Why don't people use clothes lines anymore?

[FromCityToRural]

Takes a while...a lot of work...it's weather dependant...these days, you have to worry about folks stealing clothes...i think it's no wonder clothes lines aren't used much anymore.

[Nemean]

For me, it stranger to think about the places clothes lines are used, like Japan mentioned from before. It still confuses me, from what I could tell, that dryers aren't used in Ireland that much (where it rains about once a day).

[monsoon]

Clothes lines were also quite common in the USA until about 30 years ago.

[suburban george3]

Clothes lines were also quite common in the USA until about 30 years ago.

[DigitalSky]

We used to have a clothes line in our old house, at least into the early 90s as I can remember. It looked similar to this:

And our house was in a subdivision too.

[Recchia]

I distinctly remember almost every house having one of those clothes lines that cantnot pictured up until about the mid 90's. I guess now they're considered a navigation hazard for our John Deere riding lawnmowers

[LightenUp]

First of all...clotheslines look bad. No subdivision will allow them anymore.

Secondly, birds crap on laundry when its outside.

Third, clotheslines are a pain in the rear.

[dpbaker]

How about this?

Airwash

[jazzman]

Many home owners associations in upscale tracts, do not allow clotheslines, due to the unsightly nature of them.

[Puant en la Baye]

I don't question the use of clothes dryers, but I do wonder why we don't utilize the energy that comes from them a little more efficiently.

I mean, why do we vent that nice warm exhaust air directly out of the house?

Why not route that warm exhaust into some sort of heat exchanger thingamajiggy that can put that energy into something else, like heating water or the house?

[Spartan]

Yes, that is the reason for my question. They are very advanced but still resort to very pragmatic ways to save energy such as using a clothes line to dry clothes. Clothes dryers were relatively unknown in the United States 40 years ago. A clothes dryer uses an enormous amount of energy when you consider that not only are you paying to heat clothes to evaporate water out of the, but you are also paying a lot of money to re-heat or cool the air that is drawn into your house that is exhausted by the dryer. A double whammy in energy usage.

On the comment about space, I saw a lot of these on balconies of Japanese highrises. This is off the label of a couple of these things that I got my sister to bring her for me.

[monsoon]

I think the issue in Japan is that there is no space for a dryer.

[Spartan]

I was picturing them hanging out the window in urban Tokyo or something. But thats true if they are inside.

[hagetaka]

Takes a while...a lot of work...it's weather dependant...these days, you have to worry about folks stealing clothes...i think it's no wonder clothes lines aren't used much anymore.

[Michigonian]

I hang clothes up inside my house because I don't have a dryer. It works pretty well for the most part....

[Recchia]

I just noticed in the Condo docs for the condo I just bought it says that no clothing may be hung from the exterior of the building . And I have a nice balcony that would be perfect for clothes drying...

Clothes lines are still in use, though, around my new neighborhood. I drove around there this past weekend and saw a number of triple deckers that had pulley lines connected to the building next door, or a pole, whatever.

[Unionstation13]

probably because of time, space, lack of airflow, etc.

[UptownNewOrleans]

In the ghetto, clothes lines are still used on the regular.

[dimebag1980]

In the ghetto, clothes lines are still used on the regular.

[taylor228]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this because I haven't read through all the replies, but in my opinion it depends upon where you live. For example, I grew up near a freeway and frequently smelled the "Aroma of Tacoma" from a nearby papermill. Clothes left outside to dry would stink.

[Dharmabum5525]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this because I haven't read through all the replies, but in my opinion it depends upon where you live. For example, I grew up near a freeway and frequently smelled the "Aroma of Tacoma" from a nearby papermill. Clothes left outside to dry would stink.

[monsoon]

This is a pretty good article on line drying, including an analysis of the energy saved. Apparently each load of clothes in a dryer uses the equivalent of 1 pound of oil.

[epiphyte]

I DO use a clothes line. I haven't used my dryer regularly in over a year now. It represents a large savings on my electric and gas bills as well as helping my clothes last longer. I dry my clothes indoors on rainy days. I do put a few things in the dryer every month or so to bring back elasticity or to shrink up jeans or tshirts, but overall using a clothes dryer is a very simple way to lower your energy consumption and lengthen the life of your clothes.

The United States is one of the few places where MOST ppl dry their clothes in a dryer. My European friends think we are nuts

[Southron]

Would it fade the clothes? I know sunlight is harsh on things.

[Neo]

If you're determined to wash your clothes in a clothes dryer (many homeowners associations prohibit the use of clothes lines so many have no alternative) you can go buy yourself a dryer ball. Your local hardware store (maybe big box stores too) should carry these. They keep your clothes separated during the cycle so they dry quicker and more uniform. It also satisfies the need for fabric softener so no need to buy any when you use one.