How to put up a washing line?

oldMcDonald · 12 February 2008 at 9:40AM

Hi, after reading on another thread about washing lines, I'm after a little help.

Does anyone know how to put up a washing line using pulleys? We have a washing line with a pulley system that allows me to pull the washing up high, but I would really like to have one of those lines set up whereby you stand in one place and put the washing on the line, moving it along with the pulleys as you go (with you standing in the same place whilst putting it out). I have described that really badly so I hope someone knows what I mean!

DH did try to do this for me, but he lost his patience rafther quickly and put it up the way we have now instead!

Thanks if anyone can help

Olliebeak · 12 February 2008 at 9:53AM

I'm sure that those were just pulled along by hand, so would need two wheels fixed on opposite walls. The line would have to be tight to stop it from coming off the wheels and the wheels would have to be 'upright' if you know what I mean - not on their sides. The line would have to be double the length of the space so that it could be moved along.

From what I can remember from the old movies of those things, they were mostly used across communal areas and quite high up and that was why they were used.

Just googled and came up with this image - is this the sort of thing that you mean?

http://www.indexstock.com/store/Chubby.asp?ImageNumber=1109901

oldMcDonald · 12 February 2008 at 10:19AM

Hello Ollie

It is kind of like that!

I've seen them in a couple of backgardens, you have the two washing posts with a pulley at the top, and something similar to your piccy between the pulleys. You bring the line down to your level using the pulleys, then put the washing on the 'loop' (like in your picccy), then pull the washing up high.

At least, I think that this is how it works! We have spent ages studying peoples washing lines trying to work out how they did it, but neither of us is brave enough to knock the door and ask!!

chez_ona · 12 February 2008 at 12:16PM

Hi, I know the type of line you are talking about, my mum and dad have one. It's not really a loop - it only looks like that because people usually have two lines up. its actually two seperate lines.
They are secured to the wall/post at one end, then run over the top of a pully at the other end then down to a winder that allows you to tighten the line to raise it up.
Hope that makes sense to you - if you need a better explination let me know.

[Deleted User] · 12 February 2008 at 1:33PM

I hope you manage to get it sorted as they are brilliant for drying things When my children were young back in the 1960s I had one that went from my first floor bedroom balcony to the bottom of the garden ( around 150 ft) and it was fixed quite high up on a Leylandii tree. I could get almost a full load on there and it would dry in around an hour .In those days I had two small girls and I loved to see 18 nappies blowing like mad in the breeze.The smell of fresh clothes from the washing line was fantastic and better than all the 'air-freshners ' that you could buy.I don't miss the tiny flat ,but I do miss that washing line .Apparently the higher you can get your washing the quicker it dries.

oldMcDonald · 12 February 2008 at 7:43PM

chez_ona wrote: »

Hi, I know the type of line you are talking about, my mum and dad have one. It's not really a loop - it only looks like that because people usually have two lines up. its actually two seperate lines.
They are secured to the wall/post at one end, then run over the top of a pully at the other end then down to a winder that allows you to tighten the line to raise it up.
Hope that makes sense to you - if you need a better explination let me know.

That is exactly what I want! I can't quite get how to put it up through your description, though. Please can you explian how the whole thing is put together? I am really excited now as I have found someone who knows what I am talking about!

Thank you

Gingham_Ribbon · 12 February 2008 at 7:47PM

There should be some practical help on this in the 'in my home' section (which includes DIY) so I've moved your post over there for you.

I agree with Jackie. I LOVE seeing a couple of dozen terries nappies blowing on our washing lines.

oldMcDonald · 12 February 2008 at 8:06PM

Thanks Gingham (TBH, I hadn't noticed the 'In my home' board before!)

ormus · 12 February 2008 at 11:12PM

im a bit confused here. first you said you wanted the clothesline to travel along. then you said you wanted a raising clothesline?

here is a sketch of a travel type line. pulley A is a twin pulley.
the actual line is a single continuous line.

oldMcDonald · 13 February 2008 at 7:43AM

Thank you ormus, I am not surprised I confused you as I mixed up two different kinds of line there! The line I am after goes up and down, not travelling along, I think I was hopeful that I may be able to do both!!

What I have at the moment is one line, tied to a post on one side of the garden and going over a pulley at the other, being wrapped around a hook to hold it in place.

What I am trying to rig up looks like it has a loop going up and down on either post (as with A-C in your picture), and a line srtung between them - at least this is what it looks like! The ropes going up and down are pulled into a triangle shape when the line is down.

I hope this makes sense, I am really bad at explaining things.

chez_ona · 13 February 2008 at 11:02AM

Sorry oldMcDonald I'm lost

oldMcDonald wrote: »

What I have at the moment is one line, tied to a post on one side of the garden and going over a pulley at the other, being wrapped around a hook to hold it in place.

this sounds exactly like the line I was trying to explain except instead of a hook to hold it in place at the end there is a winder a little like this. Thats really some kind of fishing reel - but my dad made his own - its the closest image i could find to explain it.

They just have two of these lines set up on a "T" shaped pole.

I'm a little confused by your "Triangle shape" maybe we are talking about different things.

How to put up a washing line?

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