How to Choose The Best Rotary Washing Line
Rotary washing lines are a practical way to dry washing in the garden. They’re often more convenient than a long line – there’s no need to mess around propping them up and they don’t take up so much space.
Rotary lines can be collapsed down when not in use, and a range of sizes are available, so they’re suitable for both small and large gardens.
However, they can vary in style, offering different features depending on which model you buy. The following information details the pros and cons of different design elements, so you can choose the best rotary washing line for your garden.
Aluminium or Steel Rotary Washing Lines
The most common materials for the frames of rotary washing lines are aluminium or steel.
Aluminium lines are lightweight and rust resistant. These are their main benefits. They can be quite easy to carry in and out of storage, and don’t require as much strength to put up. Plus, aluminium is not prone to rust – although it can still corrode over time.
One of the main drawbacks of aluminium is that it’s not very strong. Therefore, rotary washing lines made from aluminium may be more likely to bend or buckle than steel ones. Of course, this also depends on the design and construction of the washing line, so it isn’t a hard and fast rule. However, when directly comparing the properties of the metals, aluminium is weaker than steel.
Steel lines are considered stronger and less likely to bend, warp or break than aluminium ones. This is their main advantage, and can be particularly useful if washing drying heavier items like duvets, blankets or towels.
Choosing a Line with Enough Space
If you’re a large family, you will likely want a rotary airer that has at least 50 metres of line, to give you enough space to dry all the washing. However, there is a chance that you will be limited on space outside, in which case you may have to compromise between the size of the line and how much room is available.
For smaller families, of just a couple of people, a rotary line with 30 – 40 metres of line should be sufficient.
Another consideration is the types of items you will be drying, and how big they are. Different lines vary in how much space they have between their arms, and therefore how much room there is for drying.
Check the specification for the washing line that you are hoping to buy to see how much space there is between each arm. If you want to dry large sheets, you will need the space between each arm to be wider than the width of the sheet.
Rotary washing lines with three arms, instead of four, have more space between them.
It will be a lot easier to hang a king-size sheet on a rotary washing line that only has three arms.
However, lines with three arms instead of four can be weaker, especially if they are not well made. This is because less arms are having to support the same amount of weight as a four-arm line.
For this reason, high-quality three-arm lines can be more expensive than four-arm models.
At the end of the day, you can only buy as big a line as you can fit in your garden, so you may ultimately have to buy one that is smaller than the items you want to dry. However, there are always ways to drape larger items over more of the line, it just might not be the most efficient way of drying.
Ground Stakes – How to Secure Your Line
You will need to install a ground socket to hold your rotary washing line.
If you already have one from a previous rotary line, you can avoid having to remove it and put in a new one as long as you buy a line that fits the existing socket.
Quite a lot of washing lines either have a 40 mm pole, or a 32 mm pole. If there’s already a socket in your garden, check its diameter and make sure to buy a washing line that’s the same size. This will save a lot of hassle. If the product’s specification doesn’t say what width it is, get in touch with the manufacturer. It’s definitely worth knowing because it can save a lot of time.
If you don’t already have a washing line socket installed in your garden, check to see if the washing line you’re looking at comes with one included. Sometimes this is the case, but not always. You’ll have to buy one separately if it doesn’t come with one. Again, make sure that the socket you get is the correct size for the washing line.
When it comes to installing a socket, they can either be positioned directly into the soil or concreted in.
If placing the socket in soil, it can be difficult to get it into hard ground, especially at the right angle.
There are a few steps that will make it easier to install a socket directly into the soil:
- Soak the ground for several days before attempting to install the socket. The softer the ground is, the easier it will be.
- Use a spade to mark a deep X into the ground, with the central point being where the socket will be positioned.
- Place the socket in the middle of the X and cover it with a piece of wood to protect it. Use a mallet to encourage the socket into the ground.
- After every few hits with the mallet, put the washing line pole into the hole. Use this as a test of whether the socket it going in straight. Push on the pole until the socket is straight.
- Remove the pole and continue to use the mallet to get the socket into the ground.
- Repeat steps 4 – 5 until the socket is flush with the ground.
Taking Care of Your Rotary Washing Line
It’s a good idea to close and cover the washing line when it’s not in use to keep it clean and dry. Some washing lines come with covers included, but if yours doesn’t you may want to look into buying one separately.
Ideally, you should put the whole washing line away in very bad weather to protect it from strong winds.
Rotary Washing Line FAQs
My rotary washing line has gone a bit saggy. How do I tighten it?
Rotary drier lines can sometimes stretch over time as a result of UV damage and the weight of heavy washing. However, it is easy to tighten the line. Firstly, your line may have a couple of height options, if you’ve been using it on the lowest level, pushing it up further will tighten the line. Alternatively, you can manually tighten the line:
Start by setting the rotary line at a low position. Starting at the centre of the line, pull each section until it is reasonably tight. Do not overtighten otherwise you will not be able to close the drier. Once you pulled the line through on each section, and are happy with the tightness, you can put the rotary drier into the higher position. It is likely that the last section will have excess line. You should tie off and remove excess washing line at the end; however, before you do this, ensure that the line will easily open and close.
The line on my rotary washing drier has broken. Can I restring it?
Yes, it’s quite easy to restring a rotary washing line. You will need some patience and a couple of hours, but it is simple to do and requires no special tools.
Ascertain how much washing line you will need by measuring all of the line in one section and multiplying this number by three or four (depending on how may arms your drier has). Add a little bit extra for threading and tying. Buy a good quality washing line of the same diameter as the previous line.
Have a good look at the current line to see how it is threaded and tied – taking a few pictures at this stage can be very helpful – then remove the old line. To restring the line, start with the middle. Thread the new cord in the same way as the old one and tie it off to finish. You can do this in two sections if necessary, tying off after the first section and then beginning again on the second half of the line if it makes it easier.
How do I fix my rotary washing line into the ground?
Rotary washing lines need to be fixed into the ground with a socket. These are usually called either lawn spikes or sockets. This socket can be positioned directly into the lawn or concreted in, depending on personal preference.
To fix the lawn spike into the ground:
- Soak the ground for several days before attempting to install the socket. The softer the ground is, the easier it will be.
- Use a spade to mark a deep X into the ground, with the central point being where the socket will be positioned.
- Place the socket in the middle of the X and cover it with a piece of wood to protect it. Use a mallet to encourage the socket into the ground.
- After every few hits with the mallet, put the washing line pole into the hole. Use this as a test of whether the socket it going in straight. Push on the pole until the socket is straight.
- Remove the pole and continue to use the mallet to get the socket into the ground.
- Repeat steps 4 – 5 until the socket is flush with the ground.
To fix a spike into concrete:
- Dig a hole approximately spade-width wide and as deep as your ground socket.
- Place the socket in the hole and pour in a bag of dry post concrete while holding the spike upright.
- Check that the socket is level with a spirit level, and add water to the concrete according to the instructions on the bag.
- Keep checking that the socket is level until the concrete is dry. Have a long piece of wood on hand in case you need to nudge the socket straight. It should take between five to ten minutes for the concrete to dry sufficiently.
