thing.

One reason why hanging your clothes is popular in Europe is that electricity is almost 4 times the cost. Hanging your clothes means less wear and tear as well.

socks go better on a rack, you can lay them all out flat. Much quicker than using clothes pegs on a traditional line.

You could try it for a little while and see what your neighbors reaction is. I think you’ll find taht they either don’t care or think you’re doing a very enviromentally friendly thing. I doubt anyone will complain. I have an umbrella style clothes line, that folds up when not in use, but my neighbors don’t care, so I leave it up all the time.

I think you’re overthinking this. It’s a clothesline. If someone says something, you can take it down. It’s not like your painting a giant Greek flag on your garage door. (That’s a movie reference, not a slam on Greek people, don’t flame me!)

We have an umbrella style clothesline that can be collapsed and stored in the shed when not in use. I find it a nice compromise.

This issue has forced me to delurk. I am really surprised that putting up a clothesline is considered a sign of poverty. While I did grow up in the country, I have seen many many homes with clothes lines in the yard (in the side yard even) and have not thought, “wow, those people must be poor.” I think it is perfectly acceptable to put a clothes line in the yard. My husband and I don’t because it isn’t worth it for just the two of us. My parents do with nary a comment from the neighbors. My mom also hangs clothes in the basement on lines strung through the rafters. And trust me, they are not poverty stricken, just frugal!
Other options include buying drying racks and putting them out on the deck when you need to dry some laundry. We do this with most of our clothes as the dryer can be harsh on clothing.
I think it is time for people to stop worrying about what others think and do what is best for the environment, their wallet, and their family.

You should rethink your decision. I either have to do my laundry in the apartment complex washer and dryer or trek out to the laundromat. I would kill to be able to have the option of having a clothesline and hanging out my laundry to dry. But since I don’t, have have no choice but to use the dryers and pay for it.

Hanging your clothes outside can also mean sun damage. It fades colors, so you have to be careful. Not saying don’t do it, but a leafy shady area is far better than bright sunshine — so stringing a line between two trees is way better. Although sunshine is great for sanitizing and keeping whites white.

Airing your dirty laundry in public… that saying comes from leaving your laundry on the line. You’d be amazed at how quickly laundry can dry outside. When I used to hang sheets they’d be dry in 20 minutes. I’d love to hang clothing out now, but we have a ton of feral cats roaming around…. and tomcats spray to mark territory — and NOTHING gets that stink out.

But what really gets me is your total anti-marketing thing. Dryers didn’t get popular because of marketing. Dryers got popular because they are pretty necessary. Dry your towels outside — you may want to switch back from the hardness. (Although if you have to arm strength to give them a good SNAP! they will be softer.) And how do you dry your clothing when it’s raining? Or freezing? Or snowing? Or when you three sick kids in diapers, and you are using cloth?

After WWII there was an explosion of labor saving devices like dryers and automatic washers (I can do 5000 words on the wringer washer — we had one till the 70’s and we ALL had to help mom with laundry) because people WANTED them. We look back and what we see is the marketing of them — but don’t mistake that as the reason we all got them… that’s the cart pulling the horse.

In my opinion, marketing is far less reason for everyone having to have something than the “keeping up with the Jones” phenomena. Because (and maybe I’ve missed it) I haven’t seen many ads for Coach bags and by golly, it seems every woman is walking around with one of them ugly suckers.

I am genuinely surprised by your conclusions.

I grew up a small town in central Iowa and I find it hard to believe that anyone in your town would find it offensive to have a clothesline in the back yard. My parents live on the edge of town, much as you describe, and they have had a clothesline for years. Several friends and relatives have them as well.

Clotheslines are the cool new thing - even people in bigger towns and cities are installing them. I have never even considered this a sign of poverty, but proof of environmental concerns and plain common sense.

I never dry anything in a dryer anything except sheets, towels, jeans and old tshirts. Mainly because the dryer shrinks and fades all my clothes, even if they say on the label that you can dry them. But also, we live in an apartment and have to pay $1.25 for every load we dry. I would love to have a clothesline, but apparently that’s grounds for getting evicted (!!??). So I have a $12 drying rack from Target and get it out when I need to hang my clothes indoors. I even dry the baby’s cloth diapers on it. I don’t consider myself to be “green,” but I have been “accused” of it - it’s less popular in the south than other places I’ve lived.

Put up the clothes line … and hang the neighbors

yo’re blowing my mind with this one. i just moved from the rich neighborhood where i line drip-dry to the poor neighborhood, and i hooked up a simple line here, too. perceptions blah blah property values blah blah marketing blah blah what about sensibility and leadership? of course my car is a junker that i try not to drive and my hunch is that i live a lot cheaper than you. i go to the ymca and do yoga in the sauna which entails a lot of sweating so i make a lot of very stinky clothes but i bucket soak them in hot water and gentle soap, then bucket soak them in clean water, then slop them on the line to drip dry. i don’t have a washer/dryer but at least in summer why would i bother?

poverty, hmmm. let’s finance a shiney car and new house and washer-dryer so we don’t look impoverished. but uh oh then we actually are impoverished! (ok, just poor, and it doesn’t mean the same thing. poverty entails depravity.)

I also am confused by your logic here. Since when is hanging laundry a sign of poverty? Maybe if you’re only hanging up the clothes you’ve almost worn to bits. Otherwise I bet 90% of people won’t even look in your yard, and those that do will just see what you’re doing for what it is: taking advantage of some nice Iowa sunshine and a nice breeze.

I, too, think you shouldn’t care about this issue. Put up a clothesline and enjoy! If it bothers your neighbors then you should get new neighbors.

My bigger issue is with the way poverty is mentioned, as though it’s so bad. Mind you, I don’t wish to be poor, but all people should be accorded respect and dignity. It’s beyond me why imbecilic-acting heiresses are accorded so much social status and attention just because they have money which they didn’t even earn.

A lot of Americans think they couldn’t be poor but the fact is that in the America of today it can happen to just about anyone. According to the documentary Frontline 700,000 Americans go bankrupt every year due to medical expenses alone, and here’s the kicker: substantial numbers of them had health insurance. In other words, they did nothing wrong and deserve our help rather than our scorn.

I lived in Germany for a number of years and really like the European approach to social programs. Basically, the lower one is on the socioeconomic ladder the more help one gets! In America, on the other hand, we seem to treat poor people punitively, as though they did something wrong.

