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HOAs seem to frequently have an outside laundry ban in my parts. Maybe they think it makes things look messy?
When I lived in an apartment, I strung some clothes up on my balcony on a large-ish drying rack and got cited by the apartment management for it. I do realize it would look pretty messy if everyone did it - but having just moved to the U.S at the time (from a country where everyone hangs their laundry out) it never even occurred to me.
It seems that HOAs and some apartment complexes want to keep things looking pristine.
Where I live now doesn't have a ban, or if they do, it isn't enforced.
That's my thought process, too. And, quite frankly, I'm glad of it. I can imagine how tacky my condo building would look if everyone was hanging their laundry and other things off the balconies. For those who claim that it doesn't make a difference, it definitely does for me. When I was looking for a place to buy, I crossed out an otherwise appealing building because it was across the street from another building that let people put whatever they wanted to on the balconies. So balconies were cluttered with trash, etc. That's not the sort of view that I wanted.
Location: Big Island of Hawaii & HOT BuOYS Sailing Vessel
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prospectheightsresident
That's my thought process, too. And, quite frankly, I'm glad of it. I can imagine how tacky my condo building would look if everyone was hanging their laundry and other things off the balconies. For those who claim that it doesn't make a difference, it definitely does for me. When I was looking for a place to buy, I crossed out an otherwise appealing building because it was across the street from another building that let people put whatever they wanted to on the balconies. So balconies were cluttered with trash, etc. That's not the sort of view that I wanted.
Oh come come. Have a look at how pretty all this laundry is hung in these photos.
"Hung out to dry on a warm afternoon, the clothes of students at a Chinese university create a bright patchwork of colours."
Having all laundry dried comes with a double price.
The heat of the machine in an air conditioned apartment or home means you must run the AC even higher to compensate for all the added heat.
Americans are huge energy hogs and it is high time we stopped being such a wasteful society all because a few people think hanging laundry is a sign of poverty.
That's my thought process, too. And, quite frankly, I'm glad of it. I can imagine how tacky my condo building would look if everyone was hanging their laundry and other things off the balconies. For those who claim that it doesn't make a difference, it definitely does for me. When I was looking for a place to buy, I crossed out an otherwise appealing building because it was across the street from another building that let people put whatever they wanted to on the balconies. So balconies were cluttered with trash, etc. That's not the sort of view that I wanted.
I guess hanging-out laundry is just too third-worldish for prosperous Americans to tolerate. It reminds them that there's others in their communities, who have trouble surviving financially.
Location: Big Island of Hawaii & HOT BuOYS Sailing Vessel
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More facts about costs:
There are 87 million residential dryers in the U.S. These clothes dryers account for 6% of residential electricity consumption, which is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumed annually by the entire state of Massachusetts (60 billion kWh per year). The annual cost of operating
America 's clothes dryers adds up to about $9 billion.
I guess hanging-out laundry is just too third-worldish for prosperous Americans to tolerate. It reminds them that there's others in their communities, who have trouble surviving financially.
I pay a premium to live/own where I do. I don't want to have to look at that. But that's me and certainly isn't for everyone.
Years ago most everyone had a clothesline and hung their laundry out to dry. No one thought anything about it. When did it become considered a hazard or an eyesore?
My grandmother was very meticulous about hanging out her laundry. First she would put out all her towels, wash cloths, then her sheets and pillow cases all in a perfect line. The next line of clothes were all white shirts my grandfather wore and all white underwear perfectly hung out. She had the neatest clothes line I ever saw.
They were all spaced evenly , it must have been her years of practice . She was a very meticulous woman and was always properly dressed and hair done. She was not wealthy but very prim and proper. My grandfather did yard work in dress pants and white shirt. I never saw him in jeans. Just three piece black suits. That is why there was always a row of white shirts on the line.
Location: Big Island of Hawaii & HOT BuOYS Sailing Vessel
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I wonder whether this ban of laundry at a Marina, and I apologize about being case specific, might indeed stem from concerns about birds. Specifically seagulls.
One reason I love the Pacific so much is the lack of seagulls.
In many American cities pigeons must also be a concern.
Speaking of fresh sheets. I recall Jacqueline Onassis used to insist that staff change her sheets every use even if she just took a nap.
I wonder if Trump properties still change the sheets everyday or every three days as many hotels do now.
Further, wouldn't we have a giant debate here if the WH hung out some sheets to dry on one of the back lawns.
I guess hanging-out laundry is just too third-worldish for prosperous Americans to tolerate. It reminds them that there's others in their communities, who have trouble surviving financially.
That is dumb because it isn't about that in the US - it is about environmentalism (walking the walk), preserving clothing that should not be machine dried and even luxury if you are into freshly air-dried sheets.
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