11 DIY Clothesline Ideas for Inside and Outside

Hanging laundry out to dry brings back fond memories for many of us. While dryers are convenient, there’s nothing quite like the fresh smell of line-dried clothes and linens. Clotheslines aren’t just nostalgic, they are also eco-friendly and can help you save on utility bills. With some creativity and DIY skills, you can install an indoor or outdoor clothesline to suit your space and needs. Here are 11 brilliant DIY clothesline ideas to try.

Why Choose a Clothesline?

Clotheslines have many benefits beyond memories and nostalgia. Here are some excellent reasons to use a clothesline:

Saves Energy: Clotheslines don’t require electricity like dryers. Air-drying your laundry can reduce your electricity usage and carbon footprint.
Saves Money: Less dryer usage directly translates into savings on electricity bills every month.
Gentler on Clothes: The heat from dryers can damage and shrink clothes over time. Line-drying helps extend the life of fabrics.
Prevents Excess Lint: Lint traps in dryers can only catch so much lint. The remainder ends up on clothes. Line-drying removes lint completely.
Fresh Scent: Sunshine and fresh air give line-dried laundry a delightful scent no dryer sheet can match.
Disinfects: The heat from the sun naturally disinfects laundry.
No Static: Line-dried clothes and linens have much less static than machine drying.
Easier Ironing: Line-dried items require less ironing than stiff, hot dried clothes.

With all these perks, it’s easy to see why clotheslines are still useful. Now let’s look at some brilliant DIY ideas for installing indoor and outdoor clotheslines.

freestanding umbrella clothesline

A freestanding umbrella clothesline is one of the most popular options for outdoors. It takes up minimal space and is portable. Here’s how to make one:

What You’ll Need

1 thick wooden pole or steel pipe (length – 10 ft, diameter – 3 inches)
3-4 straightened heavy wire coat hangers
Nylon rope (20 ft length)
Drill with required drill bits
Sandpaper (coarse grain)
Small bucket of cement

Steps

Take the pole/pipe and sand it thoroughly with coarse sandpaper to create friction for climbing ropes.
Drill holes at 1 ft intervals vertically along the pole. Make sure to drill the holes wide enough for rope knots to pass through easily.
Now take the wire coat hangers and straighten them out. Cut them to about 2.5-3 ft lengths with pliers.
Take the nylon rope and cut 4 equal lengths of 5 ft each. Tie very secure knots at the ends.
Thread each rope length through the top of a wire hanger as shown below.
Pass one knotted rope end through the top drilled hole in the pole. From the other side, pass the second rope end through the same hole.
Pull tightly so the knot jams against the pole on one side. Repeat for all 4 ropes evenly spaced.
On the ground, lay the pole on its side. On the bottom end, dig a narrow 1 ft deep hole and fill it with cement.
Stick the pole upright into the curing cement and hold steady until set. Let dry completely.
On the 4 ropes, tie loops 12-18 inches down from the top. Cut off any excess rope.
Hook the wire hanger ends into these loops to create a folding umbrella clothesline!

This simple homemade umbrella clothesline takes up very little space but provides plenty of drying area. For portability, you can easily detach the wire hangers when not in use. Use it in the yard, patio, or even while camping!

wall mounted fold down clothesline

This space-saving wall mounted clothesline folds flat against the wall when not in use. Follow these steps to install one:

What You’ll Need

2 cabinet hinges
1 dowel rod or tube (48 inches long)
Wood board (24 x 6 inches)
Eye and cup hooks
Screws
Rope
Drill

Steps

Take the board and mark a spot 24 inches from the edge.
On this spot, screw in a cabinet hinge horizontally as shown. Do the same on the other end with the other hinge.
Take the dowel and place it inside the open hinges as shown. Close the hinges over the dowel to create the folding mechanism.
Flip the contraption over carefully, with the dowel at the top.
Along the length of the board, screw in cup hooks every 6-8 inches. Make sure they are oriented correctly to catch rope.
Now screw eye hooks into the wall studs in a straight line. Make sure the length between them is about 48 inches.
Cut suitable lengths of rope and tie to each cup hook.
Lift up the contraption and hang the ropes from the eye hooks on the wall.
When ready to use, simply pull down horizontally and hook in place. The ropes will hold the dowel and act as your clothesline!
To store, unhook and push up against the wall. The cabinet hinges enable it to fold flat and out of the way.