I’m not meaning to attack anyone here, nor am I holding myself up as a paragon of social virtue, it’s just that I often wonder why people want to be rich - I just want to have enough (which I do) and enjoy life. Why isn’t that enough anymore?

jebus - in Australia it is weird and inconvenient not to have a clothesline (unless you are in an apartment.) I have no conception that it could be associated with poverty. I guess our sun is a little stronger though!

If, after all these comments, you still feel that you don’t want to use a clothesline, then try what we do: We put almost everything in the dryer for 10-15 minutes and then most shirts, pants, and skirts get hung up on hangers to dry (over the bathtub or on a special line we put up). This way, the intial creasing from the washing machine comes out and then the clothes line dry. Things like towels stay in the dryer because they feel so much softer that way. Depending on your wardrobe, you’ll have about 50% savings this way.

I would agree with the people who don’t see anything wrong with the clothesline–I always think it’s lovely to see things hanging out on the line, myself.

But I would also like to ask if you could link to a list of some of those frugal WWII measures? Or do a post about them sometime? I’m interested to hear which ones piqued your interest!

“Clotheslines are one of those items that are often associated with poverty and the appearance of such items gives an impression of poverty in our neighborhood.”

What an interesting assertion. I’ve lived in various suburban and semi-rural areas around the country, some where clotheslines were common, some where they weren’t - and I have never heard it said, or even implied, that clotheslines in an otherwise well-tended yard indicated poverty and/or could lower property values. Have you actually had discussions with neighbors who have said that?

Moreover, I have to agree with PP that dryers have become the norm because they are enormous time-savers, and frankly the only realistic option for most families who lack the time or outdoor space for linedrying. Overall, is there a trend towards consumerism? Yes, I agree with that. But I don’t think appliance marketing has given rise to some sort of classist anti-clothesline faction :-) Hang your clothes proudly and I bet you will be surprised at the positive response!

Wow, I’ve never heard of a clothesline as a mark of poverty.

I live in a nice middle-class residential area in Montreal. I just went out back, and even with all of the leaves blocking, I can still count 15 clotheslines. And as I said, this isn’t an impoverished area.

I’m originally from Ontario, and the same goes there. Clotheslines are useful, weather permitted, to save some dollars, and save impacting the environment.

Is this an American notion? Along the lines of big SUV’s hiding men with small sized shoes?

I say let it all hang out.

Many neighborhoods in my area have banned clothlines. However, the cost is only $30 and the potential over the long run to make a big impact is great. If you really are concerned about the neighbors than talk to them. Most people wouldn’t have a problem with it and you could try to hang it in the least obtrusive area. Have you spoken to them?

I too am surprised by the suggestion that clotheslines are linked with poverty. Maybe it’s because I’m from the UK but everyone I know with a garden has one, including all my parents’ neighbours- a street full of bankers and doctors.

How about telling your neighbors in advance, real casually, that you’re planning on putting up a clothesline and see how they react? They’ll probably say “Hey, cool,” and if not, just say that you’re doing it for the environment, for the fresh smell, etc. Don’t let them think for a minute that they even have the option of saying “No, it wouldn’t look good in the ‘hood”!

Line-drying is a bit burdensome (it gets boring hanging up and taking down the clothes after the first few loads) but it really is better for your clothes. All that drier lint is little bits of your clothing- the drier really shortens the life of your clothes.

Go for it!

Forgot that I wanted to ask you about your remark that clotheslines were popular during WWII because they were considered thrifty. But was there any alternative at that time? People had washing machines, but did they have driers? Did driers even EXIST back then? If anyone knows the answer to this question, I’d be interested in hearing it!

I think Trent really wants to put up the cloths line and just wanted to hear all the supportive comments to help push him.

Umbrella outside (that can be easily lifted out of its hole and put out of site), some lines in the basement, & those folding contraptions in the spare bedroom.

I’m also surprised about your decision! I have never heard of clotheslines being associated with poverty any more than vegetable gardens would be! I’ve been line drying for the last 18 years (outside in the warm weather and inside when it’s cold) and have never had anyone comment about it.

I think that with everyone looking to reduce costs, you should be the trend setter and put up your clotheslines! Why worry about what the Jones’ think? Isn’t that what got a lot of folks in trouble to begin with?

I actually think clotheslines look rather trendy. You could put your linens and regular clothes (shirts, jeans) on the line and buy one of the racks someone mentioned for your underwear, etc… that neighbors don’t want to see.

When I was in Italy this past January I stayed at a bed and breakfast and they didn’t even have a dryer. We hung our clothes on a line right outside the bathroom window. It took some getting used to, but I didn’t mind it and I felt good about being eco-friendly even when I’m not at home.

I’m with Sylvain an ‘L’in finding this all rather odd, not the post, just the idea of a clothesline being a sign of poverty. In the UK it’s commonplace to see clothes drying on a line, it seems almost snobbish to assume poverty because of it.

I know that things have changed over the years, especially with the prevalence of homeowners’ associations, but when I was a kid (not *that* long ago), such things were viewed as normal, not as a sign of poverty. And if our neighbors were to start hanging out their laundry, I certainly wouldn’t care.

Never mind WWII, like the other Brits and Euros above I grew up in an Irish neighbourhood where everyone still uses clothes lines. And trust me, many of my parents friends don’t need the savings. Now I live in Toronto and some of our neighbours use lines in our city street. I can see them from my upstairs window right now. I’ve never batted a eye or heard anyone else complain. I think you may be underestimating your neighbours.

Suze #17 we got our free Toronto clothes line last week! Haven’t put it up yet though.

I’m a new reader of your blog and I’m enjoying it so much. I just want to suggest the use of a retractable clothes line. I bought one for $15. on ebay. It’s easy to install and rolls into a discreet home when not in use. The only down side it that it holds less than a traditional line. I can hang 1 large load at a time.

We had a clothes line (and a dryer) growing up in the 70’s and 80’s and we were not by any means poor. Mom hung most stuff out when the weather was particularly nice and the sheets pretty much always got hung out unless it was raining. We lived in Michigan for a large part of my life and so the dryer was a practical thing for us since it snows 6 months out of the year.

I have been trying for a while to figure out how to get a clothesline in my backyard (there are issues with severe sloping). I do have a small clothes line in my laundry room but it doesn’t hold more than a few items.

I have to disagree with your assertion that everyone uses dryers because of marketing. Let’s face it…it is just easier to use a dryer. That is not marketing…that is just reality. Sometimes you have to do laundry even when it is raining or snowing…

I’m in a very nice, historical neighborhood in a small Texas town outside Austin, and people do hang clothes outside and clotheslines are still legal. :D

That said, some homeowners associations nearer and in Austin do ban clothesline and even go so far as to document such rules in deed restrictions.

