clotheslines

[brookie514]

Did you make your own? The poles are nearly $40 each! How could I get some wood and make my own clothesline poles? Thanks, mamas!

[Chicky2]

We used a ring (like you get for cross-tying horses) on the side of MILs house and ran clothesline to a post my dh put in concrete, and then to the side of our back porch. Not fancy at all, but it certainly holds the clothes. He just used an old landscaping timber post thingy for the one he put in concrete. It was free.

If you don't have any scrap wood/posts, post on freecycle!

[springbabes]

We made our own using metal field stakes that were just laying around our property. Not the prettiest but they do the job. I'm holding out until I can come across someone who will give me a real one for free in exchange for hauling it away.

[Farmer'sWife]

DH made mine out of metal pipe that my dad had laying around from who knows where. They are welded into a T shape...so that probably isn't helpfull if you don't have or know someone with a welder. But it never hurts to ask around...you never know what useful materials someone might have laying out back! I'd definatly check out freecycle, either for already built poles someone wants to get rid of or lumber that you could make one out of.

[HeatherAtHome]

Right now I have clothesline strung between three trees. (I added another piece ofter that picture). Eventually once we have our deck built, I'll have one or two pulley lines going from the deck to a tree.

I just bought 8 foot cedar posts to fence in a garden for $4.50 each at a small mom and pop hardware store. Something similar might work for you. When I was looking at big box stores they had metal posts up to 10' long for fencing. I can't remember pricing, but they were possibly 10-16$. (All prices ares CAD) You would want to sink metal posts in cement.

[clothdipemomof2boy]

I also have mine from one tree to the next and it is four trees long so I can do about four to five loads depending on how much clothes are in the load. I need more clothespins I run out. I am so proud of my clothes line. I hate the dryer in the summer. Since it has stopped raining as much the clothes line is bieng used alot this summer.

[time4another]

after going through THREE of those aluminum umbrella type clotheslines in 3 years I do not recommend them at all! Waste of money.

We did this recently http://homeschooling_101.blogspot.co...right-now.html and I am very impressed. Sturdy and way more drying space. Cost less than the umbrella ones. My electric bill last month was $63 for our 2400 sq ft house with a family of 5.

[GardenStream]

We bought wood and made our own. We got a 12' 4" x 4" and an 8' 4" x 4" and used some bolts to attach a 4 foot section as the cross beam at the top of the 12' post. We dug down as deep as we could, but it was only a few feet. There are pulleys on the under side of our deck and pulleys on each side of the cross beam. We do have to use a tension cable to keep the post in place and it has to be adjusted every couple of months.

We live in Amish country, so I drove around and scoped out the set-ups of the Amish women. The best idea I got from that was to buy a 4' or 5' chain. I hang shirts on hangers directly on the chain.

We spent about $100 on the entire set-up.

Before this set-up, I used a retractable line that I got for $10. One end was attached to one post of the deck and the other end was on a post at the opposite side of the deck.

[Ruthiegirl]

I strung lines between the garage and the kids' swing set. Works great. I did spring for the better quality line -- heavy duty wire wrapped in a plastic sheath. It's been 5 years and still going strong.

[Toolip]

Originally Posted by atobols

We live in Amish country, so I drove around and scoped out the set-ups of the Amish women. The best idea I got from that was to buy a 4' or 5' chain. I hang shirts on hangers directly on the chain.

I just started doing this too, it's awesome! I thought I was very clever for figuring it out

No little marks where the clothes pins pinch and it helps shape jackets and the likes!

[livinlovinlaughin]

I hang most things in my laundry room. Now that it is warmer I am starting to hang things outside. I am interested in a clothesline on a pully type system. Like the classic ones you see outside a window. I would like to stand on the back deck and attach clothes to the line and send them out to dry in the yard. This would work best for me so I do not have to take my baby out into the yard with me every time. I could attach the other end to the shed. I am not quite sure how to do this. Any ideas?

[mumm]

My clothes line starts outside my 2nd story bedroom window and goes to a tree on a pulley.

My laundry room is upstairs and this a) keeps me from having to carry the wet laundry down the stairs and then outside and then back up again when dry and b) means the laundry can be drying and not interfere with the kids in the yard because it is so high up.

So laundry line, the pulley at the tree, the bolt hook thing that attaches to the house and a whcamacallit that tightens up rope.

pros- i don't get many ants, spiders, etc because it is so high. The kids don't run into it, hit it with balls, etc and it gets more of a breeze and more sun.

cons-I drop things (out the window and then don't pick them up until too much later. ) and I have to lean out the window. Also you can't just pick off the dry stuff and the leave the heavier things to fiish drying.

[Toolip]

Originally Posted by mumm

My laundry room is upstairs and this a) keeps me from having to carry the wet laundry down the stairs and then outside and then back up again when dry and b) means the laundry can be drying and not interfere with the kids in the yard because it is so high up.

ooooohhhh! that's totally in my dream house design. Laundry room upstairs with a little balcony and a high-up cloths line!

[livinlovinlaughin]

[QUOTE=mumm;15472620]So laundry line, the pulley at the tree, the bolt hook thing that attaches to the house and a whcamacallit that tightens up rope.
QUOTE]

I love the technical terms

I'm glad you included the pros and cons. I did wonder how that worked. I couldn't figure out how the line could go full circle with things on it. That makes sense that it doesn't. So you really can not even check to see if things are dry right?

[mumm]

Originally Posted by livinlovinlaughin

I'm glad you included the pros and cons. I did wonder how that worked. I couldn't figure out how the line could go full circle with things on it. That makes sense that it doesn't. So you really can not even check to see if things are dry right?

You can only check the items within your reach. I try to put out the heavier/longer to dry items first, so I can bring in the other things earlier (before the dinner time/homework/bedtime chaos begins).

It isn't a perfect system. Although a balcony would be nice, rather than taking off the screen and hanging my head out the window! I put underwear, socks, etc on a wooden rack right inside the window.

In the winter I feel guilty opening the window up wide for so long, but Ifigure I'm getting fresh air in my bedroom and the trade off of heat loss vs using the drier balances out. Maybe??

[Dillpicklechip]

Check out this clothesline:
http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot...wednesday.html