How to Build a PVC Pool Towel Rack

Keep your pool towels dry, out of the way and accessible with a PVC pool towel rack that you can construct. Simply hang your towels on the sturdy rectangular rack to dry in the sun near the pool, or even in the garage and grab it the next time you go swimming, eliminating much of the extra laundry by allowing you to reuse the same towel for days. Leave off a little glue and make your towel rack collapsible so you can tuck it away for the winter.

Things You'll Need

• PVC pipe (1 to 2 inches in diameter)
• PVC saw or hack saw
• 12 T-fittings (the same size as the pipe)
• 8 90-degree elbows (the same size as the pipe)
• PVC cleaner
• PVC cement

Instructions

1. Cut 10 pieces of 6-inch long PVC pipe to make the sides of the top rack. Use a PVC saw or hacksaw to do it.

2. Place a piece of pipe into one end of a T-fitting, then place another piece on the other side of the fitting. The pieces should fit in either end of the top of the T -- if you look through one end of the pipe and you can see out of the other side, this is the top of the T. Place a T-fitting on the other end of the second piece of pipe. Continue alternating pipes and fittings until you have used five pieces of pipe and four fittings. Make sure the legs of the T-fittings all face the same direction. Do not use glue yet, as you are only dry fitting the pieces to make sure they fit and don't need to be re-cut.

3. Repeat the process to make the other side of the top rack.

4. Cut four pieces of 40-inch long PVC pipe to form the drying rods that the towels will rest on and that will connect the two sides of the top rack.

5. Insert a piece of 40-inch pipe into each of the four legs of the T-fitting on one side. Then connect the other ends of the pipe into the legs of the other side.

6. Disassemble the top rack and reassemble it using PVC cement. Clean the insides of each T-fitting and the outside edges of each piece of pipe. Apply the glue to the outside of the pipe and inside of the T-fitting, and make the connection.

7. Glue a 90-degree elbow on each end of the sides of the rack. Make sure the elbows all face down from the top rack at a 90-degree angle from the top rack. The elbows will rest on top of the towel rack's legs.

8. Cut two pieces of PVC pipe to 38 inches and two pieces to 40 inches to make the bottom rack.

9. Place a T-fitting on either end of the 38-inch pipes to make the sides of the bottom rack, making sure the legs of the T-fitting face the same direction.

10. Connect the two sides together by inserting the 40-inch pipes into the legs of the T-fittings on the side pieces, just like with the top rack. This will form a rectangular base to support the towel rack's legs and top rack.

11. Place a 90-degree elbow on each end of the sides, making sure they are facing up at a 90-degree angle. Don't glue anything yet; make and fit the legs, then glue the bottom rack together.

12. Cut four pieces of PVC pipe to 42 inches. These will serve as the legs for the towel rack.

13. Place the bottom rack on the ground, with the elbows facing up, and insert a leg in each elbow.

14. Place the top rack, with elbows facing down, on top of the legs.

15. Disassemble the bottom rack and glue it back together. Gluing the legs in place is optional. If they aren't permanently attached, the towel rack may be collapsed for easier storage.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to use the PVC cement in an area with lots of air as the fumes can be overpowering.