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Open Source DIY Clothes Airer
Open Source DIY Clothes Airer
Free open source plans for the world to share.
The Granny Pulley is a free open-source blueprint for a simple ceiling dryer that was first created in Cyprus in 2008 - designed to save money on energy bills, reduce carbon footprints, encourage hands-on DIY skills, and to be built by anyone, everywhere.
Why this project exists.
Why this project exists.
This is not a product for sale. It is a social initiative.
The Granny Pulley is a simple, sustainable ceiling-mounted dryer that saves electricity and turns wasted ceiling space into a useful tool. It was designed to be built using basic tools and reclaimed materials.
Who is this for? (And why we give it away)
Who is this for? (And why we give it away)
The Granny Pulley is designed to be built with your own hands, using simple tools. It is a practical, sustainable project that saves money and electricity.
We want this guide to be used far beyond just one household. Here is how we hope it spreads:
🏫 For Schools & Teachers:
This is an ideal Design & Technology or woodworking project for students. It teaches basic joinery, sustainable living, and the pride of making something useful.
Teacher tip: Pre-cut the wood and pre-drill the holes to save class time. Let the students focus on assembly, gluing, and threading the ropes.
🤝 For Community Groups & Charities:
Are you part of a church group, a community center, or a charity that supports families in need? Use this guide to run a weekend workshop. Gather a group, build 5 or 10 of these, and gift them to local families or elderly neighbors who struggle with high energy bills.
🌍 For Disadvantaged or Low-Income Communities:
If you have limited resources, this project is perfect for you. You do not need expensive lumber. You can use bamboo, scrap wood, or repurposed curtain rods.
If you build these for your neighbors, we ask only one thing: Keep it Fair. Charge only for the cost of the materials plus a small fee for your labor to keep your local initiative going.
🎁 For Friends & Family (The "Build One, Gift One" Rule):
If you make one for yourself, make a second one. Give it to a friend, a grandparent, or a new neighbor. A simple, homemade gift that saves them money every month is one of the most thoughtful presents you can give.
Why build it? (The Energy & Environmental Impact)
Why build it? (The Energy & Environmental Impact)
Drying clothes in a tumble dryer is one of the biggest household energy drains in the world. By using free solar and wind energy to dry your laundry, the Granny Pulley makes a huge difference to both your bills and the planet.
💚 Saving your wallet:
Wet laundry represents a large chunk of your monthly electricity bill. By hanging clothes in the open air or on a covered balcony, you completely eliminate the running cost of a tumble dryer. Over a single year, this simple wooden frame can save you hundreds of euros or dollars.
🌱 Saving the planet:
Every time you use the Granny Pulley instead of a dryer, you reduce your carbon footprint. Electricity generation produces CO₂. Natural air and sunlight produce none.
Over the lifespan of just one Granny Pulley, you will save:
· An almost unimaginable amount of money on your household energy bill.
· Hundreds of kilograms of CO₂ emissions.
· Thousands of liters of water used by energy plants.
· The wear-and-tear on your clothes, making them last longer and keeping them out of landfills.
Get the free plans.
Get the free plans.
Includes full materials list and step-by-step instructions.
(No registration neccessary)
JOIN THE MOVEMENT.
(We won't spam you, but we'll do our best to keep you in the loop. Together, we can make this exciting journey.)
The DIY Spirit
The DIY Spirit
1. Adapt it: Do not worry about exact measurements. Measure the space you have and cut your wood to fit your home.
2. Scavenge: Use reclaimed wood, bamboo, sturdy old curtain rods, or whatever is available to you locally.
3. Keep it Fair: If you build these to sell in your community, charge only for your materials + a small labor fee to keep your initiative going.
It works in any space.
It works in any space.
👩💻 Not a woodworker? No problem. Here is how you can help.
Maybe you don't have a saw, a drill, or a place to build. But you do have skills that our movement desperately needs.
We are looking for volunteers to help us plant the Granny Pulley seed in every corner of the globe. If you have experience in any of these areas, we would love to hear from you:
📱 Digital Marketing & Social Media:
Do you know how to get a good post seen? If you can help us share the Granny Pulley guide across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, you can be the reason hundreds of new people discover this project. You don’t need to run our account—just sharing the link in your local community groups makes a huge difference.
✍️ Content Creation & Translation:
This guide is currently in English. If you speak French, Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Mandarin, or any other language, we need your help translating the guide. We want this to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their native language.
🎨 Graphic Design:
Do you love making things look beautiful? If you can help us create simple, visual infographics or shareable images of the Granny Pulley, you will help people understand the project in one glance, rather than having to read a whole page.
🌐 Community Building:
Are you a moderator in a community group, a Facebook group, or a local forum? Share the link. Start a conversation. Help us find local champions in your own town.
How to help:
If you have a skill and a few spare hours, you don't need to ask for permission. Just take the guide, translate it, share it, or design something beautiful around it.
All we ask is that you keep the core message intact:
"The Granny Pulley is a free open-source blueprint for a simple ceiling dryer - designed to save money on energy bills, reduce carbon footprints, encourage hands-on DIY skills., and to be built by anyone, everywhere."
If you build it, gift it, or share it—you are officially part of the team.
Trace the movement.
Trace the movement.
Help us trace the movement.
This guide is free to share, build, and teach. We invite you to be part of building a truly global social initiative.
If you build one, we would love to know where you are in the world. Send us a photo, share your adaptations, or tell us your story.
How to connect with us:
· Meet us on Bluesky: @grannypulley.bsky.social
· Tag us on Twitter: @GRANNYPULLEY
· Or send us an email at: grannypulley@gmail.com
Build it. Gift it. Talk about it. Enjoy it.
Let’s build this together.
— The Granny Pulley: An open-source initiative designed in Cyprus 2008.
DISCLAIMER: This guide is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The creator of "The Granny Pulley" assumes no liability for any injuries, damages, or losses resulting from the construction, installation, or use of this project. By using this guide, you agree to assume all responsibility and risk associated with the project.
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