How to Install A Simple Pulley Clothesline

Installing a simple pulley-line is not that difficult to accomplish, and the benefits are well worth the "moderate challenge".

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• As noted in text.

1. Select the optimal location for your simple pulley-line:
   Keep in mind that you will have a line of wet, heavy clothes hanging from point "A" to point "B", and plan accordingly. Don't try to install your pulley line where the clothes will be dangerously close to trees or other interfering structures. Choose an open area, even if doing so sacrifices length.
   Also, remember that you will need to be able to comfortably reach the line to hang or take in clothing. So, be sure to pick a suitable location for the "hands on" end of the pulley-line!
2. Materials needed:
   o Two (2) clothesline pulleys -- I like the cast metal ones, since they seem to be the strongest. However, the plastic or even light metal ones are ok for some installations. Mostly, it depends on what your overall laundry requirements are. If you have a family of five, you will want to build a strong pulley-line. If there's just one or two people, perhaps a light duty line will work fine.
   o Two (2) screw-hooks or bolt hooks; depending on whether your pulley-anchoring points will need to be screwed INTO or THROUGH the structures intended to be attached to.
   o Enough clothesline to reach twice the distance between the two anchoring points (plus a couple extra feet to be sure there's enough to encircle the two pulleys, etc.).
   -I recommend using a material that is least vulnerable to the elements: cotton tends to stretch and sag; vinyl coated wire is probably the strongest, but not as easy to work with; nylon or polyester might be more susceptible to sun damage. Choose according to your specific needs and location.
   o One (1) clothesline tightening device -- this is the unit that secures one end of the pulley-line rope to a "U-shaped" loop, and threads the other end of the rope through a tension-gripping set of jaws (something like a drill chuck). By pulling the threaded end of the rope through the device, the pulley-line will remain taut, as the device grips the rope tightly. Be sure the device is suited for the size of rope you've chosen! If you decide to use the vinyl coated wire or smaller than standard "clothesline rope", you might not be able to use this device. Instead, you might need to use either a simple "lasso" type knot (so you can adjust if needed), or cable-clamps (such as with vinyl coated wire).
3. Installation:
   o Secure both pulley mounting hooks into their respective anchoring structures. Be sure to install your hooks high enough to allow your laundry to freely hang without coming too close to the ground!
   o Place both pulleys onto the hooks.
   o Thread the clothesline rope through both pulleys, with the ends of the rope meeting at the BOTTOM of the setup rather than TOP. This will prevent the extra weight of the rope connection point (whether it's a simple lasso-knot or a tightening device) from interfering with the pulley-line operation.
   o Connect the two ends of your clothesline rope with whichever method you have selected (depending mostly on which rope material you have decided on). Be sure to pull the rope as tightly as possible, to minimize sag.
   o Trim any excess rope.
4. Test and use:
   Now it's time to test out your new simple pulley clothesline! Before you try hanging a load of laundry, be sure the installation operates as you expect it to. It should not be so tight that it is difficult to pull the line; nor should it be so loose that it will twist around itself in the blowing breeze when no clothes are hanging on it!
5. If the operation test seems to be ok, go ahead and hang your first load of laundry on your new simple pulley-clothesline! For best results, start with the clothesline connection-point at the "hands-on" end (i.e., where you will be hanging the clothes). That way, you maximize your hanging length, of course.
   
   As you know, with each added item of wet laundry, your new pulley-clothesline will sag. As you continue to hang items, keep an eye on the amount of sagging that is occurring, and especially take note of your anchor points and the rope connection.
   
   If everything looks like it is holding securely, and if the rope is not sagging too much, you've successfully installed your economical, energy-saving pulley-clothesline. That is, FUEL energy-saving; drying clothes outdoors does take a bit more energy from you, but oh, how fresh and clean they smell and feel when they come in!
   Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• You might also consider suspending your bird-feeders from your new pulley-clothesline; it helps keep the squirrels and raccoons from eating all the seeds! And, if a daring squirrel does attempt to get to the feeders by 'tightrope-walking' to them, you will be in for a roaring good laugh if you're lucky enough to witness it!