I would hope there would be more constructive deed restrictions out there; not a person’s choice of laundry methods….

Agree with others: just erect some sort of privacy screen. Kinda annoying for neighbors to be able to peek into your backyard anyway!

Clotheslines don’t have to be outside!

some ideas for those who don’t want to show the world their underwear:

it’s easy enough to get a standing indoor drying rack just for underwear & socks.

and reserve a line for larger items like pants and shirts.

Also, depending on the amount of space you have, you can string up a line (or two!) inside either in your laundry room or in an upstairs room (think attic, spare room). Just put hooks in the wall and learn to tie a knot or two (trucker’s knot is a good one for this-it allows you to cinch the line tight), and take the thing down when you’re done. I have one inside (where it never rains!) and it takes me about 10 seconds to put it up or take it down.

if you don’t like people seeing your underwear on the line, as several commentators have expresses.

I live in the UK where most people still use clotheslines. Because I have asthma, I’m not supposed to dry laundry outside because pollen gets on the clothes. So we have a set of four clotheslines stretching across the length of the bathroom. I don’t think the clothes would get dry if we didn’t also have a dehumidifier, which we need because the flat is very damp, but the dehumidifier gets the clothes dry within a day.

This might be a way for you to be frugal and green without fear of what the neighbors might think.

Sadly, it does not give the clothes the outdoors smell :(

so Trent, change your mind yet?

;-)

In Australia, it’s not considered a backyard without a rotary clothesline. You can buy (here) full size clotheslines that are removable, you collapse the line (a bit like an umbrella) and then pull the entire thing out of the hole in the ground it’s been resting in. We don’t do this because we’re ashamed of them (they’re seen as patriotic because they were invented here), we do it to play backyard cricket.

If you’re so ashamed of drying your washing outside, yes, grow a screen like the others mention. I can’t imagine using a dryer for every load of washing. I just can’t.

oh and here’s a tip from my old mother. Back in the day, undies and unmentionables were pinned to the inner areas of the line, and other clothes went around the outside to hide them.

And for the daily agony of hanging up and bringing in the washing, it’s actually a very pleasant part of my day. I’d rather do the washing than the dishes anyday (oh, yeah, I don’t have a dishwasher either - shame on me for not keeping up with the Jones).

I love my clothesline. I use it to dry sheets (washed with fabric softner), towels, PJs, jeans and blankets. I notice a considerable increase in my gas bill when I can’t use the clothes line. The time difference is minimal and it is often a chance to talk to my neighbor. We would not be so close were it not for the clothesline. Friends are skeptical when they find I use the clothesline but are won over when they find out I am saving about $15 a month. I never thought of it as a sign of poverty. Many use clotheslines not because they must but because they would like to spend money elsewhere. The green aspect is also important, there is a finite amount of coal and natural gas. The sunshine will be around as long as we are.

I hang my clothes inside on a pole above the dryer. It works just fine. On the most humid days, I have to run the air-conditioner a bit to dry out the air, but it’s something I’d do anyways.

Because I hang the clothes on hangers instead of using clothes pins, it’s actually LESS effort for me to hang them than if I put them in the dryer and then had to hang them up afterwards. (Plus, I don’t have to worry about leaving them to wrinkle in the dryer.)

I don’t perceive clotheslines to be a sign of poverty like you do. I doubt all of your neighbors would view it as a sign of poverty. I doubt all new owners moving into your neighborhood would feel that way either. I can understand your feelings though, as Ankeny people seem pretentious to me, maybe that’s simply the feeling you’re getting? I’ve got a clothesline up in Des Moines, just put it up this week, actually. And my neighbors have one.

I think they make the owners appear thoughtful, not poor. Maybe you should too.

And watch the wind when they’re working the field behind your house, or you’ll have to wash again.

for privacy: use a multiline clothesline and hang sheets or larger items on the outside and your undies on the inside.

I would never associate a clothesline with poverty. I can’t wait until I live somewhere where hanging my clothes outside won’t make them more dirty.

Two more reasons to use a clothesline:
There is a disinfecting property to the sunshine for your cloth diapers.

Your clothes last longer because the dryer wears them out.

We are very soon moving from an apartment to our own house in another city, and I am overjoyed at finally being able to put not only a backyard clothesline but a rainy-day clothesline in the unfinished basement.

I also grew up in the country, and we hung our clothes out all summer. Yes, partially because we were poor. But while we all found laundry in general to be boring, I don’t think any of us thought of using the clothesline as being substantially more work. We also didn’t have air conditioning, so running the dryer in the summer made us all suffer. We had enough room to hang about four loads at once, which meant that lots of clothes could dry at once, and being able to fold as each piece was taken down was easier than having to either dump out all the clothes somewhere or bend over for each item from the dryer.

I do think that in town one issue is the configuration of the houses relative to the street. Both my current neighborhood and the one I’m going to are dense, with close-together houses and backyards not visible from the street.

Have you considered a retractable clothesline on your back deck? That way it is only visible when it is in use.

Best Wishes,
D4L

My neighbor has a clothes-line and we live in a tight neighborhood. They have had it for as long as I can remember, and I don’t even notice it anymore. In fact, as I was reading this, I had to look at my window to see if it was still there.

Also, we hang clothes in our laundry room. We have wires in the ceiling (it’s in our basement) and we just hang clothes on hangers from the wires. We can fit several loads and it has worked very well. We can’t dry everything this way, but most works fine.

I must add my voice to the chorus of those who are confused by your logic.

I live in a relatively rural area - we all have wells and septic tanks, to give you an idea - but everyone on my road uses a clothesline.

I also disagree with those who argue that using a clothesline equates to more work. I love to watch and listen to the birds when I hang out my laundry. When I take the laundry down in the evening, I often fold each piece as I take it off the line so that I can enjoy the sunset while I perform this “chore”. They can have my clothespins when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers!

I would guess that if you started line drying your clothing, others would follow suit. Let your freshly laundered freak flag fly, Trent!

I suspect with the resurgence of environmentalism, resing energy prices, etc, the clothesline will make a comeback.

Hi

In Australia, clothesline are pretty much in every backyard. Retractable ones are available and are invisible when not in use. Seems completely absurd not be using natural energy that is free, harmless and mostly abundant! I only know one person who uses a dryer consistently - I would take a guess most people think it pretty lazy and self indulgent over here to use a dryer for anything other than rainy days or emergency drying.

xCindy

To me a clothesline is a sign that the people living at that home actually get outside once in awhile. I also think it signifies a nice (friendly) neighborhood.

