Build your own clothes line. Right now.

One of the things I missed while living in an apartment was my clothes line. As soon as we could, we put one up at the new house. We tried the pulley system, but the only place we could put it was right across the path into the back yard. I scoured freecycle and craigslist for clothes line posts that I could pick up (for free or a price) but nothing was ever posted. The other day, I noticed that my neighbor (the one who now thinks I am insane) had a nice set up behind her garage and went over to ask about it. I told her that it was nice to not be the only one in the neighborhood to have one. I grew up visiting family in Amish country (Ohio), and even lived there for a few years, so seeing a clothes line was nothing new to me. For some reason, when we put one up sixteen years ago we were called tree hugging hippies. Now they are hip enough that you see them often.

After looking at her posts, Googling various instructions and pondering our needs, we came up with a plan.

First, we gathered supplies.

5 landscaping timbers, a drill, saw, level, tape measure, 2 1/2" screws, 12 eye screws and two 6 1/2" lag screws.

Then, we dug two holes.


Two feet deep and About *this* big around.


Then, I fell into the hole. (But I recommend that you skip this step.)

Then, we got all scientifical, as Alex would say. We left the pole part the full 8', but cut the top beam to 66". We laid them on the ground, being sure to put the center post thing in the middle of the top beam. Using a drill bit that was slightly smaller than the lag screw, we drilled through the top support and into the pole part. After that, we laid the landscaping timber that was to be the support piece at an angle and marked where to cut it. Angle, schmangle.


Using the lag screws, attach the top beam to the pole. Using the screws, toenail the angled supports to the top and pole, where they touch.

Once assembled, you can decide if you will be using eye screws to hold your line, or if you will just drill holes and run the line through it. As you can see from the picture, we skipped this part. D'oh!
That's ok. A small drill bit and screwdriver will take care of it.

To put it into the ground just pack the dirt around the post as hard as you can. For some reason Marty and Christian decided to pile stones and various lawn creatures left by the previous occupants, but you do not have to do that. In fact, I probably wouldn't if I were you. You can cement it into the ground, if you want to. (The easiest way to do that is to pack the dry concrete mix around the pole as hard as you can, and then wet it with the garden hose. Don't worry if you don't get the whole thing wet. The dry mix on the bottom will wick the moisture from the ground.) Ours are 20 feet apart.

Now, deciding which clothes line to use is your next step. Personally, I have always used cotton, but it usually sags. I am planning to use the cotton that I have, and replace it with plastic as needed.

By the way... for sagging lines you can prop them with either an old broom stick or 1 x 2. Notch the top or pound two nails into the end. Do not, I repeat do not but a clothes line prop. That is just silly!

Voilà. 120 feet of drying space, with the ability to add more. (A 66" top is big enough for up to 11 lines, if places 6" apart.)

It took more time to explain it than it did to build it, I promise.

Total cost:
5 landscaping timbers @ $1.97 each = $9.85
2 lag screws @ 72¢ each = $1.44
Screws = leftover from another project (But you can buy them at any big box home improvement store for a few $)
12 Eye screws (two 6 packs)= $1.96
Clothes line = Already had mine but you can find 100' of cotton line at Wal-Mart for around $3
Clothes pins = Already had mine, but Wal-Mart sells 50 packs for 98¢

Total = $13.25

Considering the fact that my dryer bites and loads need to be run 2-3 times (I know, I know) the savings should be substantial.

(Really good picture of Amish clothes line from flickr. Really average pictures from moi.)