Weekend Project: Clothesline

I hope everyone who reads this will commit to putting up a clothesline in the next few weeks and using it whenever possible.  Building a clothesline that will look good and last a long time costs some money up front, but I guarantee you'll save money if you use it regularly in place of your electric dryer.  Plus, it's hard to beat the fresh scent of clothes that have hung on a clothesline.


Following are plans for building and installing a clothesline yourself.

Materials List:
four 8' long 4x4 posts
screws
four bags of concrete mix
four heavy duty hooks
four clothesline pulleys
100' clothesline

You will also need a tape measure, saw, drill, and something to mix your concrete with.

Trust me, if you take the time and spend the money to build and install your clothesline correctly, you'll be much happier with the finished product, and it will last a long time.  Keep in mind that a load of sopping wet clothes is actually pretty heavy, so the clothesline needs to be strong and secure.

Construct your two end pieces based on the dimensions below.  Both the horizontal and vertical pieces are notched out at the intersection.  Don't forget to insert the heavy duty hooks.

 

(Sorry I don't know the angles of the support pieces.  We just laid the posts on top of the 4x4 and drew lines with a pencil.)

Though it may not be the most attractive location, the clothesline needs to be in an open area, away from trees.  Place the end pieces about 24' apart (this allows for a 50' length of clothesline on each side).  Dig each hole to be 18" deep with a 20" diameter.  This may seem large, but trust me, you want the end pieces to stay straight and secure.

Place the end pieces into the holes with the hooks facing each other.  Fill the holes to the very top with concrete mix (after following the manufacturer's directions) and let dry.

Once the concrete has set, hang the clothesline pulleys and and the lines.  Pull the lines as tight as you can possibly get them.  Over time, the lines will loosen and sag, and you will have to re-tighten them periodically.

Now that you have a clothesline, here are just a few tips:

1. Use it!  It really is so much easier to toss a wet load in the electric dryer, but make yourself use the clothesline, and you'll always be glad you did.

2. Use heavy-duty clothespins.  There really is a difference in the cheap ones.

3. Keep your clothespins in a basket or tote that is easy to carry to and from the clothesline.

4. When hanging clothes, I usually stand in between my two lines and hang the adults' clothes on one line and the children's clothes on the other.

5. I also usually fold the clothes as I take them off the line.  By doing #4 and #5, once I have the clothes off the line, they are already folded and sorted and can go straight into drawers.

Heavy Duty Clothespins