Tired of Telling the Kids to Close the Screen Door?
by
Charissa
3 Materials
$10
45 Minutes
Easy
This is definitely not my original idea. We were at a friends house - and saw it and had to create it at our place. I figured it was a good one to share for the summer.
By adding a few eye hooks, a little nylon rope and a weight, your door will close "automatically."
Place the first eye hook about at the top corner of the screen.
Place the second eye hook on the frame of the door.
This one is takes a little patience...
Don't place the next eye hook into the wall until you have figured out how wide your screen door needs to open. You can figure this out by starting to place your nylon rope through the first eye hook and tying it in a secure knot.
Thread the nylon rope through to the third hook , open the door as wide as you need it, and tie to a weight to the end (we are using a Core water bottle. )
The weight should be stopped at the eye hook at the same time the door should be at its widest point.
Once you figure out the appropriate length of rope, then securely screw in the last eye hook.
This is an example of the eye hook stopping the weight at the door's widest point.
Our weight is Core water bottle that I created with my son as a calming bottle (here is a link to one recipe: http://www.messforless.net/calming-bottles/) There are a few recipes out there.
I highly recommend tying the bottle so it doesn't hit the ground or having it softly land it a small bucket. You wouldn't want it to burst on you!
Other info to know...use nylon rope that can carry a load of 8 pounds. You don't need an eight pound weight, but with the bottle bouncing, kids pulling, etc. it should be strong. I also recommend nylon because it won't fray like twine.
Here is the final project. The rope isn't too obvious and the bottle is always near the ground - so again not too bad to look at.
This is the door in motion. Pun intended.
Comments
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2 of 47 comments
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This is the best project I have ever seen on this site!!!!!
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Put a cute face on your bottle with dangling legs and a long spring arm fixed to hold 2 hands or mittens, so this little dancer will wave at your kids and neighbors when it's rising and lowering. This probably isn't a good idea if you have cats, or you might attract the neighbor's cats too. Still, it might land you an award winning video of a cat giving your little puppet a high five.
A sandbag doll might be fun too, if you can figure out a good weight, or attach a sandbag behind the doll or under the dress.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Instead of the soda bottle as a weight, can you use a fishing pole weight (you know the weight that gets tied to the line to make it go deeper)? They come in all different weights and they are real small.
Doe the weight on the door make it more difficult to open? You would have to increase your pressure enough to raise the bottle/weight.