Clotheslines

[rp2813]

Retractables

Allen, I recently bought a retractable line to replace one I had that broke off of its mounting bracket. They are still available, but only with a single line, not a pair. I think a place like ACE Hardware would carry these. I got mine at some kind of "outlet" type store that sells unclaimed freight, etc. There's also one at my mom's that I installed for her. It's a vintage one I found that has the aluminum housing. Today's versions have almond/beige plastic housings but the technology is the same.

Ralph

 

[JerseyMike]

I agree with Terry ...

You need a clothesline prop, Greg.

I've talked about the interesting contraption that one of my grandmothers used. My other grandmother lived in the country. Her clotheslines ran on either side of the walkway that ran between her house and her garage. My grandfather fashioned clothesline props from tree branches that had a "Y" at the end. I bet that something like that would last a lot longer then the props that I found via google.

Mike

http://housewares.hardwarestore.com/37-186-outdoor-clothes-dryers-/aluminum-line-prop--657291.aspx

 

[gansky1]

Prop poles --

I've resisted admitting I needed these all along, but after experimenting with the lines, different methods of tying the plastic-coated wire cable, etc. I've decided that they will sag no matter what you do...

Only $4.29 - that's very reasonable!

 

[gadgetgary]

Even though I am technically wrong

I still use the retractable clothesline.

Love the smell of clothes dried outside.

And a bit of saving $$$ is not bad either.

 

[brisnat81]

Foldaway Hills Hoist

These Umbrella style clotheslines are still the mainstay of the Australian back yard.

The Folding head hoists in the link, fold up to make a tall pole, and then come out of the ground for removal.

The Fixed head hoist, has been Hills main design since the 40's/50's. They are still fully servicable, and just never die. Mum has one from the 50's that is now quite rusty, but still works as well as the day it was installed.

The total line space on both of these runs from 56-60 meters.

We have the Retracting 6 line clotheseline in our yard, which gives us 30 meters of line space, and we have the Folding Frame Mono in our garage which I use when its wet.

I'm amazed at how flimsy a lot of the products in the links appear to be in the US. Is that due to the harshness of the winters, that they fail quickly and are therefore disposable?

http://www.onlinedirect.hills.com.au/cattleprod/products/A1000PRO

 

[buffster]

Greg...

I love your clothesline. That's the same setup my grandmother and most of her neighbors had. (I can still smell the fresh laundry hanging on the line.) However, she didn't have the sagging problem. I think you may just need to adjust the tension on those lines, so that they're taut. It should work quite well... and IMHO is much more durable than any other type of line. Those posts aren't going anywhere.

 

[toggleswitch]

NYC-style clotheslines

From window to window.

With heavy fuel-oil #6.....

(Read: dirtier, cheaper, less refined==>the OIL DEAR! LOL)

.....burning year 'round for heat and hot water the clothes probably go in the house dirtier than they went out!

 

[whirlcool]

Yes! Toggles, the one you have a photo of is the type I was referring to.
I wonder how many people "lost" their clothing to the streets below in a stiff wind?
I guess the tennants that had the clothesline attatched to their windows would "share" its use?

 

[gansky1]

I've used one of these at a friend's place in Brooklyn. It was great fun and I didn't drop anything, but a couple of times the "reach" out of the window made me think I was about to make more laundry!

 

[danemodsandy]

brisnat81:

"I'm amazed at how flimsy a lot of the products in the links appear to be in the US. Is that due to the harshness of the winters, that they fail quickly and are therefore disposable?"

No, it's because Americans demand an extremely low price on everything, plus they'll want a new one in the latest colour or style next year, so why should anyone care how long anything lasts? Quality levels here are abysmal as a result.

 

[toggleswitch]

~I guess the tennants that had the clothesline attached to their windows would "share" its use?
Methinks they do NOT share. Often both windows in such a set-up belong to the same apt.

In my brownstone tenement rental I stuck a dryer hose out the window. The superintendent (bldg mgr.) informs me that the neighbors almost called the fire dept thinking the place was on fire. I suppose to foreigners dryers are a foreign concept!

The next buildng was literally 10 feet (3 meters) away. I quickly noiced that the neighbor would frequently hang her laundry out when my dryer was on on. My exhaust helped dry her stuff!

 

[petek]

Greg.. you need to put those tensioners on the lines. I can't for the life of me think what they're called at the moment.. You splice the line attach it and then twist it to tighten the lines... get them at any hardward store..like you'd use on cables supporting an antenna etc.

 

[petek]

I meant a turnbuckle on each line.

 

[golittlesport]

Yay!

I finally got myself a collapsable clothesline this year. It works great on the patio in a cast iron umbrella stand. I love hanging out linens especially....nothing is as good as slipping into clean bed linens that have been washed in a Unimatic and dried in the sun. I hung this load out this morning before I went to work and I'll take them down this afternoon -- I can almost smell them now!

 

[buffster]

Rich...

Beautiful backyard. Let's see more of it! (I'm a fellow Californian. In what part of California do you reside, if I may ask?) Using the umbrella stand to hold the collapsable clothesline is a great idea--truly inspired. Fred, are you taking notes?!

 

[golittlesport]

Thank you, Buffster. I live in Orange County. Maybe we should start a backyard photo thread.