Today where I live is a beautiful sunny day, yet, looking around, there are very few people outside using their beautiful yards. I hung out some sheets today, saw my neighbor out in her yard doing some weeding, so we were able to chat and be friendly.

I live in Australia where clotheslines are the norm. We have one that is very unobtrusive. Folds flat against the house wall when not in use. We also have a dryer which I use only when the weather is not conducive to outdoor drying. It is more work to hang the clothes out but once it is a habit you don’t think twice about it. Much better for your clothes…

I think that not engaging in a frugal activity because you are afraid of how it will look sends a bad message to the readers of this site. You make your own slimy laundry soap, for goodness sake! Is it only okay to be frugal in the privacy of your own home? If you refuse to hang your clothing outside, a clearly more frugal choice, then how do you expect this site to convince someone to bring their own coffee and not buy a latte at Starbucks daily? What if other people see them bring their own coffee? I’m really unimpressed, Trent.

How do you get the clothes and towels soft using a clothes line? I would like to hang my clothes outside(I honestly don’t care what others think of me for doing it) but the one time I tried it, everything seemed to dry so stiff. Any suggestions?

Hi

I’m from down in NZ and find this article and associated comments interesting. Here, we grow up with everyone having a clothesline and dryers are a novelty. Only on moving in to my partners place 6 months ago did I finally have the use of a dryer. We have retractable clotheslines and the ones that push flat against the fence, and also the ordinary four pin spin one. I don’t find hanging the clothes out to be a drag, you just get used to it and sometimes dare I say it, it is even relaxing!
I am lucky as I finish work early so can bring in the clothes even in the winter before it gets dark. If it is raining we use clothes horses in the garage and bring them in front of the heater in the evenings rather than using the dryer.
The dryer gets used only when we hadn’t planned ahead with what we need so not very often.
For the suggestion of soft clothes, towels etc, we have a liquid formula that we add to the wash, however most of the time i dont use it and they are still soft (possible lack of pollution?). Also if they are left out in the rain when they dry they are incredibly soft.

Hi Trent
Wow. This is so odd. Both the reasoning behind this and the fact that it’s coming from you. I’ve been reading your blog for a while and this seems rather out of character.

Here in England (and in Denmark, my native country) everyone is using clotheslines and they are not perceived as a sign of poverty. At all. The ‘logic’ behind this really boggles my mind. Clotheslines are an economically and environmentally sound way of drying clothes and why home owner’s associations would prevent people from using them is also bizarre to me.

Just hang out your clothes. If anyone gives you the evil eye, tell ‘em the internets told you it’s OK. :-)

I think the green argument that many have discussed above had made this more of a socially acceptable thing. This might be a good opportunity to discuss this issue with your neighbors. People who live in the country (sort of country in your case) usually do it because they value the outdoor aspects, nature, etc.. Why not talk to your neighbours about green initiatives in your sub-community. This can be linked to composting, home gardens, etc ..

My community also just lifted a ban on clothes lines (I didn’t even know we had one!)

Wow! This is the worst post I’ve ever read. Are you seriously so concerned with how your neighbors think of you that you would be willing to forgo an investment in both your own hard earned cash and our planet. I have serious doubts that a clothes line will pull down any property values. That’s just crazy! I have a rotary style clothes line that can hold about three loads at a time. It goes up and down like an umbrella and can easily be removed for from it’s post hole for storage. I live a fairly affluent community in Maine and almost everyone hangs out their wash. This is a very green area of the country. If your area is not, then perhaps you should start a trend rather than worry about your neighbors looking down on you. Be a shepherd not a sheep Trent!

I agree with the removable clothesline option. I installed hooks in the posts on my back porch and bought $2 laundry line from the hardware store. I simply put up the line when I need it and take it down when I don’t. My concern isn’t so much the neighbors but the loss of yard space from putting up a clothesline. I also hang clothes on the hangers straight from the washing machine and hang them from the shower curtain rod until dry.

It’s interesting how perceptions can change from country to country. In Australia, it’s normal to have a clothes line in the back yard.
There’s also one additional factor that you haven’t considered. From what I’ve heard, a dryer causes more wear and tear on your clothes, thus shortening their usable life.

This is something I’ve wrestled with. While flouting social expectations isn’t the problem, I think it’s more about being respectful toward the neighbors that may be bothering Trent. While it *is* stupid that clotheslines are associated with poverty, that doesn’t mean it’s not true in some areas. Since my backyard is one of the first visible things people coming into the neighborhood see and a few neighbors have their houses on the market, I’ll refrain from using a clothesline outside if they’re going to be the ones absorbing the cost of ignorant people who are turned off from the area by my line. Air drying inside (there’s a hanging bar in the laundry room) will do just fine.

I can relate to being concerned about social pressures and wanting to be a good neighbor. For whatever reason, clotheslines have fallen out of style in many neighborhoods and have become something of an oddity. It’s also unfortunately the case that many people don’t care about frugality and ecological concerns, and a pair of raw metal posts bedecked with sagging lines aren’t likely to bring about a change of attitude.

However, I encourage you to not give up on the idea of a clothesline altogether. It may the case that your neighbors would be warmer to the idea than you think. There are also a number of alternatives which may make it possible both to have the clothesline and not feel that you’re sticking out like a sore thumb.

From the sound of it, your back yard doesn’t have much privacy. Thus, one alternative might be putting up a “friendly fence”, some sort of enclosure or disguise for your clothesline. Something like a series of trellises with a vine on them would be relatively inexpensive and straightforward to build and would give your neighbors something nice to look at while disguising the clothesline. Done well, this could be very classy.

Another alternative is to turn the idea of a clothesline on its head and build one that’s inherently beautiful. How about something modeled more on a Mission-style arbor, with classy wood uprights? Later, as time and funds allowed, perhaps a matching arbor and so forth could be added to coordinate.

Yet another alternative, as others have suggested, is to use a retractable line. Place one end at your house and the other at a pole or tree in your yard. When you’re not using it, it isn’t visible. Voila - minimal visual intrusion!

As you may have guessed, I’m one of those who has a clothesline; a year or so ago, after much thinking, I finally bit the bullet and put one in. Siting it was a bit tricky, since we have limited space and I didn’t want to interfere with the garden or play area. Finally I hit upon the idea of putting it in a side yard. That side of the house was essentially unused, so the clothesline has let us reclaim part of our property and give it new life. In an area with high property values, this is especially nice.

