Materials Needed

• At the local building supply store, purchase two 4x4 pine posts (they come in lengths of eight feet). Purchase one 2x4 made of pine in an eight feet length. Wood screws, eight #6 eye bolts, about 100 feet of clothesline, and four to six bricks should also be added to the shopping list. Concrete can be used instead of the bricks, and the clothesline can be made of nylon, or it can be made of plastic. A post hole digger will be needed to dig the holes for the pine posts. A post hole digger can be rented if one is not owned. A drill and a measuring tape are needed, and a saw may also be used if the posts are too long.
  
  

Setting Up the Clothesline

• Use a post hole digger and dig two holes about 24 inches deep and about 10 to 12 feet away from each other. The 4x4 pine posts come in eight feet lengths, and if a shorter height is needed, cut the post down. Cut the 2x4 pine post in half. Use the wood screws to fasten each half to a 4x4 post. Use a drill to make holes for the eye bolts, and spread them evenly across each of the 2x4 cross sections. Use four eye bolts per cross section, as this will allow for four lines to be strung. Break up the bricks into small pieces and place some in the post holes. Concrete can be used instead of the broken brick to steady the posts in the holes. Place the posts into the post holes, and alternately fill the holes with the broken brick pieces and dirt. Tamp the dirt and brick mixture tightly and add water to aid the material in settling. Add more of the dirt and brick mixture if necessary. String the lines from pole to pole and pull them tight. Leave some slack but not much. Over time and with use, the lines will get slack and need to be tightened periodically. The clothesline can be used in cold weather as well as warm.