Indoor Drying Rack for the Laundry Room
If you read yesterday’s post you already know I’ve been spending time in the laundry room and I’m using a new recipe for homemade laundry soap. It smells like summer thanks to the tropical island scent boosters. One of my favorite features in the laundry room is the indoor drying rack. It’s no secret that I love the smell of laundry drying out on the line. I can remember many a morning hanging out with my Grandma when she had one hand bracing a basket on her hip and she was holding my hand with the other.
There are some things, however, that I wouldn’t feel comfortable hanging on the clothesline. Call me prudish or whatever but the thought of my “top drawer” items hanging on the line does not sound like fun in the least. These items according to my Mom are called “unmentionables.” Thankfully, I came up with the design and S graciously agreed to build me an inside drying rack. Here’s how it call came together in case you want to build your own too.
First we built a frame using a piece of plywood we bought at the home improvement store. The base of the outside of the frame is approximately 37 inches long and 24 inches wide. We also used 4 furring strips to build up the outside of the frame securing the 4 corners with wood glue and staples.
Next we cut 4 additional furring strips to build up the inside of the frame. The inside frame should be approximately 1/8 of an inch smaller than the outside frame.
Place the 2 inside furring strips side by side making sure they’re even at both ends. Using a pencil and tape measure, draw a line across both furring strips measuring 6 inches apart.
At each end of the furring strip, measure across and find the center, drawing a line from end to end. This line will cross each 6 inch line indicating the center point for your dowels.
Drill a hole (DO NOT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WOOD) approximately ¼ of an inch where your centerline and your 6 inch lines cross. Just a tip, the blue piece of tap is on the drill bit so we didn’t go too deep. You’ll want to drill all of your dowel holes first. Cut the dowels to size.
Next place the dowels into the holes on both sides securing with wood glue and staples at the corners of the frame. We also put a little bit of wood glue on the tip of each dowel.
This is how the inside frame will look once you have all of the dowels in place.
I painted the entire drying rack white. Then I went online and downloaded this free printable from Rambling Renovators
and used a projector (Thanks Aunt Myra) to transfer the images to the rack.
I used a black Sharpie to outline and fill in the images.
This is how the outside frame looked after I finished filling in all of the laundry images.
We used two hinges to secure the inside frame to the outside frame
and a chain on each side secured with a screw that attaches from the back piece of plywood to the side of the inside frame. This helps to hold the rack in place when opened. For the screw that attaches to the plywood, attach approximately 1 inch from the outside frame.
I’ve used this indoor drying rack for 2 years now
and I still love it.
Many blessings,
CoCo
I love this Coco!!!!! So cute and so fun….
I appreciate that Renee, thank you!
Hey CoCo – Y’all did a great job with this drying rack! Love your transfer idea as will – the images really pop off of the white background. We each remember helping our grandmas with hanging wet laundry on the clothesline – unmentionables and all! Wish we had a drying rack like this 🙂
Vicki and Jennifer 2 Bees in a Pod recently posted…Basil and Peach Cocktailâ¦Perfect for Summer
This would be perfection in your laundry room with those dreamy gray walls. Thanks so much for your sweet comments. You ladies are awesome!
Wow! You did a great job!! Love the laundry cheat sheet inside. Hugs!!
Thank you bunches, Angie! That cheat sheet has saved me from making a big mistake a time or two – mostly involving bleach 🙂
This may be my favorite laundry drying rack I have seen. I love the graphic you put on it! What a clever idea Coco.
Nancy
Nancy @ Slightly Coastal recently posted…Failure To Launch…And The Silver Lining
That’s sweet of you to say, Nancy, thank you I appreciate it! It’s definitely still serving us well.
CoCo, Wow I can’t believe you guys made this. It’s fabulous and I agree with you, I wouldn’t want my unmentionables hanging outside for all to see. What a great idea and I love that you built it and did all the lettering. BEAUTIFUL!! xo Lisa
Lisa recently posted…Front Yard Ideas in Monrovia
Thanks so much Lisa! I don’t even want my bathing suit bottoms hanging out there much less anything else 🙂 Hugs for a happy day, Coco
This is so adorable and amazing! Thank you so much for sharing at the pretty pintastic party. I am dying to get my hands on a projector to do projects like this…I wonder if I could find one on craigslist.
Deb
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Thank you bunches, Deb! Having a projector has been great. My aunt used to be a school teacher and she bought this one at a sale the school was having when they upgraded their technology so that may be an option for you as well. Hope you find one soon. Hugs, Coco
Thank you for joining our Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday Link Party! I absolutely love this idea, so original and clever!! I so have to invest in a projector…!! 🙂 Have a great day, co-host Evija @Fromevijawithlove
Thank you Evija! The projector definitely made it a lot easier to get all of those graphics on the back of the drying rack. I’m really lucky my aunt lets me borrow hers! Hope you’re having an awesome week, CoCo
Thanks for lending your craftiness to Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday!
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com
Thank you bunches, Shellie!
This is a brilliant idea! It’s super cute and useful. Thanks for linking up and sharing with us at Funtastic Friday. Hope you join us again this week.
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I really appreciate it, Sherry, thank you! Can’t wait to link up this Friday 🙂