There have been benefits galore. Things dry very quickly outside; sometimes it seems they dry faster than they would in the dryer. I don’t have the lag time I used to have, waiting for a load to dry before starting another. When my kid has an “accident”, UV from the sun finishes off whatever smell and bacteria that the washer didn’t take care of. I also don’t have the dryer heating up the house while I simultaneously try to cool it down in the summer, a double waste of energy.

Finally, there’s just something plain nice about walking out to the line when I’m stressed out and hanging a load of laundry. It’s calming and gives me a mental break. Some nasturtiums have taken root around the uprights, so I get the scent of flowers and sight of bumblebees buzzing around as an added bonus. And yes, our power bill is lower.

As someone commented, the towels are a bit stiff unless I snap them. However, I like to think of the sensation of a nice rough towel as “invigorating” - loofah action and drying all in one! Alas, they become nice and soft again just as soon as I’ve dried myself on them once.

So, yeah. Please don’t give up on your dream. It’s a reasonable dream, not a crackpot dream. I say go for it!

I say go for it! I have been doing this for years. Sure it can be a chore bringing them up from the basement and out the door, but I figure I am getting exercise from that. There is nothing like freshly hung out wash. The sheets will smell fantastic!

And during the winter I have invested in drying racks. I use my dryer at a bare minimum at all times.

I read laundry is quickly climbing the list of dirtiest things in the house because everyone is turning the hot water off and only washing in cold (I’ve been doing this for years).

I’m all for the dryer until things are just damp. Hung then you have far less wrinkles.

Actually i agree with you…I would put up one outside if I could - but yes in my neighborhood I would be run out on a rail. The only homes down here with a line up have a house on wheels in front - and no this is not snobby -maybe once others realize it can save them money that perception will change but then again maybe not.

BUT I air dry (inside) all of my clothes (I bought a rolling clothes rod from target which i keep in my laundry room) - the only things i dry in the dryer are linens/towels while blankets are run thru (enough to get the wet out) and then I hang them on a door for days to dry.

I’ll have to echo the chorus of voices which say clotheslines are making a comeback, for environmental reasons.

And yes, they are a tad bit more work. Personally, it’s work I enjoy. I love the sight of clean sheets and towels in the breeze.

Granted, I’m giggling insanely over the timing of this article. I went to five different hardware stores in town today to find the t-line I wanted, then I came home and immediately dug the holes and started the concrete. I live in an older, very large residential neighborhood of ranch style homes. I have no fence on my backyard, but I actually considered putting up the line because people have a tendency to saunter through my backyard willy-nilly. I guess it was a bit like staking a claim, except my undies will be my Jolly Roger. :P And I’m all to happy to move away from using the dryer - it has a tendency to destroy our clothing over time.

I don’t see anything wrong with a clothes line! As a matter a fact, it seems kind of retro and charming in my opinion. Everybody wears underwear, who cares if you hang yours? I think we are way too concerned with what others think….I think everyone is so concerned with their own issues/problems that we really pay less attention to what others are doing than we all think (did that make sense?). In other words, if you are having a “bad hai”r day, or if you have a big zit on your face, you THINK everyone is noticing, meanwhile, everyone else is too busy focusing on their own “stuff” to notice yours! Same with the clothesline- who really cares? Will it matter in a year? In ten years? You get my drift. Hang your cloths line!!!

Trent,

I too was dismayed that you would give up something that you feel is a truly frugal and green just because your neighbors might object! Be the leader in your neighborhood and put that clothesline, you’ll be viewed as cutting edge and walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

I saved $40 the first month that I started hanging clothes on the line. Not to mention, I love the smell of fresh laundry.

im guessing i missed the memo as to clotheslines equating to poverty.
we had a clothes line that we used quite regularly to dry our clothes when i was growing up and we certainly didnt live in a poor neighborhood. Would you purchase new vehicles if you didnt store them in a garage if they were not as “form fitting” to the neighborhood? your clothesline is not going to change the opinion your neighbors have of you already.
lastly, perhaps you might want to consider asking your neighbors if they would mind you hanging a clothesline.

Great insight. Posts like this are why I enjoy your blog.

If clotheslines are a sign of poverty then the entire country of Australia must be really poor. Why on earth would you use a dryer that uses electricity when the sun is free? Even on cloudy days, as long as there is a bit of windy your clothes will dry. As for what your neighbours will think - who cares, honestly? Why would you worry about what someone else thinks about how you dry your clothes? Everyone has them, everyone has to wash and dry them, how they are dried should be unimportant to others. Lastly it’s your backyard, so putting a clothesline up should be no one elses business….just my thoughts.

Well….

Folks are right that it could be seen as trendy. Is there some way you could make it seem a little more obviously eco-friendly? And therefore make it add to the value of the neighborhood rather than detract? Consider it as a part of your overall landscaping.

True, it would not be so cheap if you were to, say build it out of cedar and have a raised bed garden or patio and trellis associated — but it would still be enviromentally friendly, and could raise the value of the house.

If nothing else, keep it in your possible future plans.

Trent - is your backyard fenced in? Would the fence be enough of a visual barrier?

I live in an upper-middle-class neighborhood. Most of my neighbors do not use clotheslines, but a few homes do have (and use) them.

If anyone were to ask (and no one has) I would explain that for our family, it is a simple and inexpensive way to contribute to improving the environment.

Additionally, if you hang the clothes neatly it’s a little more attractive.

Just a few ideas. I appreciate your sensitivity to your neighborhood and the goodwill with those living near you. MANY people never consider those point.

We use our retractable clothesline ($18) for almost everything, but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Hanging a load of sheets, bedding and towels is super quick, but it is one of the longest to dry in the dryer.

Be a “green” leader in your neighborhood.

Hi, I’m from Australia and I really how to laugh at how it’s almost the opposite here. Every yard has a line and it’s considered environmentally unfriendly and even a bit lazy to use a drier exclusively. Most people do still use dryers part-time for the convenience, but I’m guessing most people would apologise or be a bit embarrassed if they had to admit to using the dryer exclusively. Actually some people go the other way, and it is socially acceptable to boast if the household doesn’t have a drier at all. Our climate probably has something to do with all this :)

This is my first visit here and I have to say after reading this article, I am amazed at the ignorance of some people.

