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Clothes lines Banned
Clotheslines are BANNED. Yes you read that right, in America.
Post style clothes line
Obviously Americans know this but the rest of the world does not. As an Australian this is really weird, Australia, i dont think has ever had a clothesline ban anywhere ever except maybee a few minority elitist apartment builders, infact Australians are well known for their pride in their clothesline use. Australia is apparently responsible for inventing the rotary style clothes line, or umbrella clothes line. It was invented in 1925 by Gilbert Toyne a Melbournian. It was not invented by Hills as is commonly thought. Hills didnt come onto the scene untill 1946 by which time many manufacturers were on the scene. Back to the point, there has rarely been a hut or mansion built in Australia that didnt include a clothes line. From the social elite to the slums, clotheslines were used in both worlds equally. Now i agree that Australia’s climate is fantastic for clothesline use, even in the winter but so is most of America. So, why are they banned? There are a few reasons for it really, the main reason being is that clotheslines are thought to lower home values. Obviously they dont in other parts of the world and are considered the norm, so why in America? It comes down to culture. Americans have attached to the clothes line that the user is poor and cannot afford cheap American electricty. Obviously this is not really the case most of the time but this is the stigma attached to it. Another reason is that clothes lines might be considered an eye sore to neighbors. This can be a valid point really. Even in Australia people like their clotheslines as discreet as possible and good reason too. Who wants to display their king sized undies or triple strength support bra. We all need our privacy and our neighbors really dont want to see it either. So the problem here is this, Americans have crap clothes lines. Sorry to our lovely and valued American friends but a fact is a fact. From what ive seen, Americans are large users of “T” posts or rope between two trees or posts. This is very unsightly and yes they look cheap and make the owners look cheap too. So i can understand why they may lower property values in some American neighborhoods. The fact is, it doesnt need to be this way. Australia is considered the world leader in clothesline manufacter and they have evolved enormously over the years. Now the most popular type of line is a “FOLD DOWN” style.
Austral Addaline 35 clothes line
These not only look absolutley fantastic but when color coded to surrounding environment they can hardly be seen. They fold down out of the way when not in use, saving space and the visual effect. When in use, they have been designed to dry the maximum amount of washing in the smallest possible space. There fore these lines can be easily “screened off” if needed and can be put in a sunny corner out of the veiw of neighbors.
Please leave a comment, especially if you are American or have lived in America. We would love to hear your experience.
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Hmmm, I’m American (living in Australia) and never came across clotheslines being banned. Possible exception may be as you mention in elitist apartments or something. We always had a pulley clothesline in the backyard. Also, didn’t have as many backyard fences as you seem to do in Australia so could pretty much look down the block to other backyards and see the clothes flapping in the wind.
Hi Marianne, i suppose i didnt make it very clear that what was meant is that many parts of the US do ban clotheslines and its not a blanket ban. There are currently sizable activist movements in the USA trying to turn these bans over. Most bans are in city areas and in upmarket, but not always, areas.
As a middle class American who has lived in several states, I would not move into a neighborhood that would ban use of a clothesline. Even in areas of smog, clothes washed in soap smell wonderful! White cotton stays SO white dried in sunlight! I only use a dryer in the winter or in a hurry (rarely). When we talk about everyone doing their own small part to reduce energy use, it’s flat out crazy to not use passive energy to dry clothing! I advocate the return of backyard clotheslines and home gardens into greater popularity. If the upwardly mobile make it popular and trendy, others will follow and perhaps the trend will become common sense!
I’m an architect who works with existing residential houses and gardens in the Los Angeles, CA area. We are experiencing water shortages and higher energy costs which have led many to begin to re-think living patterns. I think people in the US have used dryers for two reasons. First, it is very convenient and affordable, giving people more flexibility in their busy schedules. Second, and less important, it is seen as a “a step up” from having to hang out clothes and that visual image has not been desirable element in urban areas. I don’t think energy use has had much to do with it for the past 30 years. except maybe to select gas instead of electricity as an energy source.
In the last few years, I think all over the world people are evaluating their lifestyles and considering alternatives that are, for lack of a better term, “greener”. I don’t think Americans will be giving up their dryers any time soon, but the appliances will be much more efficient and more expensive to use. Urban power grids are maxed out and cities are looking for ways to reduce the load. Utilities currently give homeowners free fluorescent light bulbs and rebates on more efficient appliances. I do think that adding clotheslines back into the garden design makes a lot of sense, but needs to be done in a practical and visually pleasing way that integrates it into a more sustainable landscape. Maybe there will be a rebate for installing a clothes line? I have been experimenting with shade and trellis designs in my projects that also can function as clothes lines, but it is tricky to do make it all work together. I think people will begin to put them back in their gardens, but maybe in a different way than the 1950’s.
We live in interesting times!
I am an American. My brother lives in a suburb of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and his whole city banned clothesline use! I happily live in a rural area where they haven’t brought this up yet.
Clothesline I personally feel that can be used, but it will affect the appearance of houses, there may be a lower housing value, but it has certain characteristics and culture, life is always not too mechanical, a little taste was fairly good.