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. They also tend to be more durable than permanent lines, as the cable itself is stored inside of a casing when not in use. Therefore, it’s less likely to sag or snap over time. In our buying guide, we’ve simplified the key features you need to keep an eye out for when shopping. Housing For small gardens, opt for the shortest length of line possible. Shorter retractable lines tend to come in a single, not a double, unit. This means the casing will be smaller overall and generally protrude less from the wall. When looking to buy a retractable washing line it is always important to make sure you make the right choice for the space you have and the amount of laundry you need to dry. There are several things you may need to consider including price, clothesline capacity, line strength as well as if you want an outdoor or indoor retractable washing line. The casing is sturdy and corrosion-resistant with a powder coating. The tension of each line is designed to prevent any sagging.

The NETTA Retractable Reel Washing Line is an inexpensive option offering 30 m of red PVC-coated line. 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. I used an adjustable spanner to grab my hook and just twisted it into the timber – install complete! With fresh air and sunlight if outside or indoor air for internal use, you can dry your laundry cost-free.

So the first thing to mention that I am not happy about myself, if you watched the video you’ll know I binned the screws. I ended up going for 50mm screws but I think anything size 4 and 40mm up is fine, size five would be bullet proof and beyond the weight rating of the line itself considerably, and if you like to be sure then use the size 5 40mm wood screws rather than those supplied and feel immeasurably more comfortable with that. Here’s a look at the fixings: 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

The most obvious advantage of retractable washing lines is the way they operate. The fact that they are designed to return into the casing when not in use helps protect the clothesline as well as free up your outside space. This is probably the main reason why people choose to buy a retractable washing line over traditional clotheslines that are fixed in position. Although this is the shortest length of washing line featured here, it’s still capable of hanging a couple of loads at once – up to 15 kg in total. It consists of one single line that automatically retracts after use. The line itself is relatively thin, with no wire core, but with the use of a couple of clothes props laundry won’t drag on the floor. 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.A retractable washing line is also portable. It can easily be set up and taken apart for storage when not in use. However, there is one flaw to this design that stands out, and that is when you have a lot of clothes on each line, the inner lines won’t get as much air flowing through to them and might dry at a slower rate. When open, these lines can be quite large, often with 100 cm + space on each side. Therefore, they tend to be big enough for hanging larger items like sheets, if folded once. Washing lines and airers state their capacity in metres and kilograms so this will give you a good idea if it will meet your requirements. Personally, I think dual lines like the Minky are a good size for small to medium families. Conclusion for best retractable washing lines