How Do I Build a Clothesline?

[Turquesa]

At this time, I have a crappy, tin umbrella thing from Home Cheap-o.

I would like the two poles with about five cotton lines strung tightly between them. Any ideas on where to begin? What type of wood and where to get it? How to build the rest?

Go ahead and talk to me like you're writing a For-Dummies book...because that's about the level of my thinking on these things. I'm illiterate on all things Home Improvement

I'm eager to get started on this come springtime!

[nathansmum]

DH made us one like you describe.

He mounted one end against the house and just needed a pole at the other end. He made a T and then put little crossbars to stabilise it. Then he used a single length of clothesline wire (the plastic coated sort) and fastened it at one end with a U nail thing (not sure of the real name lol) and ran it down to the other pole, fastened it with another U nail, ran it across for the gap you want between lines, and used another U nail. Then he ran it down the length to the other pole and did the same zig zagging back and forwards till it was done. Our line did tend to stretch a bit after the first few uses, so maybe allow for that by being able to adjust the tension at some stage. Also, if your dh is up to cementing, it would be a good idea to cement the poles in place to make them really firm and secure coz they will likely slump in a bit with the weight of washing on it.

HTH

[AllieFaye]

I prefer the supports to me upside-down U, galvanized-steel scaffold poles, instead of the T-shapes. The rings can be inserted into the extra holes, and the line strung between those. I do like them set in concrete, but then, I expect my clothesline to last foreeeeeveeeer!

[Rebecca]

You'll save yourself time and money by going to eclothesdryers.com and buying the umbrella style one. You can fit a load of laundry per side, rotate it to face the sun or not, and take the whole thing into your garage when you're not using it. It's like $35 or so, and you'll spend more than that on your more permanent T shaped one, with less flexiblility.

[Turquesa]

Great suggestions. I'll look into all of them.

[MonkeyPrincess]

Originally Posted by Rebecca

You'll save yourself time and money by going to eclothesdryers.com and buying the umbrella style one. You can fit a load of laundry per side, rotate it to face the sun or not, and take the whole thing into your garage when you're not using it. It's like $35 or so, and you'll spend more than that on your more permanent T shaped one, with less flexiblility.

Oh, I like those!
Thanks.