I am an ex-pat now living in Australia. I moved here 8 years ago. When I first came out I soon realized that not everyone had a clothes dryer. In fact, I know very few people that have them. Instead, these smart Aussies all have clothes lines. Even most apartments have them. If not outside, then they will have a folding one to use inside. Rain, cold weather, etc should not stop you from hanging your clothes to dry by using the fold up rack indoors.

I admit, at first I was shocked and was wondering how on earth I would get by without a dryer. Well, lo and behold, I did and have. I would never, ever go back to using a dryer.

As for the time it takes to hang out laundry…you have to be kidding in saying that you are just too darn lazy to get out there and hang it up. Unbelievable!

As for decreasing your home value and what the neighbors think?! Who cares what the Jones’s think?! I really do not see how it is viewed as “poverty” and will decrease your home value. Here in OZ, if you do NOT have one it will decrease your value. Oh, not by much, maybe $30!! The cost it takes to install one. But, for sure, the people will think it’s strange that the house didn’t have one already installed.

I have never had the “stiff” clothes problem out here. Towels, jeans, etc all dry soft. Use plain vinegar in your rinse instead of those nasty fabric softeners.

Since living out here I have been able to look back on Americans and see just how narrow minded & brain washed we really are,or in my case…WAS.

Get over what you think the neighbors will think, for goodness sake. Take a stand for yourself, your family and most importantly…the environment!

It’s also interesting how during WWII, everyone was encouraged to be frugal and not waste fuel or energy or metals or paper or rubber or anything, in order to contribute to the war effort. In contrast, during the present war(s), everyone is encouraged to essentially behave as if there is not a war going on at all - everyone is encouraged instead to “stimulate” the economy.

I live in an expensive neighborhood. When the property market was going upupup, the homes were selling over $1 million. Having said that, three things forced me to totally rethink my expenditures. 1. My bills are/were too high.
2. I was tired of feeling ripped off by the utility companies.
3. I wish to live a “greener” life, whether or not it’s considered trendy today or not.

So, I installed a clothesline in the back of my property and every single day I hang clothes out to dry on it. And I couldn’t care less what the neighbors think. And it makes me feel good that, in some small way, I am saving resources in more ways than just one.

Admittedly, my home sits on a 2.5 acre lot so there is plenty of room for said clothesline. I do not live in a tract home with windows peering in on me from every angle.

Still and all, my neighborhood is considered affluent with all the accoutrements of affluence - Hummers, boats, RVs, and so on. Personally, I have reached a point where I feel that the level of consumer consumption that we see in this country today cannot be sustained. If the trend now is more toward frugality and resourcefulness, that’s a good thing.

The clothesline will stay where it is and I enjoy using it. The clothes smell great and everyone in the household agrees that they feel better, wear better and last longer. AND I get to stick it to the utility company.

If any of your neighbors have a problem with their property values decreasing, tell them you’ve done them a favor by saving them money on their property taxes. Good Lord, man. :P

Seriously though… Put up a neat-looking clothesline, hang your clothes neatly, and don’t put anything embarrassing out there. Get a clothes rack for your undies and holey/stained items and hang those inside the house.

My little girl’s dad is renting and can’t put up a clothesline outside but he has one in the basement and uses it for huge items he can’t put in the dryer, like mattress pads.

Here in Australia the clothesline is the norm. In fact the rotary clothes line is an Australian invention. In our backyard we have a rotary clothesline, vegetable garden and a chicken. These are all pretty normal here and no one would associate them with poverty.

I had always thought that the American habit of using a clothes dryer all the time was related mostly to weather and lack of space in urban areas. I find it funny to think that it’s actually about the perception of poverty! I think you should just get a clothesline and get over it.

By the way, cloth nappies dry more quickly on the clothesline in summer and look and smell much cleaner than when you put them through the dryer.

Great post again!

Unlike most posters, I can understand Trent’s trepidation. In my mostly rural, but increasingly McMansion neighborhood, no one uses a clothesline.

I hang some clothes inside. For the 200 to 300 bucks a year we’d save, it isn’t worth annoying the neighbors to hang outside. We do our part by not owning a Hummer.

I think its so important to air dry your laundry but we live in a subdivision too. We have a clothesline that can quickly be put up or taken down….we got it at Big Lots and its the kind that you can real in but we have hooked it from the house to a tree and when we have company or our neighbor does we reel it in.

While I’m sure that in some places, clothes lines might be associated with lower income, this seems to me a mind set that is probably (I’m guessing) only really prevalent in the US (and maybe some countries where society has progressed in a similar fashion with regards to consuming goods and “saving time and effort”).

Like Lorraine, I’m in Australia, and I think you would be hard pressed to find a backyard that was big enough to house a clothes line but didn’t have one. The exception being apartment blocks, and even then they usually have a communal clothes lines people can use.

Sure, it *does* takes more physical effort, and more time, to hang washing on the line, but I think that if humanity in general is to be able to reduce energy consumption to a point where we can be sustainable, the kind of mindset that might make use of a clothesline (and similar energy efficient processes) ‘unfashionable’ really needs to be altered.

Like others before me, I generally disagree with you. I live in an affluent suburb, and I’ve seen clotheslines. Living green is *very* trendy. If your neighborhood isn’t already sporting clotheslines, maybe you can start something. :)

My problem with clotheslines is that the only air drying I’ve ever done has been indoors and always 100% *sucks* (garments end up drying in the shape of their hangers, stiff as a board) and since I’ve never tried it outside, I’m skeptical about line-dried clothes being so fresh and fluffy. Why wouldn’t clothespins make big dents/folds in the garments? Why would they smell so fresh, if the air doesn’t smell like anything? I can’t wrap my head around it, so I just haven’t tried it. I’m stubborn. A taurus, even.

And I love the smell/feel of dryer-dried clothing.

So, there was a clothesline in my yard when I moved into my house … and I took it down.

A couple of Aussies have beat me to the punch, a particular rotary clothesline is an Australian invention http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_in_time/Transcripts/s785953.htm, Not only perfect for drying clothes but by far one of the best things for kids to play on!! Great to swing around hanging onto the arm.

Honestly, I can’t believe that there are home without clotheslines, it seems silly to dry clothes in dryer all the time. We barely use our dryer, only in really wet weather, even then we hang clothes up inside instead.

Further, I find it hard to believe that house prices are going to drop because one house has a clothesline, surely the market isn’t that sensitive.

Get the darn clothesline Trent!!

I come from a middle-to-upper-middle class background in suburban Texas, and now Boulder, and I cannot fathom thinking a clothesline is a sign of poverty. Funny how we get socialized so differently.

