Repurpose a Ladder Into a DIY Drying Rack

Brian Patrick Flynn
Materials Needed
wooden ladder
satin spray paint (in
(4) drywall anchors (1/4" threads)
(4) eye bolts with threads to match anchors (1/4" x 1 1/2")
(4) small eye bolts with wood threads
(8) locking chain links
(4) 4" lengths of light-duty chain
drop cloth
miter saw
safety goggles
measuring tape
pencil
sanding block
cordless drill
1/2" and 1/4" drill bits
Cut Ladder
Measure and mark the ladder to your desired length, then use a miter saw to cut the ladder.

Brian Patrick Flynn
Sand Ladder
Using a sanding block, smooth out the surface of the ladder to prep the surface for painting.
Paint Ladder
Set up an area with a drop cloth to protect your surface before painting, then apply a coat (or two) of spray paint in a satin finish. Let dry.

Brian Patrick Flynn
Install Ceiling Anchors
You'll need to install drywall anchors unless you're attaching your hardware directly into a stud or ceiling joist. Pre-drill holes for the anchors with a 1/2" bit (Image 1), then tap the anchors into place (Image 2). Next, screw the eye bolts into the anchors (Image 3). Make sure your anchor thread dimensions match the eye bolt thread dimensions or the bolts will not screw in properly.

Brian Patrick Flynn
IMAGE 1

Brian Patrick Flynn
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Brian Patrick Flynn
IMAGE 3
Install Eye Bolts in Ladder
Pre-drill holes in the ladder with a 1/4" bit (Image 1), then install eye bolts on each corner (Image 2).

Brian Patrick Flynn
IMAGE 1

Brian Patrick Flynn
IMAGE 2
Add Chains + Hang Ladder
Once the eye bolts are installed on both the ceiling and the ladder, you can attach the light-duty chains. We had the chains cut into 4" lengths at a home improvement center, then added the locking links at the ends. Attach the chains to the ceiling first (Image 1), then the ladder (Image 2). Of course, you can adjust the chain length to accommodate any rack or ceiling height.

Brian Patrick Flynn
IMAGE 1

Brian Patrick Flynn
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