Wooden clothes props

I haven’t had a problem with the metal telescopic one, I’ve been using the same one for years. Yes it’s a bit rusty and ropey in parts but very usable still. I always put it again a dry shed between uses maybe that has helped.

As an aside - the clothes line we use was here when we moved in, 43 years ago! It's in 3 sections - 2 of the supports were old railway sleepers and the line itself is plastic covered wire - amazing that it's survived so long. I had to re-arrange it a bit when one of the railway sleepers finally rotted away and fell down.

I love my rotary drier, Granmarderby10. It can accommodate two full loads of washing, no prop required. Besides which, I can hang all the underwear out of sight on the inside. Thus sparing the blushes of any passers-by - we don’t have a back garden to dry the clothes in so they’re all out at the front.

Thanks everyone. I love the idea of using a tree branch. Loads of trees across the road, so no cost and no petrol. Winner!

I have a wooden prop that we inherited with the house 50yrs ago.

My husband made my wooden prop, although I don’t bother using it now because there are no children running around.
I prefer to dry my washing outside too. It’s eco friendly, keeps the bills down, and the laundry smells nice.

I remember we used to make them from branches cut out the trees

I've googled and found this which looks nicely made in the UK

I’ve got two long poles and a pulley.

Yep Farmor. Dad used to go off for a walk in the wood to see what he could find.

We have lots of trees and I just have a long, straight branch with a fork at the top - I think it's hazel.

I use a piece of decking plank that we had left over with a notch cut in the top.

Can't beat a wooden clothes prop , DH bought the wood cut the notch in the top -perfect! I longer have a tumble dryer , the one I had was a Grundig - it was complex and useless! Was supposed to be intelligent and kept switching off telling me my clothes were ' cupboard dry ' they were damp and machine refused to dry them . It was a nightmare so got rid of it. I have always used an old fashioned creel it is in my utility room and hoist it up to the ceiling ,it does an amazing job!

Sorry that should have read the plastic ones have more working parts!

crazyH

I didn’t what a wooden prop was. I had to Google. But isn’t it unpractical during weather like this ?

I think the prop we had when I was a child would have been purloined from the local pit, where wood was used for lots of things.

Wood is far more resilient than plastic or metal as I have found out. The metal rusts, the plastic breaks. Think of wooden clothes pegs, they have more working parts than the old wooden ones. Think about trees, they seem to cope ok in the rain.

Maybe I should ask my son to make me one- he's always got plenty of old wood around.

Yes, I know I could do a google search but was also looking for recommendations.

Midgey your B&Q idea sounds an option as I have one just down the road- their telescopic ones are really poor. I shall try this out!

My partner made mine.

Should have said I had to cut the ‘v’ myself!

I bought mine in B and Q, I asked for a long piece of wood and a helpful chap sorted me out. I ended up with a twelve foot (ish) piece of treated wood. It has done me proud and I have passed it on via Trashnothing !

Those telescopic ones ( I’ve bought a fair few) aren’t up to much.
They’re quite spindley and collect rusty water that leeks out and the turn key thing locks and makes it impossible to collapse - which is the whole point of them really so seemed like a “good idea” at the time but along with rotary washing lines they get a thumbs down 👎 from me.

I didn’t what a wooden prop was. I had to Google. But isn’t it unpractical during weather like this ?

Yes, quite a few online from old fashioned hardware places and from Etsy

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1524311632/wooden-extendable-washing-line-prop-pole?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-craft_supplies_and_tools-tools_and_equipment-tools-other&utm_custom1=_k_EAIaIQobChMI5Jrd3JKphwMVuJdQBh3VqAKgEAQYASABEgI7UPD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_325938528_49896448964_230118371400_pla-295604191622_m__1524311632engb_102858184&utm_custom2=325938528&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADutTMf7Xy7eA8ZQKHSSeiWdEOkj-&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5Jrd3JKphwMVuJdQBh3VqAKgEAQYASABEgI7UPD_BwE

keepingquiet a quick Google has thrown up a fair few from timber merchants.

I don”k know where my mum or anyone else got their wood line props from - they were just there.
We had a hardware shop that sold all sorts. But I. Can’t imagine them being the easiest thing to carry from the shops and even in car quite difficult.
SOI am assuming that my Dad must have cut the necessary shape out of a long length,
Have you got any such wood lying around in a shed say or garage that some “handy person” could make one?