10 Creative Ways to Hang Clothing

I am pleased to present a guest post from Jakob Barry who writes for Networx.  I will be the first to admit that these creative and frugal ways to hang clean laundry would have never occurred to me!  I am thrilled to post these out-of-the-box ideas.

Hanging up clean laundry, including dry-cleaning can be a daunting task, especially with tight closet space. That’s why if you find yourself in such a predicament it’s important to formulate creative ways to make it happen and not just settle on dumping it all on your favorite comfortable chair.

Doing so means being innovative with recyclable objects you may not commonly associate with laundry or clothing.  But such resourcefulness will make an interesting addition to your room as well as give your personal space some extra character.

In general, these apparatuses can circulate or be stationary and have the option of being installed in an existing closet. They can also simply stand in the open connected to a sturdy base or dangle from the ceiling.

What do I mean? Here are a few examples:

1. A bicycle tire rim with or without the rubber tire: Install in a closet on its horizontal axis in such a way that it spins like a clothing rack in a department store. That way all items can be accessed easily. If installed outside the closet it can circulate or be stationary. Handle bars are another bicycle option. They come in all different shapes and sizes but when mounted on a wall can hold a number of hanging items.
2. The base of a swivel chair: Suspended upside-down this acts like the bike tire rim but clothing is hung from the ends by the wheels.
3. Steering wheel: Years ago these were wider so if you can find one at a junk yard that would be the best. Suspend it and place hangers around the edge.
4. The top of an old metal garbage can: Space and drill holes for hangers around the perimeter. Then suspend.
5. The metal part of a bow rake: Unlike the rake used for leaves or lawn grass this one is for the garden soil. It’s tough and unbendable but sometimes after a lot of use the wood handles snap off. If so the metal part can be placed on a wall and hangars could be hung from between the teeth. At the same time, clothing could be hung from the teeth themselves.
6. A Ladder: Found a broken ladder? Cleaning it up and hanging it vertically can create a long shelf-like display for hanging clothing.
7. Hard cardboard or plastic mailing tubes: Carefully size to a particular spot and punch a number of holes across the tube just wide enough for hanger tips to fit inside. This can also be applied to plastic PVC piping and similar types of materials.
8. A tree trunk: It should be heavy enough to act as its own base and have branches for hanging. Having once made one from an evergreen that fell in my backyard, I peeled off the bark revealing the smooth bare wood surface making it an even nicer piece of art.
9. Square bracketed ceiling rack: These are usually for hanging pots and pans in industrial kitchens though some people have them at home. If you have access to one it can be great for hanging clothes.
10. Unused refrigerator egg tray: Believe it or not, this is a great item for sorting out and hanging ties. It can be hung or screwed into a wall or closet with ties fitting right through the holes where eggs normally rest.

There you have it; ideas on making your own hanging racks for all kinds of laundry and clothing.  One last bit of advice: if you’re going to use found objects for hanging clothing make sure to clean them well, as you don’t want to dirty clean clothing before its time. A further step would be to paint, shellac or stain the objects, which will help preserve edges from the constant movement of hangers.  Whatever direction you head in good luck and may all your laundry needs be met.

Jakob Barry writes for Networx.com.  He covers various home improvement topics, including green lighting ideas, reducing household allergens and home safety awareness.

I am pleased to link this post to Frugal Friday over at Life as MOM.