If you are like me, hang-drying your clothes not only protects some of your delicates, it is also a perfect memory of summer with your clothes on the line swishing in the wind. The crispness and comfort that comes from lined dried clothes are like no other.
So when you decide to buy a rotary outdoor or indoor clothes airer for your clothes it’s a great idea to know what is on the market, which product is the best selling and what features you should be looking for. This guide covers both rotary dryers and indoor airers (including heated models) – please use the Contents function below to find the particular section you are interested in.
Contents
Last update on 2021-02-26 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Brabantia is a global brand that produces high-quality products and the same is true for their Lift-O-Matic rotary washing line. This washing line lifts and opens in a similar way to an umbrella.
It’s straightforward to operate and has an adjustable height from 129cm to 187cm and has 60cm in line length. It could easily handle a family of four, as it is four-sided with four lines on each side. One important feature to be aware of is that the washing line doesn’t spin on its pole, the collapsable arms are designed to rotate. So, once the ground spike is in place it should stay there.
This Brabantia rotary washing includes a ground socket and instructions are supplied to show you how to concrete it into place. However, this product is collapsable and can be stored away conveniently.
Pros
Cons
The LIVIVO is one of the most stylish lines on our list. It comes powder-coated to protect it from the elements and the build quality is good. The total length of the PVC washing line is 45m, more than enough for a large family. Each side has 11 lines and the inner lines are spaced further apart to accommodate bulkier items.
The LIVIVO rotary washing line is simple to operate. The soft-grip handle is designed to provide a means to switch between four height settings. Also, this line comes with a simple cover which can be fitted when not in use to protect it from bad weather. We recommend the Livivo highly and we think it is one of the best rotary washing lines on the market.
Pros
Cons
This high quality 50m washing line has one of the largest capacities of all the rotary washing lines on our list. It can hold up to four loads.
This heavy-duty rotary washing line is really well made, with a powder-coated steel frame design and it looks great too. It comes with a cover and a ground spike that can be concreted in.
Pros
Cons
This rotary clothes line from Addis is the perfect budget option. It has a grey frame and an adjustable height up to 1.75m. It has four arms and can offer changeable tension levels so you have the correct tension for whatever you are hang drying. It affords 40m of drying space and is very robust. It is thoughtfully designed with clever touches like hooks on the end of each arm to help it fold up neatly for storage.
The frame is fully painted in grey and is fabricated from steel which makes it weatherproof and resistant to rust.
It also has a turning circle of 2.47m with a load level of 25 kg. Do not exceed that weight limit or it may cause damage to your airer.
Overall this is a durable washing line at a reasonable price.
Pros
Cons
It’s a premium quality washing line at an extremely good price. It’s solid and very durable.
The frame is constructed of steel and will not deform over time, even in stronger winds. It has a convenient locking system that can adjust the tension in the lines to suit your washing load.
It’s also compact in size and has a line length of 40m. This rotary dryer includes a free ground spike and protective cover.
If you want a sturdy airer that doesn’t take up much space, this may be the washing line for you.
Pros
Cons
This rotary washing line from Markos Homeware sits approximately 1.75 meters high and has a line length of 40m.
The four arms gently fold in and are easy to open when ready to use. The whole frame of the airer is made from aluminium and is powder-coated preventing weather damage.
This product does exactly what it says on the packaging with minimal fuss and doesn’t cost a fortune. It comes with some free features like a cover and a ground spike.
All things considered, this is a great budget option and has all the features you should expect from a decent rotary washing line. There aren’t any real drawbacks.
Pros
Cons
This rotary clothes dryer by Express Trading is made with heavy-duty metal construction. It is fully weatherproof and sturdy. It’s easy to assemble and store.
It has a line length of 50m and can hold a maximum weight of four laundry loads at once. That is quite impressive. This airer can also be concreted in if you wish to have a more permanent fixture in your yard.
Overall this is a really nice dryer with some excellent features.
The Vileda Viva Air 4 Arm Rotary Airer has an overall line length of 45 meters and the width from arm to arm is 1.65m. Span is 2.32m. Constructed from steel with a split pole design this rotary is easy to transport home and straightforward to assemble. It’s quite heavy duty and fully painted for long-lasting protection. The box contains a plastic ground socket but does not include a ground spike or protective cover like most rotary washing lines on the market.
