Ask a Brit what to do on the first warm, breezy day of spring and a surprising number will say the same thing: put the washing out. For @brits.inthesunshinestate, who now lives in Florida, that instinct has run straight into the rules of her homeowners association.
She says it is something that will always confuse her, and she is half joking that her next HOA violation letter may already be on its way.
@brits.inthesunshinestate
A habit learned in England
She explains that back in England, as soon as the weather is just warm enough, with a good strong breeze and some sunshine, people head out to their gardens and hang up every piece of laundry they can, so they can skip the dryer. She says it feels like something that was instilled in her from a young age, perhaps because the electricity needed to run a dryer is not cheap, or perhaps simply because it has been handed down from one generation to the next.
Now that she lives in Florida, she says she cannot think of a better thing to do with her laundry. For most of the year, she notes, the weather is about thirty degrees Celsius, which is the mid to upper eighties in Fahrenheit, with beautiful hot sunshine. It sounds like ideal drying weather.
Then came the rules
But she says she has been told there are several reasons not to, and one of them is the homeowners association she lives in. As she tells her followers, she has already had many violations, and she wonders whether hanging washing outside will be the next one.
She asks Americans for their side
Rather than simply complaining, she turns the question over to her audience. She asks Americans where they live and whether they hang their laundry out or always use a dryer. If they do not hang it out, she wants to know why.
She has already heard a few reasons that are specific to Florida. One is humidity, which can leave clothes feeling damp. Another is bugs. And she adds that you have to be sure to bring everything in before the afternoon rainstorm arrives. In the end, she says, she may no longer live in England, but nobody can take this away from her, and she will forever be putting her laundry out to dry, no matter how long she lives in sunny Florida.
Why so many communities ban clotheslines
Her confusion is shared by many people who move to the United States from places where line drying is normal. Plenty of American neighborhoods, especially planned communities with homeowners associations, have rules against visible clotheslines. The usual reasons are appearance and property values. Some associations feel that laundry hanging in a yard makes a neighborhood look untidy, and the rules were often written decades ago when clothes dryers were becoming standard.
That attitude has been changing in some places. A number of states have passed what are often called right-to-dry laws, which limit how far an association can go in banning clotheslines, and Florida has a state law that deals with energy-saving devices and mentions clotheslines. How those laws apply to a particular community can depend on the wording of the association’s documents and on the type of line, so anyone in a similar position should read their own rules carefully, and perhaps ask an attorney before assuming either way.
The case for line drying
There is a good reason this habit is so popular in many countries. A household dryer is one of the biggest electricity users in the house, so drying outside can trim a utility bill. Sunshine is also a natural freshener, and many people swear that sheets dried in the breeze smell better than anything from a bottle. Air drying is gentler on fabrics too, which can help favorite towels, shirts and linens last longer.
Tips if your community does not allow a clothesline
If your association says no, you do not have to give up on saving energy. Here are a few ideas to try:
- Use a folding drying rack indoors or on a screened porch, where it is out of view of neighbors.
- Hang a retractable line in a garage or laundry room, so you can pull it out when needed and tuck it away afterward.
- Set the dryer to a lower heat or use it for just the last ten minutes to finish damp items.
- Wash towels and heavier items on days when the sun is strong, and drying will be faster.
- Use dryer balls to shorten the drying time and soften clothes.
And if you do hang laundry outside where it is allowed, watch the sky. As she mentions herself, those afternoon showers in Florida can arrive quickly, and so can pollen and insects, so shake out items before you bring them in.
How to approach your HOA
If you would like your community to reconsider its rules, there are polite ways to do it. Read the governing documents first, so you know exactly what they say. Then ask to put the topic on a board meeting agenda, and bring facts such as the energy savings and examples from other communities. Boards are often more open to a compromise, such as a hidden line in a back yard or limited hours, than to a total reversal.
Her story is lighthearted, but it shows how a small everyday habit can feel big when you move to a new place. Whether you hang your washing or toss it in the dryer, the best approach is to learn the rules, ask questions and keep a sense of humor.
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