Clothes lines: Energy savers or eyesores?
Outdoor clothes drying racks save energy and money, but try convincing homeowners' associations in the U.S. that they're not just an eyesore. One Australian company is accepting the challenge. Joel Rose reports.
North American representative Gary Sutterlin with a Hills Hoist (Joel Rose)
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TEXT OF STORY
Kai Ryssdal: Good for you if you're trying to keep your energy use down by hanging your laundry out to dry instead of throwing it in the dryer. Every kilowatt hour you save is a kilowatt hour you don't have to pay for.
Australians have been on to that trick for decades now. Almost every house down under has these things called Hills Hoists -- rotating laundry racks, basically.
The company that makes them is trying to crack the U.S. market, but it turns out a lot of us aren't allowed to dry our clothes in the backyard.
Joel Rose has the story.
Joel Rose: The classic Hills Hoist looks like a big, square patio umbrella minus the fabric. It's hard for Americans to grasp just how ubiquitous they are in backyards across Australia, so I asked an Australian.
Kate O'Toole: Every suburban home is built with enough space to put up your Hills Hoist. I just couldn't really imagine how Australian people would dry their laundry otherwise.
That's my friend Kate O'Toole. She grew up a few hours from Melbourne.
O'Toole: People don't use dryers very much in Australia. Even though we had a dryer growing up, we weren't allowed to use it because I was always told it took up too much energy, too much electricity.
Hills Industries has sold over 5 million hoists in Australia and New Zealand since 1946 and the company reports it's worth almost a billion dollars. Still, as beloved as it is down under, the Hills Hoist has considerably less name recognition in the United States.
Gary Sutterlin: We're looking to change that as well.
Gary Sutterlin is the North American rep for Hills Hoist. He's demonstrating the collapsible model for me near his house outside Philadelphia.
Sutterlin: It opens up like a standard umbrella...
Sutterlin says the Hills Hoist pretty much sells itself once people realize how much it can lower their energy bills.
Sutterlin: A clothesline will save the average consumer 6 to 10 percent of your utility costs. That's significant.
But for millions of Americans, it's not that simple. There are about 300,000 homeowners' associations in this country and about half of them prohibit outdoor drying. That's according to Alex Lee, director of Project Laundry List, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the so-called "right to dry."
Alex Lee: There's this self-perpetuating myth of the real estate agents who say that property values will drop, but I think it's time for us to get over this fear.
Lee says lots of people find out the hard way that their homeowners' associations doesn't allow outdoor drying. Take Susanna Tregobov. She recently moved into a house in Timonium, a suburb of Baltimore, and tried drying her family's laundry on the back deck.
Susanna Tregobov: And then we just started getting complaints that it wasn't aesthetically pleasing. What's the harm of hanging clothes where really no one sees it except for the people who live here and happen to be walking their dogs?
Ceil Bell: Clothes drying is just unsightly.
The Tregobov's neighbor, Ceil Bell, is on the board of the local homeowners' association.
Bell: You get people hanging towels over the railings, you get clotheslines in the backyard. We just don't like the look of it. It looks like a lower-class neighborhood.
Those objections may have something to do with why Hills waited so long to tap the North American market. Rep Gary Sutterlin started selling the clotheslines just last March and has moved fewer than 500 so far. But he's optimistic about the long-term prospects.
Sutterlin: We estimate the U.S. market to be in excess of $400 million and just from what we've seen in the last four months, I think it's close.
With energy prices on the rise, Sutterlin predicts that homeowners' associations will eventually hang their objections out to dry.
In Philadelphia, I'm Joel Rose for Marketplace.
Comments
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From San Marcos, TX, 10/21/2009
I live in central Texas where the sunshine is abundant, to say the least. We almost never use our dryer. I enjoy hanging out clothes and watching clouds roll by. I hear birds singing and to top it off the clothes smell fresh and clean. The sun dries my clothes faster than the dryer and I'm not generating carbon dioxide. How good is that?
From St Louis, MO, 03/13/2009
I think the idea of hanging laundry out to dry as being "low rent", "lower class" or unsightly came from the Beverly Hillbillies TV show. I find above ground pools, basketball poles, dog houses, garden sheds more unsightly than a clothesline. I live in the suburbs of St Louis and hang my laundry out when I can. I found T-Posts at a farm supply store in the country. LOVE "EM. I have had neighbors question why I do it and my answer always is. First, get's me outside, it only takes a minute or two, love the smell, saves me money, saves my clothes. I tell them ya know all that lint in the dryer that is your clothes falling apart. Also, try this experiment. Buy new underwear. Dry half of them in the dryer and half line dry and then after 6 months you tell me which ones are still like new.
