Wall or post-mounted with extendable lines up to 15m, retractable washing lines can provide all the line-drying space you need. Retractable washing lines can be mounted indoors or outdoors and when you have finished drying your washing, the lines can easily be wound back into the unit out of the way.
Here we review some of the best retractable washing lines available:
Brabantia Indoor Retractable Washing Line
Our Rating: 4/5
- RRP: £29.99
- Total line space: 22m
- Maximum line extension: 4.4m
- Minimum line extension: N/A
- Smooth pull out system
- Automatic line locking
- Easy to fit
- 5 Year Guarantee
We like:
Brabantia has a reputation for supplying good quality, durable household goods and with its sturdy construction this retractable washing line is no exception. The drying line uses a pull-out system with an automatic locking mechanism which keeps the lines taut, and as it’s manufactured from corrosion resistant materials, it’s suitable for outdoor use or in the bathroom.
The fitting instructions are clear and come with a template for positioning the fixings, making it easy to set up. The 5 lines are well spaced so there is plenty of airflow around the clothes for rapid drying. A great value space-saving solution.
We’re not so keen on:
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:
Minky 30m Double Retractable Washing Line
Our Rating: 3.5/5
- RRP: £22.00
- Total line space: 30m
- Maximum line extension: 15mx2
- Minimum line extension: N/A
- Easy to use retractable mechanism
- Stows neatly away when not in use
- Comes complete with rawl plugs and screws
- Retractable reel keeps the lines clean
- UV resistant line casing for outdoor use
- Also available as a single line product
We like:
If you want to dry your washing naturally in the fresh air, yet only have a small garden, this outdoor retractable washing 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 2 lines, each line can span a different section of your garden to maximise drying space – ideal if you have a large family and do a lot of washing.
The line is sunlight resistant and the reel can be removed from its bracket when not in use.
The Minky double retractable washing line provides a good value and neat way to dry your clothes outside – great if you don’t have the room for a fixed line.
We’re not so keen on:
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.
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:
Vileda 15m Cordomatic Retractable Washing Line
Our Rating: 4/5
- RRP: £12.69
- Total line space: 15m
- Maximum line extension: 15m x 1
- Minimum line extension: N/A
- Easy to use retractable mechanism
- Stows neatly away when not in use
- Comes complete with rawl plugs and screws
- Automatic line retraction keeps the lines clean
- Can be folded against wall when not in use
We like:
We really like this washing line – it’s a great quality unit that gives the impression from the outset that it will be long-lasting. The casing is sturdy, high quality plastic that will withstand extremes of weather, and the Cordomatic’s retractable mechanism is good and strong.
The Vileda is easy to mount and looks neat and tidy when not in use. As with the Minky, the reel can be removed from its bracket or this one can be folded neatly against a wall or fence post when not in use. We’ve owned the Vileda for about 2 years and it’s been left out in all weathers yet the retractable reel still functions perfectly.
We’re not so keen on:
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.
Again, the problem can be solved by using a clothes prop or by wrapping the line twice round the anchor point. We really like the product, but the line slippage at full extension means we can’t give this washing line full marks.
Available from:
Dryzem Dual Retractable Clothes Line
Our Rating: 4/5
- RRP: £20.99
- Total line space: 30m
- Maximum line extension: 15m x 1
- Minimum line extension: N/A
- Easy to use retractable mechanism
- Stows neatly away when not in use
- Comes complete with rawl plugs and screws
- Independently retractable lines
- Flush fitting clasp to seal unit from dirt when not in use
We like:
The Dryzem clothesline is a sturdy product that feels like it will provide many years of service. The dual lines provide a total of 30 metres of drying space, which is ideal for those days when you need to dry a couple of loads. You can lock the lines independently to stop them sagging by winding them around their respective locking cleat.
The Dryzem is easy to mount. It comes with raw plugs, screws and metal hooks. It can be neatly folded back against the wall when not in use. However, if you want to store the washing line inside during the winter, you can just release the two screws slightly to release the unit from the wall.
We’re not so keen on:
Some customers report that the lines can stretch under the weight of a full load of washing.
Available from:
Hills Extenda 6 Heavy Duty Retractable Washing Line
Our Rating: 4.5/5
- RRP: £159.99
- Total line space: 39m
- Maximum line extension: 6.5m
- Minimum line extension: 4.0m
- 6 line smooth retractable mechanism
- Space to dry all sheet sizes
- Strong and corrosion-resistant, powder coated cabinet
- Individual line tensioning means no sagging
We like:
If you’re looking for heavy duty and durable family washing line that will provide years of service, the Hills Extenda fits the bill. The lines are housed in a strong and corrosion-resistant cabinet and because of a line tensioning feature that actually works, even heavy articles such as jeans and towels won’t cause the lines to sag.
With a huge 39 meters of drying space, the Hills Extenda can accommodate a full load of washing including the largest sheet sizes. For wall-to-wall installation no accessories are required, although you may need to purchase some more heavy duty wall anchors depending on your walls.
We’re not so keen on:
The Hills Extenda is probably the toughest and most durable retractable washing line on the market, but that makes it heavy. The weight of the unit combined with the weight of 6 lines loaded with wet clothes requires a rock-solid installation and it may be worth investing in some heavy-duty wall anchors from your local DIY store. For wall to post installation, a separate post kit is required.
Given the heavy-duty nature of the washing line, the tensioning handle is made of comparatively insubstantial plastic.
Available from:
Retractaline 32 Metre Retractable Clothesline
Our Rating: 5/5
- RRP: £59.99
- Total line space: 32m
- Maximum line extension: 8m
- Minimum line extension: 1.5m
- Can be either wall or post mounted
- 4 UV stabilised lines
- 10 Year Structural Warranty
We like:
It’s hard to fault this South African-made washing line. The Retractaline 32 uses individual line tensioning system to reduce line sag and enable use with non parallel walls. The lines extend to a distance of 8 meters giving an impressive 32 meters of drying space. You can hang up to 10 kg of washing per line, so that’s a total of 40 kg or 4 big loads.
The heavy-duty casing is highly corrosion resistant and both the casing and the lines are UV stabilised, meaning this washing line is built to last. Retractaline offer a 10 year structural warranty, although this excludes the lines which come with a 2 year replacement warranty.
Set up is straightforward if you own a good drill. All raw plugs and fasteners for wall to wall mounting are included and the box comes with a template for marking the correct position of holes.
Available from:
More washing line reviews
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