I finished my movable clothesline. I used buckets. I know the tires will work for the clothes line because I’ve used that idea for a movable volleyball net for the kids before. The buckets didn’t work though.
The buckets fell over with the weight of wet clothes on them. Fortunately missing my daughter who was standing nearby. I solved the problem by digging a hole the size of the buckets and placing the buckets in them. It will be a little harder to move, but I wouldn’t need the clotheslines moved more than 3x a year or so. I was thinking that clothes line poles that are hidden within a tree or tall bush would work and then the line could be removed when the area where a clothes line is has a duel purpose.
Surprisingly, my girls (12 & 9 years old), are enjoying using the clothesline. Not surprising, my son (20 years old) who lives here, isn’t interested in using the clothesline. When it’s convenient for me, I’ll do it for him. I’d rather spend my time hanging up clothes to save money instead of spending my time working extra hours to pay for the gas and electric needed to run the dryer.
We are already hitting 100+ degrees and the girls are impressed how fast everything dries. I had forgotten how good everything smells when dried outdoors.
My next project is getting my homemade window evaporative cooler to work better.
Making a simple movable clothesline requires a few materials:
- First thing you will need is two places to attach the clothesline. Recycle used clothesline poles, buy new ones, or make two wooden poles by taking two pieces of wood to form the letter “T”.
- Next find something you can use as a base. Two 5 gallon buckets that are recycled or buy them new from your hardware store. Two old tires can work also for the base. If using tires, cut a circular piece of cardboard to fit inside the tire and keep the cement from leaking out while it hardens.
- Large hook screws or other means to attach line to poles. Notches can be cut into wood to hold the line in place or holes drilled to thread the line through.
- 3-5 bags of post hole cement
- Water to add to cement (harvested water can be used)
- Clothes pins and a sunny and/or warm day!
The directions to create a movable clothesline:
- Center pole in middle of bucket or center of tire
- Pour concrete around pole
- Follow directions for adding water
- Let sit and dry for at least 24 hours
- Put the clothesline poles where you want to have your clothes dry (make sure the wind won’t blow clothes into plants, trees, or fences.
- Attach your clothesline. If you used hooks, put a loop at the end of each end of the rope and put on the hook. Make sure it is snug enough so that the weight of wet laundry won’t pull it down.
Other clothesline options include umbrella styled clotheslines that can be purchased. It can retracted (like an umbrella) when not in use. This pole can be put in a bucket or tire to be movable. There is a clothesline that is permanently attached to a building or pole and then hooked to another pole and that “winds up” when not in use.
Caution-if there is an exceptionally strong wind, it may knock down clothesline poles in buckets (less likely in tires), so don’t put pole where it can blow over and cause damage. Store on side if needed. These are heavy, so if you have back problems, get help moving the poles.
Update (additional info re: buckets)
Having a traditional gas or electric dryer for backup is helpful and convenient, so don’t be too ready to sell it or give it away. Even if space and time don’t permit you to dry everything outside, any reduction is not only going to show up with a lower utility bill, it will also be good for the environment.
Problems with drying clothes with the sun and solutions:
- Clothes wrinkle-iron while damp and then hang up, purchase wrinkle free garments, take wrinkle prone garments from 2 or more wash loads to dry together at one time, iron when dry
- Clothes are hard-use liquid fabric softener, take those garments and towels from 2 or more wash loads to dry together at one time, soften up items in a short air dry cycle in dryer, wash and dry on windy days
- Time consuming-watch the weather and plan to do laundry on the hottest and/or windiest days of the week
- Clothesline would be in the way-make a movable clothesline
It may seem time consuming and you may not be sure it’s worth it to use the sun to dry your clothes, but take a moment to do some math. Figure out how much you can save cutting down your dryer use by 1/3 or more. Figure out how many hours a week you have to work to match that amount. Your time is money, so why not “work” at hanging up clothes and use some of that money saved to pay off some credit card debt! You might be surprised how the money you save can add up in a month or a year.
There is the added bonus that this is good for our environment. Make your home environmentally friendly!