How to Build a Wooden Laundry Drying Rack

A drying rack.
  • 1-2 hours
  • Beginner
  • 25-50
What You'll Need
2 foot by 2 foot precut birch (1/2-inch thick)
2 1/2 inches by 2 inches poplar boards
2 3/8 inches dowel rods
Sash lock
Hangers for wall mounting
A chain or bracketed hinge for the side
2 Pin hinges
Primer and paint
Drill
Screwdriver
Framing nails
Hammer
Saw
Wood filler
Screws
What You'll Need
2 foot by 2 foot precut birch (1/2-inch thick)
2 1/2 inches by 2 inches poplar boards
2 3/8 inches dowel rods
Sash lock
Hangers for wall mounting
A chain or bracketed hinge for the side
2 Pin hinges
Primer and paint
Drill
Screwdriver
Framing nails
Hammer
Saw
Wood filler
Screws

Building a laundry drying rack is an easy feat for any DIY enthusiast. It will save you some money and it can be a fun project. Follow these steps to create a wooden laundry drying rack in your bathroom that is retractable. You will end up with a product that both looks good and is very practical for your laundry needs. The design is meant to be hanged on a wall in a retracted position and used only when needed.

Make the Cuts

To begin construction of your laundry drying rack, measure the ½x2 inch boards and cut them to fit the 2x2 precut birch using the saw. Then mock up a square frame and cut your dowel rods to fit exactly inside the rack frame. Use the drill and a 3/8th inch drill bit to make holes in the sides for the precut dowel rods. Your mock-up should look like a square frame with the dowel rods placed equidistant horizontally.

Assemble the Frame

Place the dowel rods inside each of the holes drilled in the side frames. Use a mallet or hammer to push them into place. Add the top and bottom part of the wooden frame. Use a hammer and finishing nails to nail them together at the corners. You should now have an assembled frame that looks exactly like when you made the mock up of the laundry drying rack.

Attach the Frame

You will now attach the frame to the poplar board using the pin hinges. Place the frame you have created in the previous step on the board and align it to center. Using a screwdriver and screws attach the hinge to the frame. Now attach the other part of the hinge to the board. These hinges will be placed at the bottom at an equal distance from each other and the corner of the frame. Fasten the screws as tightly as possible before proceeding to the next step.

Attach the Sash Lock

The sash lock position will be on the top center of the board. This will be locked in position by screws as well. Before positioning the sash lock, use the drill and a smaller drill bit to cut pilot holes for the places the screws will go in. Once you have drilled the holes, place the sash lock in position and tighten the screw nails as much as possible using your screwdriver. Drilling pilot holes will also protect the wood from potential cracking when you force the screw nails in.

Use Filler, Primer, and Paint

Use wood filler on the sides of the wood parts that are rough to the touch. This will make the surfaces even and better looking. You should use paintable filler, as you will apply paint next. You can also use the filler to cover any mistakes, like a wrong drilled hole. Prime the laundry drying rack thoroughly and then use the paint and color of your choice to cover everything but the hinges and sash lock.

Attach the Hinged Bracket

You can use one or two hinged brackets for the sides of the frame. You can also use chains instead of hinge brackets. Before attaching the bracket, make sure the paint has completely dried. Attach the bracket on the side of the board, in a centered position. Then attach the other side of the hinged bracket to the frame.