Why isn't my washing line pulley system working?

[littleoctonauts]

Hello

I made a washing line pulley system, with washing line made of wire inner and plastic/rubber outer, tied to a tree and then onto a pulley which is attached to a wall then wound the excess line around two hooks.

I want it to work so that i lower the line, hang the clothes up, then raise the line through the pulley. Yesterday i used it for the first time and after I hung the washing up, I loosened the line from the hooks to raise it but the weight of the washing on the loosened line pulled it down instead

what do I need to do to stop this happening? Any help appreciated! Thank you!

A washing line pole in the middle?

Sounds like the rope with the washing on isn’t going through the pulley correctly. Or isn’t tethered. Have you a pic of the pulley bit?

We have a maiden thing indoors but it’s the same principle. If the wooden bit on ours was rope then you’d be hanging your washing on that.
Here’s how it joins up, does that shed any light?

Thank you for your replies! I'll try to get a pic later. From the pic above it looks like I need a bit that can hold the line in place before the pulley where I loosen/tighten.

I'm not sure I understand the problem, did you have the end of the line tied to anything? It needs to be fastened to one of the hooks, and you need to hold on to the line when you loosen it for pulling up.

Not sure if any of that makes sense, but I know what I mean.

Here is a pic of the line at the pulley end. I held on to the lines when I untied it from the hooks at the bottom but the weight of the washing on the line (and there was only a few things not loads) pulled the line back through the pulley and the line lowered. I think I need something that will hold the tension at whatever point it is as but can be adjusted with the pulley. But I don't know what that thing is, grateful for any help!!

Actually looking at it again is that hook to the left of the pulleys something important?

I am renting by the way and the hooks were all in the garden when we moved in. I have just bought the pulleys (which came in a two pack so I've made two lines) and the washing line and the carabiner hook

With mine, there is a knot to stop it falling too far down. Then I pull the rope, it raises and then I tie it round the hook thing.

How does yours work?

Do you need to wind the end in a figure of 8 shape in order to keep the tension on the line? That's how some of the washing lines worked years ago, I've not used one for ages and am trying to remember how they worked.

Thank you for your replies.I think a knot would work, great idea! I tied the end in a figure of 8 but I need to undo that when I want to raise it so I need something to stop it all unwinding..

What you need is a Double Ended Cleat Hook to wind your figure of 8 around. Amazon or Screwfix will have them.

I had a look at that hook and I think it serves the same purpose as the two nails in my first pic? I had a good look at it today, tried to change how I tie it to the two nails, took one of the washing lines down in case the two pulleys were in the way of each other, nothing worked. I'm wondering if the plastic washing line is the problem as the line didn't go through smoothly today even when no washing was on it. Maybe I will get a rope line.