Even though the laundry line is considered to be the most energy efficient device in any household, in many communities across the USA citizens are forbidden to hang their clothes out to dry. Drying For Freedom, a documentary film by British director Steven Lake, explores why, in a county that boasts the most about freedom and democracy, US citizens do not have the right to line dry their clothes and save electricity. We caught up with Steven to find out when his hot new film will be available to the public.
Please tell us a bit about Drying For Freedom.
In short, it is a film that investigates the banning of clothes lines in homes all over the United States, it talks with the communities that support the ban and the action groups like Project Laundry List that are fighting to raise the ban. There are hundreds of stories all over the USA about clotheslines, from laundry inspired artists to murder.
The idea of controlled freedom in a country like the United States is fascinating to me.
Why did you decide to make Drying For Freedom?
The idea came to me when I was looking at my laundry bag which has the word 'laundry' on it, I decided to Google the word and was surprised by the result, I was shocked to find that something so basic was banned in millions of homes for the sake of prudishness and property values. The idea of controlled freedom in a country like the United States is fascinating to me.
Why did you focus on the USA?
Perhaps there are countries out there with nationwide line drying ban, but I doubt it. I think that what makes it so interesting in the USA is that it is a country that boasts about freedom and how it is fighting for its freedom constantly, yet on their own turf people are willingly (and some not so willingly) having their right to dry taken away from them.
What are some of the barriers to Americans using laundry lines?
Homeowner's associations (HOA) and prudish neighbors, in my research these seem to be the main causes. At the same time I understand why HOAs want to work together as a community to keep their neighborhood tidy and in keeping with the typical visual aesthetic that comes from the American suburbia.
How are laundry lines legally forbidden in the USA?
Much like if you keep an untidy lawn or paint your house an unauthorized color in a HOA, you can be fined for doing so, the use of a clothesline can also lead to such fines. In my research I found that, much of the time, people who attempt to hang out their clothes will be approached by their neighbors/HOA, asking them to remove it for the benefit of the community, so it is an unwritten rule that if you don't follow you can be made to feel like the black sheep.
I never would have thought that hanging out laundry could be seen as some form of protest but do it in the right neighborhood and it is.
So, is hanging your laundry out to dry a political act in the USA?
I think so yes, it is anti establishment for starters. I never would have thought that hanging out laundry could be seen as some form of protest but do it in the right neighborhood and it is. I think also with the current environmental issues the world is facing there is something incredibly iconic about the clothesline blowing in the wind.
Why did people stop using the laundry line in the USA?
When communities started being run as HOAs I suspect. If they decide something isn't appropriate then it goes, the same could happen with household pets or Christmas lights.
What happened to make people think it was vulgar to hang it out to dry?
I couldn't say, I suppose that people have become more and more conservative about things. I think it can also come down to the materialistic nature of people, and the idea that it is all about the presentation of oneself and their surroundings that defines them.
Everyone should have the right to hang something so simple as a clothesline out on their own property.
Why are laundry lines important?
Firstly, for the environmental reason that it saves electricity but more importantly because everyone should have the right to hang something so simple as a clothesline out on their own property. If people have that right, then it is fair to say that they have the right to choose not to hang washing out but an individual should be given the choice.
Do you hang your laundry out to dry?
Whether it's indoors or outdoors my laundry will always be hanging.
When/where will people be able to see the film?
The film will be complete in the summer and it will be distributed to North America and Europe.
Anything you would like to add?
If any of your readers have a clothesline related story then I would love to hear from them.
Visit: www.dryingforfreedom.com
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