And you’re capitulating? It could be a case where you need to reprogram yourself instead, like you have regarding finances.

I’ve never ever seen anything wrong with clothes lines, never heard it referred to as an indicator of poverty and I’m American. Knowing how strict some home owners’ associations are, though–my best friend got fined for having dry patches in her lawn during a severe drought–I’m not surprised. However, I think you may be overthinking how your neighbors would react.

I love drying my clothes outdoors because 1) the outdoorsy smell 2) my pants don’t shrink 3) if a stain didn’t come out, it didn’t get dried into the fabric in the dryer.

Associated with poverty? Would you buy a new car every two years because someone might think that having a three-year-old car means you’re poor? Rejecting clotheslines because someone might think you’re poor is no more sensible. Will someone really think you can’t afford a dryer? And would not being able to afford a dryer really be a disgrace? Heavens to Betsy, just get a retractable clothesline and stop being so status-conscious. Nobody around here (I’m in Oregon) looks down on clotheslines. I bet they don’t in your neighborhood either.

This is a situation where I can hear my mother’s voice saying, “If everyone else in your neighborhood decided to jump off the Brooklyn bridge, would you do it, too?”

Hang up your laundry, neighbors be damned. It is becoming “trendier” so it might not hurt your property values as much as it may have before. More importantly, I don’t think that the amount it would affect property values is really tangible, or something to be considered compared to the tangible value of being able to hang out laundry during warm weather instead of drying it. The sun’s energy is there to be used: might as well harness it. If you’re really concerned about turned-up noses, limit it to sheets, towels and shirts and such- things that LOOK clean and fresh, and avoid displaying your skivvies and socks to your neighbors.

And more importantly, there is nothing, NOTHING in this world quite as wonderful as crawling into a bed with freshly washed sheets that were hung out to dry in the summer sun. That’s what I grew up with- it always says home to me. I wish I didn’t live in an apartment, so I could hang out my laundry. Soon enough, soon enough.

This one has just made the discussion forums I’m on in Australia as a truly bizarre concept i.e. using a clothes line = poverty. I clicked on over to see if it REALLY was true.

Geez, I’m disappointed Trent, if you want a clothesline please have one. We have live in the country but own one the nicest home in the area, earn over 120k per annum and have a clothesline. I’ve never equated hanging out my laundry with poverty. I do it because the sheets smell like sunshine and my towels actually absorb water. Bonus is being green.

Be the change . . .

We lived in South America for 4 months last summer and I had my first introductions to “line drying”. I’m really don’t understanding everyone’s nostalgic view for it. Both of my children (3 and 6) complained about how scratchy their clothes were - and they were! Don’t even get me started on how jeans and towels feel after a line dry, even with good liquid softener - which I might add pretty much negates the savings from not using the dryer.

Additionally, if you live somewhere high in humidity or very cold the time it takes is all day.

Also, if you live in high allergen areas (as we do) I can’t imagine the pollen count in your clothes after line drying. Dry inside? How freaking big are you guys’ houses? A full load in my washer would never come close to fitting on even 3 of the indoor drying racks.

Also as a busy mother, I don’t have the time or inclination to do only 1 load of laundry a day. What a time sink! I do ALL all laundry about once every 10 days to make sure the (super high efficiency front loader) washer and the (high efficiency) dryer are always all the way full.

While I’m all on board for conservation of resources and green use, I also consider my time in that conservation!

Whether or not your assumptions are correct about how people perceive clotheslines, particularly your neighbors, I think it’s nice that you care what they think. Frankly, I find the “erect privacy fences!” and “who cares what the neighbors think?” attitudes a lot worse. I like my neighbors and I do care to not offend them because we all have to live in this world together. Whatever happened to trying to get along? And compromises?

I live in Florida where humidity is a given, clothes
dry in a couple hours if that. I work and am busy too but really it might take 5 minutes to hang out clothes. I do care what my neighbors think and don’t hang anything out that might be embarassing for either of us. I also care about leaving something left of the planet for my kids and maybe if I hang stuff out my neighbors might (and have been) inspired to do the same. L

We hang clothes on sunny days and I work on cars in the driveway. Everything is neat and tidy, nothing looks like we’re impoverished. I also cut my neighbors lawns, shovel their snow, repair their vehicles and do handyman projects around their houses for cash. I’m not at all concerned about what they think of me. Perhaps they are more “affluent” but their inability to perform simple homeowner chores for themselves paid for my late model new-to-me truck.

Wow, I am shocked at this post. We have been hanging our laundry indoors and outdoors on a collapsible drying rack for 10 years and never use the dryer, even when we have one. We move a lot but when we have an outdoor clothes line at our home we use that. I can’t imagine the feeling of waste if I used a dryer all the time. I have no idea what people are talking about when they say “scratchy” clothes and towels. How about overly tight jeans and worn out underwear elastic? How about that sick feeling of chemicals on your clothes from dryer sheets?

This whole poverty and frugality is a complete non-issue. People that are offended by clothes lines are wasteful and spoiled. A clothes line is a symbol of a thoughtful neighbor NOT wasting natural resources.

This is interesting because we have been looking for a good quality clothesline and haven’t been able to find one. We live in Las Vegas, where it would make sense to hang our clothes out to dry, as it would be done in ten minutes. I have been using one of those drying racks, but they are cheap and tend to break so we are looking for something more permanent. I never considered it a sign of poverty and was surprised that you would consider it so. I also think you missed the bigger picture, the issue isn’t about the money, but rather using less resources.

Poverty shmoverty.

In Ontario, Canada there was a bit of an uproar over most homeowners associations banning clotheslines. I believe the province recently overturned all such bans.

I did live in a neighbourhood a couple of years back where one family had a line and would hang their clothes only to ignore them for days, sometimes letting them blow all over the yard (I wondered what they were wearing). That WAS an eyesore, but a properly used clothesline is a great thing. If I wasn’t in an apartment at the moment you can bet I’d use one.

I think it’s better to ping your neighbors first before putting one up, even a temporary one.

Here in the high desert, I won’t dry laundry outside because of UV damage and dust. I first get rid of most of the water with a drier (if skipped, cottons get really wrinkly), then hang most of it up which humidifies the place nicely.

I do 95% of my own car maintenance and service. I do nearly all of my home maintenance and repair. I painted my house myself. I have two huge maple trees that I’ve trimmed myself, twice. I plan to install new windows and siding on my house next year, by myself.