This fold-down clothesline is so convenient for tight spaces. Install it in a laundry room, balcony, mudroom or anywhere with limited square footage.

fire escape clothesline

If you live in an apartment, take advantage of any fire escapes to install a simple outdoor clothesline:

What You’ll Need:

Nylon rope
Spring clamps
Eye hooks or bolts

Steps:

Get nylon rope that is at least 10 feet longer than the fire escape width.
At one end of the rope, tie a secure knot. Attach a heavy duty spring clamp just below the knot.
Pass the other rope end through an eye hook screwed into the wall near one end of the fire escape railing.
Pass rope around the other end railing post. Pull very tight.
Use another spring clamp to clamp this end in place around the railing post.
To dry clothes, use clothespins to attach items to the pulled tight rope.
When done, simply detach the spring clamps to loosen the rope and roll up.

This makeshift clothesline transforms any fire escape into a place to dry laundry. Install eye hooks on either side to switch up rope placement as needed. Roll up the rope when not in use to maintain aesthetic.

retractable ceiling mounted indoor clothesline

This ceiling mounted pulley system with retractable lines allows you to dry clothes indoors without taking up floor space:

What You’ll Need

2 small pulleys with hook attachments
Nylon rope (20 ft length)
Spring loaded pulley rope reel
Ceiling hooks
Carabiners

Steps

Mark a spot on the ceiling above where you want your clothesline. Install 2 sturdy ceiling hooks about 6 ft apart at this spot.
Attach a pulley securely onto each ceiling hook.
Take the rope end and thread through one pulley, then the other in a continuous loop.
Attach the spring loaded reel to the ceiling within reach. Thread the rope through it for auto recoil.
On the rope loops, attach carabiners at regular intervals. These will act as detachable drying lines.
To use, simply pull down on the carabiners and hook clothes with clothespins.
Let the spring reel retract the rope when done. The pulleys enable smooth movement.
Coil up and tuck away excess rope so clothes aren’t disturbed while drying.

This industrial style clothesline is perfect for drying indoors in an apartment or the laundry room. Install over the bathtub or anywhere convenient. Simply pull it down when needed and retract it out of sight when done!

add hanging rod under shelves

An easy way to create an indoor drying space is by installing a hanging rod under existing shelves and cabinets:

What You’ll Need

1 inch diameter wooden dowel cut to length
2 dowel rod hangers with screws
Lightweight shower curtain (width of shelving unit)
Lightweight S hooks

Steps

Measure the width between the shelves where you want to place the hanging rod.
Cut the wooden dowel 1.5 inches shorter than this width.
Select a spot about 3-4 inches below the shelves. Screw in both dowel rod hangers here, spaced equal to the dowel length.
Place the dowel snugly into the hangers to create a horizontal hanging bar.
Take the lightweight shower curtain and hang using S hooks just below the dowel rod.
When not in use, simply slide the shower curtain closed to conceal the space entirely.
To dry clothes, slide the curtain open and use clothespins to hang items on the dowel rod.

This discreet clothes drying space is perfect for apartment bathrooms or laundry closets. Pick a corner, alcove or under existing shelves to install it. Use a short dowel and narrow curtain for smaller spaces.

pvc pipe laundry sorter

Before hanging clothes to dry, sort them first with this handy PVC pipe laundry sorter:

What You’ll Need

3/4 inch PVC pipes – two 10 ft, four 5 ft
Four 3/4 inch PVC elbow joints
PVC cutter
PVC cement

Steps

Cut two 5 ft PVC pipes in half to create four 2.5 ft lengths.
Take one 10 ft length of pipe. At 2.5 ft and 5 ft marks, glue and attach elbow joints at right angles as shown.
Take two of the 2.5 ft cut pipes and glue into the parallel elbow joint openings as shown.
Now take the second 10 ft PVC pipe. In the same way, glue elbow joints at 2.5 ft and 5 ft marks.
Attach the remaining 2.5 ft cut PVC pipes in the elbow joint openings.
Place the two assembled units parallel, with the elbow openings facing each other.
To complete the sorter frame, glue the four remaining 5 ft PVC lengths perpendicular across the top, bottom and sides.
Let the PVC cement dry completely before use.
To use, simply slide clothes onto the 10 ft side pipes to sort before hanging up to dry.

This portable laundry sorter makes it easy to separate clothes by color, fabric or use before line drying. Keep it indoor or outdoor. Customize the measurements or number of pipes as needed.

plastic gutter clothesline

Plastic rain gutters make excellent readymade clotheslines. Install them anywhere outdoors:

What You’ll Need

Plastic rain gutter (10 ft length)
Gutter end caps (2)
Shower hooks
Rope
Screws
L-brackets

Steps

Place the gutter flat with openings facing up. Cap off both ends by clicking on an end cap tightly.
Drill a small drain hole on one side near the center, to allow condensed water to drain out.
Flip the gutter over so slots are facing down. Use L-brackets to mount the gutter beneath an overhang or porch.
To create a drying line, cut a suitable length of rope. Tie secure knots at both ends.
Space shower hooks evenly inside the gutter slots. Hang rope from hooks as shown.
Repeat to add more parallel ropes depending on gutter length and space available.
Clips clothes directly onto the ropes using clothespins. Allow to dry.
Unclip rope from shower hooks to take down. Store gutter safely when not in use.

