Brabantia are known for their high-quality household products, and this retractable washing line is no different. It can be mounted anywhere indoors or out to help you save space. The different cord lengths ensure suitable hanging space for all types of garments from small to large. Livivo's sleek and compact retractable washing line is suitable for outdoor and indoor use. You get two 15 m UV-stabilised ABS-coated cords that can be used individually depending on the task at hand. They're also resistant to water, weather, mould and mildew.

If your washing line tends to sag a little when full with laundry, it might be a good idea to invest in a clothesline prop, to ensure that heavy towels and bedding aren’t touching the ground as they dry.The problem can easily be solved by using a clothes prop or by wrapping the line twice round the anchor point. Another method that requires a little bit of DIY is to install 1-2 galvanised cleat hooks just below the retractable unit. Heavier items such as duvet covers can be hung over both lines. If it wasn’t for this, the Minky would have received full marks. Available from: The benefit of having two separate lines is that you can achieve more drying space across a small area. This can be particularly useful if only a small amount of the garden gets a lot of sun. However, these units do take up the most space when not in use. They require around 1 metre of horizontal wall space and often protrude to around 25 – 30 cm even when fully retracted. Choosing the Right Size Retractable Washing Line The nub or anchor point for tightening the line takes some getting used to. It can be a bit fiddly to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is manageable.

This washing line can hold up to 55 lbs (24.9 kg), and is 14 foot (4.3 metres) long, making it perfect for smaller households who were struggling with finding space to dry their clothes. Indoor types are suited to students and people who live in smaller spaces with only a tight balcony, laundry room, or limited floor space. Many retractable lines can be used interchangeably inside and out. However, some outdoor types have bulky casings that may look awkward and out of place indoors. For use in a living space, a compact type with asleek casing would be ideal. This retractable washing line is best fitted to a wall for stability, but some customers have had success fixing it to strong fence posts, so there is a bit of flexibility on where it can be positioned. When retracted, the unit measures around 18 x 12 x 15 cm which doesn’t take up a lot of space. Attach cleat hooks to the wall underneath the wall unit for the washing line. Once you have pulled out the length of line that you need, wrap some of the line around the cleat hooks to stop more from coming out of the reel.

If you want to dry your washing naturally in the fresh air, yet only have a small garden, this outdoor retractable clothes line is ideal. The Minky provides a full 30 m of drying space on two lines, so it can be used to span a balcony or patio. And, because there are two lines, each line can point to a different section of your garden to really maximise drying space – which is ideal if you have a large family and do a lot of washing. Units that have a similar appearance to standard rotary washing lines but are wall mounted and fold up neatly against the wall when not in use. Each drying line has an automatic retraction mechanism that allows you to retract it with the push of a single button and a cap to keep dirt out of the housing unit and off of the line. This line actually comes with its own fittings, screws and wall plugs, so you can install it without needing to take a trip to the DIY shop or scouring your toolbox for suitable screws. When you think of washing lines, your first thought might be a plastic-coated string that has loosened over time and has become more of a choking hazard in the garden than a practical way to dry your clothes.

This small retractable washing linecan be used inside or outside, and is easy to install just about anywhere. Some designs are stronger than others, and it all comes down to the quality of their construction. They tend to be made of aluminium because it is light and helps the retractable mechanism work well without weighing down the line. However, aluminium isn’t as strong as steel, and often these lines can struggle to hold lots of heavier items like wet towels. The plastic wrapping around the cord makes it easy to wipe clean, and the line retracts slowly to prevent accidents. Like the Minky, the washing line is kept taut by wrapping it around the anchor point on the base of the unit, but also like the Minky, when fully extended (over 12m), the line can slip causing the washing to sag in the middle. Like the other Brabantia washing line, this model also comes with a 5-year guarantee, so it is totally risk-free.Certain retractable washing lines can be placed above radiators, making it easy to dry washing without the help of a tumble drier in the winter. Made from UV-resistant, high-quality ABS plastic, Vileda's Cordomatic is sure to withstand the extremes of UK weather, even with long-term exposure. You get one clothing line that can be extended up to 15 m, which is more than enough to do one big load of washing.

For drying a lot of clothes without forking out loads of money, the Minky Retractable Washing Line provides 30 m of drying space and is very reasonably priced. Able to extend to two 15 m lines, the Minky retractable washing line can hold three average-sized loads of washing weighing around 25 kg in total. PVC-coated lines ensuredurability against the elementsand theywon't sag even after prolonged use. As a result, drying heavier washing such as towels and jeans can cause the washing line to hang low to the ground, and it’s therefore better suited to drying smaller loads of washing. The NETTA Retractable Reel Washing Line is an inexpensive option offering 30 m of red PVC-coated line.For the most part, concertina lines can extend outwards up to around 60 cm, and often they remain reasonably sturdy even when items are hung on the bars furthest from the wall unit.