One of my neighbors has, on MULTIPLE occasions, stopped by to remind me that I can “pay people to do that for me”, regardless of the project. My response is always the same - Why?

If I were to put up a clothesline, I have no doubt that this neighbor would have a comment of some sort. Would that stop me? Nope. I do try to get along with my neighbors, but I truly don’t care what their opinion is of my, my house, my car, or anything else.

@gr8whyte and a few others: yes! Definitely invite the neighbors for coffeee and see what they think! You might be starting a trend, you never know. Besides, when I lived in England, you pretty much defined “good neighbor” as “the sort of person who, if it was raining, would take in your wash as well.”

I have definitely heard people sniff about hanging laundry as an indication of “lower class,” but I have also heard that the sort of person who worries about that brands him- or herself as provincial and a social climber when he or she does.

I am amused…I believe we know have a thread extolling the hills hoist (a deeply venerated Australian national icon and invention) as we ponder cultural differences that are incomprehensible. What backyard does not have a washing line?

: Alas! So that’s what they think of us:

No doubt, on such small things, international diplomacy may depend ; )

I commend you for being honest. However, this post is very sad. My husband’s extended family is from NZ and every single person there has a clothesline in their backyard. Not only is this energy efficient and better for the environment but your clothes smell better too.

I totally agree with what MoneyBlogga regarding the the level of consumption in this country coming to a point in which it cannot be sustained. I find it very embarassing that we live in a country in which perception about an object would cloud our sense of reason and practicality to such a degree.

I hope that you go ahead and put up your clothesline. It was brave to admit your trepidation but it’s even braver to stick to your guns and do the right thing.

I have a similar comment to some here already. I was also surprised to hear that hanging out clothes outside could be considered a mark of poverty or living “ghetto.” I never even thought of that. I’m also from outside of the US, and grew up in Australia, where, as others have already noted, it’s the norm to have an outdoors clothesline of some sort. The only reason some don’t have it is that they live in apartment type blocks without their own backyard. Of course, some people do have dryers, but it doesn’t seem to be such a popular thing in Australia. I was actually quite surprised to meet American expats and find that they regard dryers as a necessity and the norm. Our family actually had a dryer in Australia but it hardly got used. Just didn’t seem to be any advantages except that you could dry stuff on rainy days. But the machine was noisy, took a long time to dry, some clothes couldn’t be put in it otherwise they’d shrink, and it seemed to wrinkle stuff more,increase pilling and fade some things. It also added to indoors heat in summer, in a hot country. And lastly, it used power and cost more to run. However, I can appreciate that it’s very useful in places that rain/snow a lot, and it’s not just a matter of being sucked into marketing and consumerism.

For those that DO need to machine dry, I think wrinkling can be overcome by machine drying, then taking it out when 3/4 dry, and air drying (lay out clothes flat - or on clotheshangers etc and you can even reduce or eliminate ironing altogether! More time and energy/cost savings - great in summer when ironing is the worst chore).

There was a good comment that perceptions are quite different from country to country. I had heard that Europeans are used to hanging out laundry even in apartments, on their balcony, where it can be seen clearly from the street. I don’t know if that’s true or not. I think people do it in many places because it makes sense to them, in their country, given their climate etc. Anyway, living in Asia, I see laundry hung out all the time,on the balconies of apartments. Living in a small apartment, I also use a clothes rack inside, but when possible, I use the communal rooftop line, especially for sheets and blankets. Someone said, why does it smell fresh if the air doesn’t smell of anything? Well it does! Smell the air in spring - the flowers etc, fresh rain smells… I think though, mainly,it’s the wind that blows OUT smells in clothes, even in a polluted city like mine. Moving air gets rid of smells. That’s why we need air circulation in houses and we open windows or smells accumulate.

Clothes too stiff? Use fabric softener! I haven’t tried vinegar as suggested by one reader. But I’ll give it a go. Also, I find that if you can bring in laundry before it’s completely dry lessens the stiffness, if you just let the moisture evaporate indoors, out of the sun. This helps a lot with towels and jeans etc. Scrunching up and smoothing out an almost-dry towel also removes that board-stiffness. Do it before you fold and put away towels and it’s really only a few seconds more time and effort.

Also, someone already mentioned - sunshine has a slight bleaching effect, and an old tip I read is that putting a bit of lemon juice or vinegar in the rinse with whites keeps them white longer when sun-dried. It also has a bit of a sanitizing effect. Better environmentally and safer than bleach. Lemon juice smells nice too.

Another good tip from someone here - try to hang coloreds in shadier areas to prevent fading. Dryers fade clothes a lot too, and seem to increase pilling.

For those who think it’s too much effort to hang out clothes - yes, it takes time and a bit of effort. But so does cooking at home! So does washing/cleaning your car, cutting the grass, raking leaves! Hanging up and taking down laundry takes time but isn’t difficult, so ask the kids or your family to help. I helped my mother as a young child. I now look back and remember that it was a good thing, doing a simple chore together, learning from my mother about how to hang out clothes to reduce ironing, put clothespegs on the unseen areas of clothes (underarm seam of shirts, tees, toe/heel of socks etc.) It wasn’t a horrible time sink as someone put it. I spent time with my mother (who has passed away),and it made me feel good that I could help her in some way as a child and contribute.

Underwear etc? As someone already commented, you can just hang them on the innermost areas of the line, which is what we did too. Or smalls can be hung inside without taking up much space.

I don’t know what people add to their dryers, but the one we had at home did NOT make clothes smell any better - smelled the same as the line dried clothes,because we used the same fabric softener for both. Fluffier towels? Maybe, but that’s because you ADD those little sheets to make them less static and softer- it’s not the dryer alone.

Finally, this is a blog about saving money and frugality isn’t it? Dryers save time, for some, but it costs money to run. Line drying takes more time, but saves money. And the heat from dryers is bad for fabric. Great for fading jeans and softening up the denim quickly, but bad for bright colors, delicate fabrics, knits etc. Clothes can start to look old and beat-up/faded in a shorter time. So you save money on replacing clothes by CAREFUL line drying. One expensive, quality wool/angora sweater I really liked a lot shrank horribly in the dryer (accidentally went it) and I had to spend a lot of time and effort washing and stretching it out, air drying (use one of those things for knits to stop stretching. It’s still not like it was before, but at least it’s still wearable.

wow, i never heard nor imagined the idea of clotheslines being tied to poverty. Where did this idea ever come from? I mean doesn’t everyone have some clothes that can;t be dried in a dryer and need to be air dried?