Pros
Cons
The Linomatic 500 Deluxe is the best rotary for a large family. This product comes with a proprietary line retraction system with an area of 50m. The operation of the arms is effortless and straightforward. The opening and closing is controlled by an eye-level button which makes for safer operation. Perhaps the best feature of this product is the way the lines retract into the arms when it collapses. This ensures the lines stay free from dirt which can transfer onto your washing. There are convenient hooks on each carrying arm and the Leifheit can take up to 6 loads of washing at one time. The maximum line length is 2,03 m so there is plenty of space for bulkier laundry, like bed linen and tablecloths.
It is constructed from materials that are weatherproof and UV resistant and comes with a ground socket and a 3-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
We would certainly recommend using them. They save on energy bills and they do make your linens and clothes smell and feel fresher. We would always recommend you purchase a model from a recognised brand with good reviews. People tend to complain about buying the cheaper versions and regret not spending that little extra on a more robust model that has the necessary features to make it last much longer. Due to the good old British weather, it is likely you will need to replace your rotary clothesline at some point. However, if you look after them and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines they should last quite a long time.
There are plenty of rotary washing lines available on Amazon but we believe that the best rotary washing line will incorporate all of the features listed below.
Weatherproof
First and foremost when looking at rotary washing lines you must choose an option that is built from sturdy materials. After all, it is going to spend most of its days out in the garden. Although none of the products on our list are designed the withstand gale-force winds it shouldn’t fall down in a stiff breeze nor should it sag when under load. Painted or powder-coated designs will help to protect your clothesline from rain and stop it from rusting.
Adjustable Height
Most rotary lines will have a specific height so its always worth checking the size before you purchase it. Especially if you’re particularly short or tall. You may need assistance to set the thing up initially but usually, once you have the airer setup and in place, it will be easy to handle for most people. A rotary washing line with adjustable height settings should be a priority for anyone as it affords greater flexibility and convenient use.
Quality Lines
Having a clothesline that is long enough is very important. Also, the airer needs to be thoughtfully designed to take up as little space in your garden as possible. I would say a good length is between 40-50m. Lines with a PVC coating will ensure they stay strong in hot and cold weather. Eventually, through years of use, your line may become worn and naturally sag. This is to be expected and the design of your airer should make it easy to replace the line. You can purchase a PVC washing line from most hardware stores and replace it yourself.
Load Level
This is the maximum weight that your rotary washing line can hold. If you are single and living on your own you may not need a high weight limit. However, if you are washing clothes for a large family, you may want to check out the weight limits before purchasing.
Functionality
Although rotary washing lines aren’t incredibly complicated pieces of kit, the one you buy should be easy to set up and straightforward to operate. Look for a rotary washing line that spins effortlessly as this will undoubtedly help your clothes to dry quicker. Adjustable lines are very useful to stop your heavy towels and bed linens from dragging on the floor. Overall it shouldn’t be too much of a burden otherwise you may be persuaded to revert back to your energy thirsty tumble drier.
Easy Setup
The best rotary line will be simple to erect and collapse, however, it is inevitable that some will be heavier and more cumbersome than others. Most airers will come with a ground spike that should hold your clothesline sufficiently. However, we’ve discovered that some need to be concreted in. Obviously, we can’t predict the condition of the ground where you are but we would recommend that the pole of your airer is concreted into the ground.
Most rotary airers are made of either aluminium or steel which is painted or powder-coated. Either option is good and makes the line resistant to the weather. It is sensible to close and cover the dryer when not in use to keep it clean and dry. Ideally, you should put the whole thing away in very bad weather to protect it from strong winds.
Accessories
Some rotary lines will come with a cover that you can use when not in use. This protects the rotary line from the damage caused by wind and other types of weather. Also, they should come with a ground spike and ground socket to help you erect it in your garden properly. Some people try to fit their new washing lines into the old socket, which is fine, but just ensure you get the correct diameter of the new washing line pole first to make sure it fits.
Rotary clothes lines should last for a long time however there are things you can do to prolong its lifespan and to ensure it works as intended.
The best rotary washing line is the Brabantia Lift-O-Matic Large 60m Airer. We believe it has the right balance between features and value. It will not break easily and it is straightforward to use. In closing, we were really impressed with the Brabantia Lift-O-Matic rotary washing line. Without a doubt, it is thoughtfully designed with ample space for a larger family. In our eyes a worthy replacement for the old tumble drier
We often get asked about how exactly a rotary washing line is fixed into the ground. Luckily, the method is more or less the same no matter which rotary clothesline you go for so here is a helpful Youtube video showing you exactly how to do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehXjcGjnhM4
We hope you have enjoyed this MyCleanHomeGuide buying guide and found it useful. We hope we have helped you to identify the best rotary washing line for you. Here are some of our other popular laundry-related guides and best seller reviews: