I can’t imagine not being able to have an outdoor clothes line and I’m constantly astounded that in some places they are not permitted; particularly in private communities in the USA.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, outdoor clotheslines are banned as they considered by many as “a marker of poverty that lowers property values.”

That’s frightening.

While in some cases a clothes dryer may be needed (apartments in humid areas and such), I see it generally as a marker of a household using more energy than it needs to. A house without a clothes line over here is actually a negative thing when trying to sell a home.

I was horrified to read that someone in the USA was murdered for hanging out their clothes, but it was encouraging to learn that state lawmakers in Colorado, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont have overridden those silly rules and I hope other states follow suit.

This is purely a cultural thing and one that should definitely change for the sake of the environment. For those folks who might not like seeing their neighbors clothes hanging out, it’s something you’ll quickly get used to and just tune it out.

A considerate outdoor clothesline user will usually hang their “smalls” between rows of larger items so they can’t be seen anyway. Heck, I’m not really into showcasing my grundies (underwear) to my neighbors and I’m sure they are pleased I don’t!

One day future generations will look back on situations like this and shake their heads in amazement that something so ridiculous could have been allowed to occur in the first place. It seems like such as small thing, but with electric clothes dryers contributing substantially to a household’s carbon footprint, the only crime is not allowing for open air-drying.

To all you clothes lines rebels over there in the USA – more (green) power to you, keep up the fine fight! :)

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