11/12/2008
Out door drying is good for hygiene as well as saving energy because sun light can sterilize clothes and fabrics within a few hours without washing. So I used to hang out my blanket when it was sunny. It's a real ecofriendly life style.
From sf, CA, 11/12/2008
I personally use clothesline in my home country. There are advantages not only on energy saving, but also on the fabric of the clothes.
From San Francisco, CA, 11/11/2008
I have been used to use it. It is economically and environmentally friendly. HOA should change their rules for our future.
From SF, CA, 11/11/2008
CA's sunshine is a big gift for hanging my laundry out to dry. And I also disagree with some HOA's decision to ban this environmentally friendly behavior. Anyway, it's just our back yard, not a front yard.
From CA, 11/10/2008
I has used clothing lines in my country.It is easy to use. I'd like to smell clothes after sunned. If your clothes made of cotton, Dryers would make your clothers shrink, but "clothesline" would not much.
Please be careful dark color clothes!If took them for a long time under the sun, the dark clothes would lose color. So turn over your dark clothes when you dry.
From Portland, OR, 08/24/2008
We have a federal law which overrides condo and neighborhood associations ability to restrict residents from mounting satellite dishes. Seems we could do as much for clothes drying.
From Delta, OH, 08/03/2008
How do I contact 'Hills Hoist' we have a fledgling business carrying similar 'low-tech' green products & are impressed by the product & would like to carry it.
From Hellertown, PA, 07/29/2008
Just relocated to USA from Canada where I hung my laundry without any fuss. After a week here I had my husband errect a clothes line. The next door neighbour went crazy. To the extent of placing notices on my railings and having tantrums. The state police were called as he was out of control. We find we can do as we please in our back yard. There are NO by-laws or ordinances for this area. The younger generation does not seem to have the facts and benefits of line drying in mind just what they think is ghetto, hood or Canadian. (as the sign reads)
From Clarksville, TN, 07/26/2008
It's a shame, but true. Americans are too hung up on image to line-dry their laundry. Plus, we all work too much and have too little time to take the time to hang clothes. I love the idea, but not really practical here - not yet.
From Clinton Twp., MI, 07/24/2008
My brother lives in Canada and the Province of Ontario is passing (passed) a law to override homeowner associations bans on outdoor clothes drying.
Seems like a a logical idea for politicians who are trying to come up with a way for us to be energy independent.
From Gaithersburg, MD, 07/24/2008
Yup. This is America. I don't know when we became so backward that saving energy is trumped by "aesthetics." It's a bunch of classist hogwash, if you ask me.
Write your delegates, your senators, your representatives. Encourage them to pass laws that keep HOAs from undermining greening efforts.
From Redding, CA, 07/23/2008
I love my Breeze Dryer clothesline. Thank you for such a great quality
item...Reminds me of the clotheslines in Australia.
From Minneapolis, MN, 07/23/2008
I guess the board member tha opposes this idea hates people that aren't rich. Maybe she should move to a enclosed mansion where she is isolated from us freaky normal folk. She's nuts and how can you take that yenta seriously? I've seen these things and there shouldn't be a ban on them, especially when this country is in an enrgy crisis.
From Smartville, CA, 07/23/2008
I could not believe a HOA would have a ban against any clotheslines in the back yard. Even the HOA I belonged to in Marin years ago allowed them if they were below the fence line. I fondly remember clotheslines as a child, even in L.A. We are going to put one in at our home near Grass Valley, CA since we have so much sunshine most of the year.
From hudson, PA, 07/23/2008
I just read the story about the Hills clotheslines. I purchased one several years ago from Hills, and have loved it ever since. It is extremely sturdy and very well made. I have located the Hills clothlines on breezedryer.com, and they ship from the USA. I had no trouble finding their website, very helpful.Besides, who doesn't want something that will help preserve mother earth for our children's future.
