How to Square Up Clothes Line Posts
Using a clothes line to dry clothes is a great green option that saves a lot of money throughout the year. Time, weather and pressure from hanging heavy wet clothes on a clothes line will slowly start to cause clothes line posts to lean. You can square up clothes line posts with a few common tools and a bag of concrete mix in a few hours without much work. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Remove clothes line from the poles.
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2
Dig out the soil on the side of the clothes line post that is opposite of the clothes line. If the post is set in concrete, dig a wedge shaped hole beside the concrete. If the clothes line post is set in gravel or set dug into the soil, dig a wedge shape about 6 inches at the top to a point at the bottom.
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3
Push on the top of the clothes line post until the post is plumb. Use a level placed parallel to the post to check that it is plumb. If it is a wooden post, push it slowly being careful not to snap the post.
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4
Mix enough concrete in the bucket or wheelbarrow with water to fill the space created by moving the post. Follow concrete manufacturer's directions for mixing the concrete. Use a shovel to put the concrete mix in the hole. Allow the concrete to set for 24 hours. Wash off the bucket or wheelbarrow and shovel immediately so the concrete does not dry on them. It will be a lot harder to remove after it dries.
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5
Re-attach the clothesline.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask a friend for help so one person can hold the post in position while the other person places the soil removed from the back of the post to the front of the post. If the clothes line posts begin to sag again, push a wedge of wood on the line side of the clothes line post to straighten it back up. If the post is set in concrete, re-straighten and pour more concrete on the clothes line side of the post.
Wear safety glasses or goggles while working with concrete to protect eyes from splashing. Concrete can be irritating so avoid contact with bare skin or wear gloves.
