Designed by Lance Hill at the request of his wife as an inexpensive, more compact replacement for his washing line, Hills have specialised in innovative, economical, and efficient airing solutions since 1946. The Hills company name is perhaps best known for its rotary airers, which provide a compact, efficient solution to washing lines while still allowing clothes, bedding or towels to dry naturally in the fresh air. However, Hill's catalogue now includes trolleys and shelves, which are made to fit any drying space. Wherever you live, regardless of space, you can be sure Hills have thought of a way for you to dry your washing easily. Brand: Brabantia | Dimensions open: H129-187cm x 295cm (turning diameter) | Dimensions closed: H200cm x W11cm x D11cm | Material: Steel and aluminium | Ground spike included: Yes | Cover included: Yes | Maximum Load: three washing loads What we like It is much smaller than other models, with only 15m of line space. However, this may be enough depending on your needs and family size; for example, it is great for couples with a new baby! It does claim to hold one load of washing or possibly two if the loads are small. Our only recommendation is that you don't try to use it outside on a windy day, as the Minky only comes with a few ground pegs, which won't survive in a strong wind. If you’re a large family, you will likely want a rotary airer that has at least 50 metres of line, to give you enough washing line space to dry all the washing. A lightweight, but sturdy, rotary washing line, the Vileda Sun-Life 40m Compact Rotary Airer comes with some helpful features, including a rachet system to alter the height and ensure the lines stay taut, and four clip-on hooks to accommodate coat hangers, offering more drying options during those sunny summer days.

These lines are usually bigger (more drying space), sturdier, come with better features like a handle to crank the line up and hanger hooks) and come with extras (cover/pegs), and in some cases, guarantees. Having the ability to change the height of your rotary airer will make it much easier and more comfortable for you to use. The types of items you will be drying, and how big they are. Different rotary washing lines vary in how much space they have between their arms, and therefore how much room there is for drying. Offering 40 metres of non-slip, UV resistant line and a compact design, this rotary clothes airer from Brabantia is a sound choice if you have a small outdoor area at home.

According to some Mumsnetters, using a heavy metal parasol holder (which you would need to buy separately) can be a way around having to dig a hole or use concrete to secure your rotary washing line. This seems to work well for lots of people – and has the added benefit of moving it around as needed – but bear in mind it probably won't be as secure as fixing it properly in the ground. Do I need to embed the ground spike in concrete?

Best rotary washing line accessory for rainy days: Chimney Sheep Large Laundry Mac Laundry Protector | Buy now You can consider embedding the ground spike in concrete or plaster for extra support, but it is optional. How deep should a hole be for the ground spike? We had a Minky one at our last house. It had two lines, so it was great for a full load. No complaints." (Suggested by Mumsnet user WeAreTheHeroes) For those of you on a budget, LIVIVO Folding can be an economical choice. Even though it is at the lower end of the price scale, this four-arm spinning washing line still has much to offer and is a good choice if you have a smaller garden.The Hills 60m Supadry Hoist is an ultra heavy-duty clothes line that is ideal for a large family wash, effortlessly managing a king size duvet. This Hills dryer is equipped with 60 metres of drying line that will hold a large amount of washing with the large 3m turning diameter giving your washing a good fast drying time. This Hills dryer has an easy to clean line and an easy to operate hoist mechanism which can be raised and lowered by the winding handle. Height of highest outer line when raised is 2060mm, minimum height of outer line 1873mm. Washing can be loaded easily at 1800mm before raising the hoist into the breeze The Supadry Hoist has individual line tensioning devices on each line to help keep lines taut. Getting a rotary washing line to dry your laundry on is an excellent alternative to using a tumble dryer! Rotary lines come with weight limits. Make sure that your laundry day needs do not outweigh this limit. In other words, if you do a lot of washing, a heavy-duty and large 4-arm airer is better than a smaller 3-arm or mobile airer. 3. Space