From Cambridge, MA, 07/23/2008
All comments seem to agree that clotheslines are practical, but not aesthetically pleasing. When my mother moved to a housing complex where clotheslines were forbidden, she began a collection of photos of lines from around the world. A laundry line is a beautiful sight! Colorful, blowing in the breeze, reflecting the sizes and shapes of the people inside. In windows along narrow streets of Italian towns, in French farmyards alongside apple trees and lilacs, even crowded onto urban balconies with old bicycles and broken toys--they are lovely to behold!
From Carrollton, GA, 07/23/2008
I lived in Sydney Australia for five years and LOVED the clothesline/Hills HOist found at every home and even apartments. We are happy to have a clothesline in Carrollton GA - I hadn't realized that made me low class - get a grip on the snobbery and aesthestics, Ms. Bell. Let's grow up and save some energy!
From North Sutton, NH, 07/23/2008
I just replaced my ancient clothesline with a new one for about $14...just string the line between two hooks placed at each end of the porch - more if you have the space - sheets always go out - even on -0 degree days - almost nothing better than the fresh smell of air-dried linens! Ms. Bell should give it a try - it might sweeten her spirit.
From Silver Spring, MD, 07/23/2008
I swear by my "Extendaline," bought 9 years ago at the local True Value Hardware Store. Also seen on the BreezeDryer website.
From Silver Spring, MD, 07/23/2008
I lived in Melbourne three years. Australians might save electricity by hanging ("pegging") clothes outside, but they undo all their savings by ironing everything--including T-shirts.
From Austin, TX, 07/23/2008
I have not had a dryer since 1997, & wonder why anyone in Texas would ever need to buy one. A) it is HOT here, all summer long & for a lot longer the further south you go. B) Sunshine is free! I have, therefore, installed clothes lines on the railing of a deck, the balcony of the apartment upstairs from mine, and the covered patio of the condo I now live in. My clothes smell great and pressing (if you have to do it) is a breeze.
Keep spreading the good word, and let's all encourage those folks who buy houses in the suburbs to overthrow the silly HOA rules and let the sun in! I personally, absolutely refuse to pay $$ to buy ANYWHERE with such restrictions - they violate the entire spirit of our country, our very founding ethos.
07/23/2008
I know one very wealthy family. The mother still air-dries all clothes on an outside line, because they get fluffy, smell fresh, and do not absorb toxic chemicals from dryer sheets that can make people sick.
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From Lancaster, PA, 07/23/2008
When we built our house we would not build in a neighborhood that would not allow washlines. At that time I invested in a Hills Hoist which I saw in a mailorder catalog. Sixteen years later I'm still using the same Hoist with all the original parts. It has been through winter weather and summer heat and still keeps going. (It is removable, but I leave mine outside.) Recently my best friend purchased one from Breezedryer.com. She had wanted one like mine for years but was unable to find them. She now says it is her therapy to hang her wash daily. If you buy a Hoist it will be the last washline you will ever have to buy!
From Littleton, CO, 07/23/2008
Before we moved to a neighborhood with an HoA, I had a clothesline that came with every house built around 1960. My sheets smelled wonderful and in Colorado, dried in 20 minutes. The UV from the sun can sanitize and bleach the laundry. I'd prefer to hang clothes outside, but how do you change the HoA rules and close-minded residents? Any suggestions?
From BC, 07/23/2008
http://store.laundrylist.org has a big selection of clotheslines.
From Selma, AL, 07/23/2008
Wow, this is a great idea I was looking arond for more info on the Aussie product and found this site: http://linedryit.com If it's good enough for Rachel Bilson it's good enough for me :)
From Milwaukie, OR, 07/22/2008
Nice article, but where can we buy one?
From Mahopac, NY, 07/22/2008
The www.breezedryer.com link is a source for the Aussie brand, it ain't cheap. Anybody have experience with a Whitney Design clothes hanger? It sells for only aboutr 1/4 the price of the Hills Hoist!
From Madison, WI, 07/22/2008
I'm so glad to see this topic aired during rush hour news on NPR. Wealthy or not, get ahead of the curve, set an example in your neighborhood - get a line dryer now!
I'm happy with my line reel that rolls up into a coil when not in use. Two 40" lines is more than enough for two people; just be careful hanging heavy rugs.
Tip: I think hanging clothes out goes faster if you overlap adjacent pieces of clothes with the same pin. Fewer pins to handle and it makes taking the clothes down a snap.
