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Make a charming outdoor clothesline with this simple tutorial. Nothing beats the feel and freshness of line dried linens!
Clothes and linens dried on an outside clothesline are the best! They come out crisp, fresh and wrinkle free – just the way I like them!
I’ve always wanted an outdoor clothesline, but I’ve never had one until now. The Lavender Blue Cottage didn’t come with a clothesline, but it had a perfect spot just begging for one. Mr. Tidbits helped make my clothesline dream come true with this simple backyard project.
After using our new clothesline for a little while now, I can’t believe we waited so long before making one. It’s been a total delight to use and I love it’s old fashioned charm!
I’ll give you the scoop on what supplies you’ll need and all the necessary steps to make one for yourself. Click below if you’d like to view the video of this project!
Table of contents
Benefits of an Outdoor Clothesline
I don’t know if you’re a clothesline-lover like me or if you’re wondering why anyone would want a clothesline when they could just throw stuff in the dryer? Here is why I love an old fashioned clothesline:
- Clothes and linens dry nice and crisp
- Usually no need to iron line-dried clothing
- Fresh, clean, sun-kissed smell (my fav – especially for bedding!)
- Avoid shrinking or damaging fabrics
- The sun helps your whites get whiter without bleach!
- Saves on electricity and energy use (and costs!)
- Multi-functional (you better believe I’ll add some hanging flower baskets to mine! You can also hang flags, lights, garlands, whatever you want to decorate for an outdoor party.)
- Totally charming and adorable
Products Needed for an Outdoor Clothesline
To build an outdoor drying line like ours, you’ll need these supplies:
- 4x4x8 pine posts (3)
- 1.5″ x 8.5″ x 10.5″ Corbels/brackets (4)
- Clothesline rope (100 feet)
- Eye bolts/screw eyes (2 – extra if you want to attach some to the underside of your cross beams for holding hangers or baskets)
- Post Top Balls (2)
- Quickrete or concrete mix (about 2 bags)
- Gorilla glue clear adhesive
- 4 inch screws for attaching cross beam to post
- 2 inch screws to attach corbels
Tools for Making an Outdoor Clothesline
We used these tools to build our drying line, but you may have others that help you with the job just as good:
- 18 gauge brad nailer
- Screw gun
- All holes for screws are pre-drilled with a counter sink bit
- Holes for rope were drilled with a 3/8th drill bit
- Miter saw
- Impact drill
- Post hole digger
- Level
Wood Measurements and Cuts
- End posts: (2) full 8 foot posts (uncut)
- Cross beams: (2) at 32 inches each (cut from extra 8 foot post)
- Top Blocks: (2) at 4 inches each (cut from extra 8 foot post)
Step-by-Step Instructions
The video Mr. Tidbits made of this construction process does a great job of showing you the steps needed to make your own outdoor clothesline. Be sure to watch that to see these steps in action! Here is a simple break down of the process:
- Using a post hole digger or shovel, dig holes for your poles/posts. We like to go about 18 inches down to get a secure base.
- Insert posts into the post holes.
- Dump dry concrete mix into the post holes around all sides of the posts. Work the concrete mix down to the bottom of the holes, but don’t lift the posts out. Use a level to make sure that each post is plumb (straight up and down).
- Add water to the concrete mix and let the concrete set at least 24 hours to harden (this step is very important!)
- Route or sand edges on all the wood posts for a smooth finish (this step can be done before setting posts, if desired).
- Install top blocks and decorative balls. Apply adhesive to the top block and center it on the cross beam. Apply adhesive to the decorative ball and place on top block. Secure top block and decorative ball with a brad nailer, if desired.
- Install cross beams along the top of each post. Find the center of the cross beam and apply clear adhesive to the end of the vertical post and set cross beam in place. Next, drill pilot holes diagonally through the vertical post and into the cross beam. Secure the cross beam using 4 inch screws.
- Install Corbels. Apply clear adhesive to the corbel and set in the corner of the post and cross beam, centering from front to back. Secure corbels using 2 inch screws.
- Drill holes, evenly spaced along crossbeams for rope/clothesline.
- Caulk lumber joints and paint or stain your finished posts.
- Install eye bolts/screw eyes on crossbeams, one eye bolt to secure each end of the rope.
- Install rope/clothesline by knotting one end of the rope to an eye bolt/screw eye and running the line back and forth through your drilled holes. Make sure you put as much tension into the drying lines as possible since they will slacken over time. Also make sure that you give yourself enough extra length at the end of the rope that you will be able to untie/retie the clothes line knot in the future to adjust for stretching.
Now you can enjoy using your new wash line set up! I’ve found a bag to hold clothespins is especially useful to keep hanging on the clothesline.
More DIY Projects
I’m hooked on using my new outdoor clothesline to dry our laundry. The simplicity and the charm of it make me happy. I enjoy filling my laundry basket with clothes from the wash line that have been warmed by the sun, just like homemakers have been doing for generations. I hope you will get a chance to try it too!
Do you have a clothesline or drying line at your home? What do you love/hate about it. Share your thoughts with me below!
For more great DIY ideas, checkout:
- Easy to Build Cedar Raised Bed Gardens
- Antique Inspired DIY Baker’s Rack Building Plans
- How to Build a Cold Frame to Grow Vegetables in the Winter
- DIY Upholstered and Slipcovered Bed Building Plans
- DIY Fireplace Mantel Surround | Faux Cast Stone European Style
- How to Make DIY Raised Garden Beds
- How to make a Kids Workbench with Tool Storage
- DIY Faux Fireplace Mantel with Samsung Frame TV Review
- Ikea Havsta Cabinet Hack | Step back Storage Cabinet with Marble Countertop
- How to Make a DIY Wood Mirror Frame for Bathroom Vanity
- DIY Building a Multi-Purpose Storage Closet
- Choosing and Installing our Custom Moulding and Trim
- DIY Butcher Block Countertops | Oh, YES You Can!
- Easy DIY Cabinet Shelf Risers
- DIY Wooden Egg Holders
- DIY Rolling Work Table / Kitchen Island
- Charming Cottage Landscaping Ideas
I love this!! Do you know what paint colors and paint type you used?
Beautiful Clothes Line FIY
Do you have a printable version of the clothesline project? Thank you.
I don’t, I am sorry about that!
I am so glad that I found your website! I needed a clothesline and looked around online to see what a new one cost. After some time, I came across your website. Thanks for the inspiration to create my own! Everything that you mentioned on your site, I had forgotten about. The fresh, clean, smell that you get from using a clothesline…it is amazing! The clothes do come out dry and crisp! You also have the ability to dry large items that are hard to stuff in a dryer, which a clothesline can easily handle.
I did make some modifications to the design. I used galvanized carriage bolts and notched the 4X4s to fit inside each other. Instead of purchasing corbels, I decided to make them instead. The clothesline is amazing and I am already saving money on electricity costs. I also love the idea of hanging plants from it. Thanks again!
Oh how I wish I could have a clothesline again! This article brings back a flood of memories of cloth diapers and all of our clothes and bedding when my babies were small in the 80’s. Taking down the laundry would often take place in the early evening when my kids’ dad was at home. I would delight in the clean, fresh smelling, sun kissed laundry and the few short moments I had to myself. I also recall, now, a photograph of my mom as a young mom in 1959 sitting outside next to a clothesline full of laundry, holding her firstborn infant (me). Now I am on a quest to find that photograph. Thank you for the memories and I know you will get a lot of pleasure from your clothesline!