Clothesline Ideas for the Porch

Simple Clothesline

• Install a simple clothesline that runs from one side of your porch to the other. Consider installing the line along one short side of your porch, making sure that the sun hits this area regularly. Screw one eyehook into the corner of the porch and screw a second eyehook into the opposite corner. Tie a rope around one of the eyehooks and run it across the porch. Tie it around the second eyehook and cut off the excess rope.

Pulley Clothesline

• A pulley system is similar to the basic clothesline, except that it uses pulleys in place of the eyehooks. The pulley lets you adjust the rope between the two ends. When you hang a large amount of clothing on the porch, or hang heavy weight clothing, the rope can sag in the middle. The sagging rope may cause the clothes to brush against the ground or your porch supports, making the clothes dirty again. Install two pulleys from the roof of the porch, placing one on either corner. Thread the rope between the two pulleys and adjust as needed.

Rectangular Clothesline

• A rectangular clothesline gives you more room and space to hang your wet laundry. Measure out a large rectangular space along the porch, using the size you need. You can even make the clothesline stretch the entire distance around the porch, giving you much more space. Use three eyehooks, attaching one to three corners of the rectangle. Use a cleat in the fourth corner or attach another eyehook. Thread the rope through each of the hooks, tying it to each hook and securing at the end. Cut off the excess rope before hanging clothing from the line.

Considerations

• Install your porch clothesline in an area that gets a significant amount of sun. Walk around the porch in the middle of the day, looking for the area that gets the most sunlight. If you hang the clothesline in a shady area, your clothes can take days to fully dry.