From Humboldt, SK, 07/22/2008
A clothesline can be assembled using materials from a hardware store if you don't get the Aussie version. As for what constitutes lower class, things are changing as we educate ourselves. For example, at one time only peasants ate whole grain bread or oatmeal. Now wealthy people are after these wholesome organic foods after learning the refined white flour isn't so good for them. There's nothing high class about ignorance, so I think attitudes will change, especially as we make such things public.
From Timonium, MD, 07/22/2008
While Mrs. Bell is entitled to her opinion, it is not representative of all homeowners in our community. Our family, as well as several others that we know feel the benefits drying our clothes on the decks behind our homes trump the fear that passerby’s may confuse our community with a "lower class" community because of the “unsightly” display of drying clothes.
From Atlanta, GA, 07/22/2008
"Aesthetics" is the rationale used by home owners associations to limit other energy-saving options. For example, I used to live in the suburbs where the HOA mandated that house roofs be black. I was not permitted to install solar panels or light gray shingles that would have absorbed less light energy, thereby requiring less energy use by my air conditioner. No amount of argument regarding the logic of the economics swayed the enforcers of the rules. Conforming to the rules ensured a uniform look to the homes, and that, according to the HOA, would ensure stable property values. Of course, clothes lines were not permitted either.
From Pigtown/Baltimore, MD, 07/22/2008
I am mortified to live in the same state as Ceil BEll. What a horrible thing for her to say! Just because someone's lower-class, doesn't mean that they're bad. The area where she lives is very nouveau riche.
When I lived in the UK, no one that I knew, and these were some of the most posh people I'd ever met, lords and ladies, and a baroness or two, had clothes driers. They all had airing rooms or clothes lines. Even in the worst British weather, you never dried your clothes anywhere but at home.
Everyone else in the world air dries their clothes... why do we always think that the US is always right.
From PA, 07/22/2008
our solution is using a wardrobe rack(s) (ex. http://www.hangercity.com/ducogara.html) with plastic shirt and pants hangers with clips. First, all shirts, pants, underwear, sheets and towels get a double spin, then into the dryer for a short cycle before being hung onto the hangers. In the summer, we roll the rack out into the sun and breeze, in the winter into the house (for us the basement) with a window fan to circulate drying air. Same for underwear, but we use drying racks. For cotton sheets, somewhat the same process, but you'd have to see it to believe it.
From Goshen, MA, 07/22/2008
Ceil Beil, you need a reality check. Using up all that energy is soooo last decade. Where can I look these up? Like george in Philly, I can't locate the company on line. Thank you!
From Ithaca, NY, 07/22/2008
I love being able to dry my clothes on a line. Its economically and ecologically superior to using a dryer. And since when
was hanging towels on a rail to dry "lower class?" Low income folks often have to resign themselves to using laundromat dryers-for they have no "rail" on which to hang laundry. I agree with the fellow that said clotheslines are a kind of right!
From Perkasie, PA, 07/22/2008
I Googled Garry Sutterlin's name and found this site: www.breezedryer.com which has info on purchasing the line driers.
Hope this helps!
From Hamden, CT, 07/22/2008
I couldn't find out how to buy these in the U.S. online either. Not very likely to take over the market without a website to order from. I'm sure a large number of listeners would have bought right after hearing the story if they could have Googled the company and found a website.
From Stamford, CT, 07/22/2008
You can purchase outdoor clotheslines at http://store.laundrylist.org/category_s/3.htm Proceeds of the sale benefit the non-profit organization mentioned in the story, Project Laundry List. Connecticut just passed their Right to Dry law in March, thank goodness. It doesn't make any sense why residents are banned from implementing one of the simplest energy-saving measures.
From Parksville, KY, 07/22/2008
This is a right we should all have. What is wrong with using a clothes line?
You could save enough money to help with your gas cost. Not everyone in the United States is wealthy, with the cost of everything we as Americans need to save anyplace we can. I agree with what an old farmer told me in the spring. "It is just plain un-American not to be able to use a clothes line.
From philadelphia, PA, 07/22/2008
aesthetically pleasing or environmentally responsible...hmm, tough choice.
where can we get one? we can't find a u.s. supplier online.
From Liberty, PA, 07/22/2008
The coop apartments were I grew up in CT in the 1970s supplied each yard with a clothes line just like these.
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