Using Clotheslines

**AIT** · 07-23-2008, 11:02 PM

Clothesline advocates fight for right to dry | ScrippsNews

This story talks about clotheslines and people using them to save energy drying laundry. A lot of homeowners associations ban clotheslines to protect neighborhood aesthetics. In response, some states have passed or are considering "right to dry" laws requiring homeowners associations to allow clotheslines.

Anyone use clotheslines? Anyone think they should be banned? Anyone think "right to dry" laws are a good idea?

I've never considered clotheslines an eyesore. My mother always hung laundry to dry, and the habit rubbed off on me. When I moved into my house, one of the first things I did was put a clothesline in the backyard. Saving energy is nice, but I'm mostly concerned with saving money. A right to dry law sounds good to me, but I don't think it would ever affect me. I try to avoid living in homes governed by an association because of things like this.

**cstrunk** · 07-23-2008, 11:06 PM

People should be permitted to dry clothes outside, if they so choose. We lived in the country when I was growing up so it was never an issue. If it wasn't raining or freezing outside, the clothes were going on the clothesline to dry.

**Phaedrus** · 07-23-2008, 11:19 PM

My wife and I have collapsible indoor clothes "horses". You get to hang your clothes, and they don't clutter up the aesthetics, whatever those are.

Though I do like the smell and feel of clothesline clothes.

**Cyclone711** · 07-23-2008, 11:29 PM

There are really people that anal to object to people using clotheslines?

**Cy Hard** · 07-23-2008, 11:41 PM

NOBODY wants to see this looking out there window....

Using Clotheslines-woman-hanging-oversized_-bcp019-24.jpg

**illinoiscyclone** · 07-23-2008, 11:43 PM

what they should REALLY ban is homeowner's associations. just a bunch of yuppies trying to control other people's lives.

**AIT** · 07-23-2008, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone711

There are really people that anal to object to people using clotheslines?

I liked this part from the story I found:

Frank Rathbun, spokesman for the Community Associations Institute, said a homeowners association's main responsibilities are to maintain a community's property values and its appearance and continuity.

"When you buy into an association, you probably like the way it looks," he said. "You probably like the curb appeal. And if all of a sudden that changed in substantial ways, I would suspect a lot of homeowners would be very disappointed."

Rathbun pointed out that homeowners association board members are elected, so if the majority of homeowners want clotheslines, the rules could change.

In 2007, Zogby International, a public opinion research institute, polled 709 people living in community associations. Three-quarters opposed government rules about clotheslines, while 18 percent favored them.

So even though most people living in most associations likely oppose clothesline bans, they happen anyway. I have a feeling it's because the only people who run for these boards are the ones who are really anal about property values and oppose anything they think hurt their curb appeal.

**Cy Hard** · 07-23-2008, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by illinoiscyclone

what they should REALLY ban is homeowner's associations. just a bunch of yuppies trying to control other people's lives.

You don't ban them....you ban everything that annoys them....that's how it works.

**illinoiscyclone** · 07-23-2008, 11:51 PM

i guess it doesnt matter to me because (finger's crossed) i will never live somewhere with a homeowners association. they are mostly exclusive to subdivisions, right?

**Cy Hard** · 07-23-2008, 11:53 PM

Don't know, never lived in one and don't see living in one either. I guess I could ask my brother though..actually I don't know if his townhome has an association or not.

**balken** · 07-24-2008, 12:02 AM

The axis of evil includes several entities.

Homeowners associations
Celine Dion
Trans fat laws
Hugh Grant movies
Keanu Reeves' acting
Miracle Whip
Chevy Lumina Minivans

The above list is abridged.

**EggMcClone** · 07-24-2008, 12:45 AM

We wouldn't want to get in the way of having a home that looks exactly like every other one on your block...

**Phaedrus** · 07-24-2008, 03:12 AM

I am not a big fan of homeowner's associations and building codes that are enacted primarily to enhance home values. (Safety, yes, enhancing value, no.)

It comes off as phony and pretentious, to me.

And you might be shocked at how prevalent they are becoming. A few years ago, I nearly bought a lot where they guy selling it and his heirs would've had a say in perpetuity as to what I could do with the property. My lawyer caught it buried pretty deep in the documents....

**alaskaguy** · 07-24-2008, 06:14 AM

I've been using a clothes line for years.

Of course they are only practical during the summer.

**dmclone** · 07-24-2008, 06:39 AM

I think it depends on the laws of each homeowners associations on how annoying they can be.

We dealt with one when we owned a townhouse and they were a pain.

We now own a house that also has a homeowners associations but it's pretty much there to just make sure that people come and mow the common areas and every few years improve the common area by adding a cement lion or something.

The townhouse association dues was $150/month and covered the insurance on the outside of your house and mowing.

The house is only like $300/year.

I'm fine with them. If it stops my neighbor from painting their house pink or parking cars in their lawn than I'm all for it.