The double washing lines offer up to 30 metres of drying space in total, so you can dry up to three average wash loads at once. This makes it great for large families! Unfortunately for you, if you put too many clothes on it, it may bend a little and droop. It still holds a lot of clothes, though, while still staying taut. Just don’t try to put an absurd amount of clothes on it. Choose a place that is obstacle-free and somewhere out of reach of the children. Make sure it isn’t too high or too low. If it’s too high, you will struggle to extend it and hang out the washing. If it is too low, it will sag, and your washing will end up on the garden floor. Also, you have to consider where the loose end of the line will go. You need to choose a location that is within reach. At the open end, you will need to fit a hook for the line to attach to, and that’s it. Job done! Presuming that you have a retractable washing line with a spool design, there are a couple of things you can do to help prevent the line from sagging.

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. One of the main advantages of a concertina-style dryer is that it can be used at any extension length; it doesn’t need to be fully pulled out if you’re only drying a couple of clothes. Therefore, it only takes up the necessary space required. We’ve heard of individual lines stretching over time and because tension is applied across all 5 lines at once, you can end up with some lines longer than others. And, if you are fixing it to a cavity wall, make sure you use suitable hollow wall anchors; don’t just rely on the fixings supplied, as fully laden, the washing line carries a lot of weight. Available from:

Customers have had success in encouraging the washing line to stay taut by using the cleat hooks under the line, as well as installing additional hooks. 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. Retractable washing lines can be used both indoors and outdoors, but some suit one better than the other. For those who don't want a permanent laundry line taking up space in the garden or patio, larger multi-line styles – that look similar to a mounted clothes dryer – are a great option.

Retractable washing lines are also compact enough to be hung indoors, in laundry rooms or bathrooms, and can therefore be used to dry washing even when the weather is bad outside. There are two primary differences between this DRYZEM line and the Minky retractable washing line. This DRYZEM washing line can rotate on its axis, making it easier to connect to different areas of the garden that aren’t directly in front of the unit. However, it is not as easy to remove from the wall as the Minky unit; whereas the Minky unit can be simply unclipped for easy storage, the DRYZEM model requires screws to be removed. He previously worked as a project manager and has experience in managing teams of tradespeople and landscape gardeners on both small and medium sized projects.An all-metal design would be so much tougher, but at this price point, I think that would be asking too much. The washing lines are kept taut by wrapping them around an anchor point on the base of the unit. However, when fully extended (over 12m), the lines can slip causing your washing to sag in the middle. Also, in terms of safety, this washing line is bright red instead of the usual greens and blues. It’s therefore very easy to see in the garden which can help prevent accidents. This Brabantia retractable washing line is easy to use and straightforward to install since it comes with easy to follow instructions. You will have it set up in no time at all. The sturdiest lines are made out of steel coated in PVC. This makes them strong and weather-resistant. Typically they last much longer. However, they can also become extremely brittle when exposed to prolonged sunlight. Additionally, if they’re put under excessive loads they tend to stretch and deform to a point where they will not return to their original shape. There are still some fabric/rope/ nylon lines floating about but these do have a shorter lifespan and have proven unpopular over recent years. Fitting a retractable wash line

Pros: Line comes with accessories and telescopic pole, dual line, good weight allowance, comes with fittingsIndoor 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 is one of the primary benefits of a spool retractable washing line. The other main benefit is how compact the main unit is, and how little space they take up. Buying a spool line that is housed in casing is a good idea to keep the line clean and dry, even if it does make the wall unit slightly bulkier. Spool retractable washing lines can sag which can make them frustrating to use, especially if clothes start to drag on the floor. Here are a few tactics that you can employ to stop your spool washing line from sagging:

Retractable washing lines are a great option for those who don’t want a washing line permanently strung across their garden. They can look a lot neater than other lines, and once retracted they often become virtually unnoticeable. This type of washing line is a saviour for those who have limited space, whether that be in the garden or inside the house. We feel bad including this as one of our cons but the only downside is that this retractable line is a little pricey. However, we do feel its worth the money and we think its one of the best retractable washing lines. These retractable washing lines offer a large amount of hanging space. Whilst some units only have one spool inside, other models can have two. The length of the line will depend on the model, but it’s possible for each spool to hold approximately 15 metres of line. If there are two spools in one washing line unit (a dual retractable washing line), this will give around 30 metres of hanging space.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. For example, it can help to hang heavier items closer to the reel or hooks than in the middle or the line, and only extend the line to 8 – 10 metres instead of the full 15. 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. The capacity (of a single, double or multi-line option) will give you an estimate of how much laundry is able to fit at once. A standard retractable washing line is around 12 to 15 m and is suitable for a small household of up to two people, whereas up to 30 m should suffice for a family of four.