corde a linge - clothes line

Did you know that it's illegal to hang your clothes outside in some communities?  Yes, illegal! When I first moved to California, I quickly discovered that hanging my jeans, socks, towels, underwear, San Diego Charger's jersey, were all illegal to display to complaining neighbors. It was a violation of the homeowners association and city codes. For a state the defines themselves as "green' or "progressive" or "cares about the environment", it's all a bunch of hooey!

I have since moved away from California. I am glad to tell you that in Florida, the entire state has a "Right to Dry" law. I know, you have to pass a law in order to hang your clothes outside on the line on your own property. All I can say, "These are progressively bizarre and contradicting times"

 RIGHT TO DRY WEBSITE

Top Ten Reasons to Line Dry

10) Save money

You can save more than $25/month off the monthly electric bill for many households.

9) Clothes last longer

Where do you think lint comes from?

8) Pleasant Scent

Clothes and linens smell better without adding possibly toxic chemicals to your body and the environment. Yankee Candle thinks so, too...

7) Saves Energy, Preserves Environment, Reduces Pollution

Conserve energy and the environment, while reducing climate change. Learn how!

6) Healthy Work

It is moderate physical activity which you can do in or outside. You can even lose weight!

5) Get the Sunshine Treatment

Sunlight bleaches and disinfects.

4) Replace another appliance

Indoor racks can humidify in dry winter weather.

3) Avoid a Fire

Clothes dryer and washing machine fires account for about 17,700 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 360 injuries annually. The yearly national fire loss for clothes dryer fires in structures is estimated at $194 million. See a diagram of the critical danger zones of the dryer.

2) It is fun!

And can be an outdoor experience that is meditative and community-building. It may also help you avoid depression.

1) It is truly patriotic

Demonstrates that small steps can make a difference. You don't have to wait for the government to take action!

 http://www.laundrylist.org/en/line-drying

In France, do you realize that most people don't even own a dyer. They have to hang their clothes on the line. Can you imagine them being forced to buy a dryer to dry their clothes? The entire country would go on strike! For a country that relies greatly on their government for many things, they also have a lot of French Liberté. Vive la liberté., Long live freedom is their motto and they use it!

For me, I am a freedom loving patriot, who likes to save money and cares about the environment. But mostly, I'm just a country mouse at heart, living in the city, who enjoys hanging her clothes. I have a really easy system in my garage, where inclement weather is never an issue. I have six lines, each at about 10-feet in length, which can carry about two loads of laundry. Tip: you may want two of your lines to be long enough to carry one sheet each across. 

I've lived in many different places: an apartment, a home with a garage, not a garage, a yard, or sometimes with just a balcony. I always found a way to hang my clothes, even if it was just one line that would hold some under garments. This line was usually next to the dyer;-)

Occasionally, I will used my dyer too, especially to fluff the towels or when I don't feel like hanging 50 pairs of socks. I'm not anti-technology, in fact, its a real luxury that I am grateful for. 

Are you convinced in giving it a try? 

I chose to show my laundry in black and white, to not only entice to you hang, but to convince y'all that it can look like art. Are ya convinced yet? Maybe a little? Well, to this artist and country mouse, it's a beautiful work of art!

May our clothes line connect some day and all of your linens smell fresh as the sky. Wishing y'all a beautiful day on the line!