Ironing

I don't agree with the association, I don't think it SHOULD automatically be assumed that clotheslines  = lower property values.   

However, in a lot of cases in those neighborhoods, that simply was the case - so I don't think it's a WRONG assumption, just an unfortunate one. 

Well, even if it weren't an environmental thing or a saving money thing, drying clothes outside gives it a smell you can't bottle.  And the colder the weather, IMO, the better the smell.  I used to have to hang our laundry out in the middle of winter as a kid, and I promised myself I would never do it as an adult.  It's one of those promises to yourself you break, and this one happily.

However, in a lot of cases in those neighborhoods, that simply was the case - so I don't think it's a WRONG assumption, just an unfortunate one. 

I give up.

Am I speaking another language?

I've been trying for ages to get DD to make sure her clothes are not inside-out when she puts them in the hamper.  It hasn't worked well so to try another method I've been washing, drying and folding all her clothes inside-out.  My DH made the comment the other day that it "didn't look nice on the line".  My response was "Do you really think I give a @!#$ what my clothes look like hanging on the line?". 

I give up.

Am I speaking another language?

I could do without the attitude - I guess I'm not getting your point.  I wasn't passing judgement, and certainly don't agree with it being banned anywhere, it is much more environmentally friendly, etc.  All of those things.  And if I saw people line drying, I don't automatically assume it's a lower income neighborhood.  I would look at the state of the houses, streets, schools, etc. 

It was more of an observation.  The fact that it's 2010 doesn't really change anything.  People do line dry because of the cost (or lack thereof).  People can also line dry out of preference, but economics still plays a factor in some cases. 

  I wasn't passing judgement, and certainly don't agree with it being banned anywhere, it is much more environmentally friendly, etc.  All of those things.  And if I saw people line drying, I don't automatically assume it's a lower income neighborhood.  I would look at the state of the houses, streets, schools, etc. 

It was more of an observation.  The fact that it's 2010 doesn't really change anything.  People do line dry because of the cost (or lack thereof).  People can also line dry out of preference, but economics still plays a factor in some cases. 

Exactly

I've been trying for ages to get DD to make sure her clothes are not inside-out when she puts them in the hamper.  It hasn't worked well so to try another method I've been washing, drying and folding all her clothes inside-out.  My DH made the comment the other day that it "didn't look nice on the line".  My response was "Do you really think I give a @!#$ what my clothes look like hanging on the line?". 

I always do put my clothes in inside out, except maybe socks. The washing directions very often advise that you do inside-out them. I figure when I hang them on the line  they're less likely to fade!
But I agree, who cares what they look like out there!

Ok, I haven't read the whole thread but just the first two pages but this is a gripe of mine (one of many)

When I first came here and I couldn't work because I was yet to get married, DH one morning said he expected me to iron his things (not in so many words but this was the gist).  After my initial wtf reaction, I figured it wasn't unreasonable since I was not working and had time.  Mind you, I've barely NEVER ironed anything in my life.  So, he offered his work shirts, all the while I'm thinking, jeez, he wears a suit jacket over the shirts all day long, does the whole thing have to be ironed??? Then he said I also had to do his handkerchiefs....in the same way the old ladies at his boarding school did!  Ironing them once, folding them once, ironing that, then folding them again and ironing that...Whatever....

We now live in a house and not that flat and one of the biggest sources of argument between the two of us is the dryer.  One day I was doing the laundry (which I rarely did at the time becasue I just don't understand the fracking machine) and was in the process of moving the wet clothes to the dryer (across the kitchen all the way to the back porch thingy because of course, there's no seperate laundry room) and as I turned on the dryer (which I barely understand more than the washing machine - luckily it has an auto drying function which finally dries after turning it on three times) DH came bounding down the stairs, yelling, "What are you doing? It's a hot day and the sun is out!!!"  It was around, I don't know, 68 degrees, the sun was shining sporadcally but in any case, we don't have a line out.  He went on and on on how insane I was to use the dryer, how "wasteful", bla bla bla.  He proceeded to hang things off the trees and over a couple of lawn chairs.  And I'm the insane one.

The rule is if I do the laundry, it WILL go into the dryer, I don't care.  So he ends up doing the laundry now and that's good enough for me. 

Seriously, if DH told me to iron he would get a) very poorly ironed shirts (I am inept) and b) an eye roll so pronounced that I would be able to describe the inside of my head. In detail.

DH does all of the ironing, mostly because I tend to wear clothes that are more wash and wear, but partially because he's a snappier dresser. It's a bit frustrating, as we have to keep the iron upstairs (nowhere near my clothes or the washer), but we do use drying racks a lot as our washer/dryer combo is more of a washer/pretend to dry combo.

I do get annoyed in the winter when it takes a few days for towels to dry sometimes, but I used a line a lot in Southern California, so I'm used to ignoring the dryer. (Although I still ignored the iron then, as well).

I don't take kindly to be told what to do either, so I don't blame you for being a bit annoyed about that. Buuuut ... if the sun is out, it actually is wasteful to use a dryer. I'm afraid he's right about that. Get a line! 

My DH was concerned about what our clothes looked like hanging on the line...I can't imagine his face if he saw clothes hanging from trees...lol.   

I don't take kindly to be told what to do either, so I don't blame you for being a bit annoyed about that. Buuuut ... if the sun is out, it actually is wasteful to use a dryer. I'm afraid he's right about that. Get a line! 

Screw that.  I'm from Puerto Rico where the sun is always shining and I never used a line.  Life is way too short for doing that kind of housework (most kinds of housework for that matter)  

Plus, the sun BLEACHES clothes - can pretty much ruin them.  I'm sorry but it's not a question of waste, it's a question of modern convenience and what our time and energy is worth vs the cost of electricity.  Because then, if we were to take your stance, we'd have an argument for hand washing our clothing and not using a washing machine, or not using a dishwasher, or a food processor or a hair dryer or even i don't know...light bulbs or central heating or vacuum cleaners.....

moniquinin--
it sounds like there might be other things going on here than ironing, maybe? It's just, well, we don't have a dishwasher (and may never) and never use the iron, and it's not because we're giving up on modern conveniences, and I dry on a rack, inside, so the clothes don't get bleached..., although I loved drying my clothes outside in SoCal (I like them crunchy ) so maybe this is at least a little about what sounds like a sort of curt request from your husband? While I can also understand the idea that, if you're not working, you might have more time to do some chores, that doesn't mean it automatically becomes your job (my DH and I struggle with this a bit, as I did a LOT of the chores before I got a job, and I still do most of them, we are slowly finding a balance).
I guess I'm just checking to make sure you're okay, and that ironing is just a cigar.

Moniquinin- if my husband said or acted like that,  he'd be doing all his own laundry and ironing.  

I don't iron unless it's for a job interview or important event. I just don't have time for that. But I have a dryer, and hang up my work clothes as soon as they are dry.

Screw that.  I'm from Puerto Rico where the sun is always shining and I never used a line.  Life is way too short for doing that kind of housework (most kinds of housework for that matter)  

Mother Nature thanks you. 

For what it's worth, the sun dries things more quickly than a dryer, so the "life is too short" argument doesn't really work.

Does the sun bleach things? Sure! And I'd be willing to bet my whites are much whiter than yours.