How to Install a Steel Clothesline Pole

Air drying clothing saves energy.

If you want to save energy and dry your clothes outside, installing an old-fashioned clothesline pole is an efficient alternative. An added bonus to allowing your clothes to air dry is the fresh scent that permeates the cloth. Once you decide to use a clothesline, there are a few logistical things to think about like what type of pole to use and where to place it. Ideally, a post should be placed in an open space to give you plenty of room for hanging laundry.

Things You'll Need

• Rust-free galvanized pole
• Earth auger
• 6 to 8 feet of 2-by-4 wood
• Circular saw
• Hammer
• Nails
• Cement
• Mixing tub
• Trowel

Instructions

1. Purchase a rust-free galvanized steel post from a fencing manufacturer. Typically, steel posts are between 3 ½ or 4 inches in diameter and may be customized any height you choose depending on your needs.

2. Rent an auger from a utility rental location to dig the hole for the pole. For proper support, dig down at least four feet to accommodate ground freezing effects (ground swelling or shrinking) on the pole. An 8-inch auger is sufficient for digging a hole for a 3 1/2 or 4-inch diameter steel pole.

3. Build a temporary frame using the 2-by-4s to help hold up the pole once it's installed into the ground. Cut the wood using a circular saw to encompass snuggly the pole in a square frame. If the pole is 4-inches in diameter, each length of the wood should be about 4 to 5 inches so that it has room to encompass the pole but still be snug enough to keep the pole from moving once in the ground.

4. Nail the remaining wood pieces to the square frame to create "legs." The frame should resemble a tripod, with the square box encompassing the pole with three legs keeping the pole steady and secure in the ground.

5. Place the steel pole into the hole after sliding the temporary frame onto it. Press the wooden legs into the ground so the pole is firmly supported and steady. Make sure it's plumb to the ground and adjust the frame if necessary before pouring cement.

6. Mix cement according to package instructions, then pour into the hole. Pour enough cement into the hole that it creates a mound near the base of the pole, rather than leaving the cement level to the ground. Using the trowel, slope the cement away from the pole so water will drain away from the pole.

7. Allow the cement to dry for at least 24 hours before removing supports.

References

• Rona.ca: Installing a clothesline post