Plastic gutters are inexpensive and require minimal installation. Screw ceiling hooks into the overhang beam if there are no solid walls available. Add as many drying lines as the gutter length allows.

hanging net laundry hamper

This unique laundry hamper provides drying and sorting space all-in-one. Follow these steps:

What You’ll Need

Plastic basket hamper
Nylon netting
Sharp scissors
Fabric glue
Cord, rope or twine
Shower hooks

Steps

Turn the hamper upside down. Cut a piece of netting about 2-3 inches wider than the base all around.
Apply fabric glue around the hamper base rim. Smooth the netting over this and glue securely.
Allow to dry completely so the netting is tightly attached. Trim any excess netting hanging over the edge.
Make a loop at each corner on the base by folding over the netting and gluing to secure.
Cut 4 lengths of cord about 30 inches long. Use these to tie the corner loops onto shower hooks screwed into the ceiling.
Cut surplus netting all around to create fringe.
Use the fringe and remaining interior netting to clip clothes with clothespins for drying.

This netted hamper adds a whimsical element while doubling up as a drying station. Hang in the laundry room or porch to sort, dry and store laundry all at once. Use sturdier hooks for heavier wet laundry loads.

pvc pipe clothes racks

This PVC pipe drying rack fits perfectly over existing clothes racks:

What You’ll Need

Six 1/2 inch PVC pipes – two 10ft, two 8ft, two 6ft
Eight 1/2 inch PVC elbow corners
One 1/2 inch PVC T-joint
PVC cutter
PVC cement

Steps

Cut the two 10 ft PVC pipes in half to create four 5 ft lengths.
Take two of these 5 ft pipes and one 8 ft pipe. At marks of 1 ft, 3 ft and 5 ft, glue elbow joints at right angles.
Now take the second 8 ft pipe. At marks of 2 ft, 4 ft and 6 ft, glue elbow joints.
Connect the parallel 5 ft and 6 ft arms of both units using the remaining 5 ft cut PVC pipes.
In the center, attach the T-joint over the 8 ft pipe to combine the units.
Glue the remaining 6 ft lengths perpendicular at the outer corners for stability. Allow to dry.
To assemble, lift and place the rack over the top of a clothes drying rack.
Rest the PVC elbow joints over the bars of the drying rack as shown.
To dry clothes, drape and clip items over the top PVC pipes using clothespins.

These detachable racks double the drying capacity of any standard laundry rack. Set can be cemented together permanently or disassembled after each use if preferred.

wire shelf over dryer

This bonus drying shelf sits atop the dryer:

What You’ll Need

Metal wire shelving unit
Shelving clips
Cotton fabric (1 yard)
Scissors
Rope or twine

Steps

Cut the wire shelving down to fit the width of your dryer. Leave the legs off.
Cut fabric 1 inch wider than the shelf on all sides. Place shelf on fabric.
Wrap fabric around bottom of shelf and clip neatly with shelving clips all around.
Cut 4 equal lengths of rope. Tie securely to the 4 corners of the fabric.
Drape the shelf over the dryer, with the fabric lined side facing up.
Tie each rope end to the dryer corners to hold the shelf in place.
When the dryer is running, use the shelf to dry delicates and hand-wash items.

This space-saving drying shelf can also be used on countertops or washers. Make sure the shelf is secure and stable before loading clothes to dry. Replace fabric when soiled.

tension rod drying rack

Use tension rods to create instant drying racks in tight spaces:

What You’ll Need

2 adjustable length tension rods
6 or more S hooks
Cotton cord or twine

Steps

Insert tension rods horizontally in a bathtub, shower stall or between walls. Adjust to fit snugly.
Cut cord/twine into arm’s length pieces. Tie loops at each end.
Hang loops over the tension rods spacing evenly.
For a multi-level rack, hang S hooks from the loops. Then loop cord pieces from the S hooks.
When drying clothes, clip items directly onto the lines using clothespins.
Roll up cords around the tension rods to store neatly when not in use.

These retractable drying lines allow you to create customized drying racks in unused corners or narrow shower stalls. Use sturdier shower tension rods for heavier wet laundry loads.

Conclusion

Drying laundry naturally is better for your budget, the planet and your clothes. With any of these brilliant 11 DIY clothesline projects, you can air dry laundry indoors or outdoors to suit your needs. Don’t have time or skills to do-it-yourself? Purchase readymade clotheslines from your local hardware store for a quick installation. Either way, it’s easy to go back to the simple pleasures