7 Best Rotary Washing Lines of 2024

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The Best Rotary Washing Lines

The Best Rotary Washing Line
  1. Livivo Rotary Washing Line

  2. Brabantia Lift-O-Matic Rotary Washing Line

  3. Addis Rotary Washing Line

  4. NETTA Rotary Washing Line

  5. The Home Laundry Company Premium Quality Rotary Washing line

  6. Premium 30m Rotary Washing Line

  7. BPIL Heavy Duty Rotary Washing Line

Rotary Washing Line Reviews

Editors Choice
  • Zip-fastening cover included
  • Good size for a family of two
  • Lightweight and easy to carry in and out of storage if kept in the shed or garage
  • Adjustable tension to prevent heavier items such as wet towels from sagging towards the floor

  • Lines are very close together so clothes may take longer to dry
  • Not enough hanging space for more than two loads of washing
  • Difficult to find enough space to hang larger items like king-size sheets
Overall Score 4.8
Design
4.5
Ease of Use
5
Stability
5
Value for Money
4.7

Appearance isn’t everything… but it can help. Which is why it’s a pleasant surprise that this LIVIVO Rotary Washing Line has quite a chic finish, along with being a high-quality clothes airer.

This rotary washing line has a powder-coated steel frame with a grey/black finish. This contrasts with the green PVC-coated line, to create a modern look. It also comes with a black, zip-fastening protective cover, with LIVIVO’s contemporary logo stamped on the front. It certainly has an aesthetic that’s more in keeping with the 21st century than other rotary lines!

There are 45 metres of line overall, which means this rotary washing line has enough line space to cope with approximately two loads of washing. However, the space between the arms is not particularly large. It may be difficult to fit large king-size sheets on it as the outer length of line measures 146.5 cm.

On the plus side, it’s a decent height at 194.5 cm meaning the washing is not in danger of dragging on the ground. Plus, longer items can be hung with enough clearance so that pets don’t brush past them.

There is a soft grip handle, used to open and close the washing line, and the mechanism works well. It gives a choice of four different positions which help alter the tension of the line.

In terms of price, this rotary airer sits in a mid-range position, and its build quality reflects that. It is generally sturdy, but may struggle with the weight and size of larger, heavier items like duvets. A ground spike comes included, to fit the 32 mm pole.

Overall, this is the best rotary washing line if you’re after something with a contemporary, smart appearance. Seeing as it’s relatively small, it may be more suited to a couple of people as opposed to a large family, and it’s better for smaller items, not large sheets.

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Runner Up
  • One tree is planted for every washing line bought
  • Easier to dry heavier, large items like duvets and cushions without having to lift them as high
  • Woollen items can be easily laid flat when using the line on its lowest setting
  • Easy to close the line and collapse it for storage or to get it out the way whilst mowing
  • Space for cClothes hangers can be hung on the ends of the arms

  • Ground must be very soft or you may struggle to get the ground spike in - soaking the ground in advance can help
  • It can be difficult to keep the ground spike straight when putting it into the ground
  • When applying force to lift the arms, sometimes the pole of the washing line can come out of the ground hole
Overall Score 4.9
Design
5
Ease of Use
4.8
Stability
4.8
Value for Money
5

For the eco-conscious among you, it might be worth knowing that for every Lift-O-Matic Rotary Washing Line sold, Brabantia organises to have one tree planted by WeForest – nice!

Whilst this might seem like an arbitrary link, it makes a lot more sense after realising that rotary washing lines are sometimes referred to as ‘laundry trees’ – plus, Brabantia are keen to encourage line-drying as an environmental choice.

The Brabantia Rotary Washing Line is a premium model – this is evident in its build quality as well as its price. Unlike most rotary washing lines, this model can be used at many different heights with the arms still fully extended. The lowest height available, measured from the tops of the arms, is 129 cm, and the tallest option is 187 cm.

Being able to use this washing line at 129 cm makes it easier to drape heavier items like duvets, cushions and bed covers, without having to hold them high overhead. Woollen items can also be dried flat, without having to hang them and risk them losing shape.

Furthermore, the adjustability also makes this line suitable for people of varying heights.

There are 50 metres of line in total, spread between nine different rows, and the rotary arms help with drying in a breeze. At the end of each arm there is also a hole through which a clothes hangers can be hung, in order to dry some clothes without using pegs.

Installing the metal ground spike can be challenging, but soaking the ground (for days in advance), can make the process easier.

Installation problems aside, this is one of the best rotary washing lines for drying different types of textiles – the fact that the arms can be lowered and remain open makes it a much more versatile design than standard rotary washing lines.

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Also Good
  • Plenty of room to dry washing for a family of four
  • Weighs just 4kgs so light enough to move in and out of storage if needed
  • Durable and sturdy construction feels solid in all weathers
  • Small footprint makes it suitable for smaller gardens

  • May bend under the weight of heavier loads like duvets and quilts
  • Need to be careful using in high winds as it may bend
  • May be prone to rust if left outside and exposed for long periods
Overall Score 4.3
Design
4
Ease of Use
4.5
Stability
4
Value for Money
4.5

This Addis Rotary Washing Line is a good option if you’re looking for a simple, affordable rotary washing line. Given its size and price, this is the best rotary washing line to buy on a budget.

The 40-metre line provides enough space to hang around two loads of washing at a time, the line tension can be adjusted when required, and the steel construction is rust-resistant and sturdy.

Unlike a lot of the rotary lines featured here, this Addis rotary airer only has one height option. It stands at 175 cm overall, and is opened using and umbrella-style mechanism whereby you press in a button and open the airer until the line is taut. When the button is released, it locks in place.

In general, it seems this rotary washing line is relatively easy to open and close; whilst it may be stiff initially, customers report that it generally loosens over time.

A ground spike comes included, so it’s not necessary to buy one separately, but there’s no protective cover provided. Given that this washing line can sometimes be prone to rusting, acquiring a cover might help keep it dry and protected.

Overall, this washing line is cheaper than many rotary dryers of the same size on the market. Quality may be slightly lower than some other options, but if you just want an inexpensive, basic rotary line, this one won’t break the bank.

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  • Can fit three to four small loads of washing
  • Waterproof cover included
  • No complicated mechanism - simple to put up and down with just a single click action
  • 4 different tension adjustments to choose from depending on what you are drying
  • Tall enough to hang larger items such as bed linen and bath towels

  • The bolts and rivets aren’t rust resistant and may weaken if left out in the rain
  • Some of the lines on the outer layers are a little close together so thicker items may not dry properly if hung on those lines
  • Protective cover has reinforced holes at the bottom for a drawstring, but no drawstring comes included
Overall Score 4.3
Design
4
Ease of Use
5
Stability
4
Value for Money
4

With 45 m of hanging space, the NETTA Rotary Washing Line is perfect for small/medium households.

It can take approximately three to four small loads of washing in one go, has four retractable arms and is easy to open and close. There’s also a protective cover and ground spike included.

This rotary washing line has a diameter of 206 cm once opened, and a height of 194 cm. This height means that the line can be used to hang large items such as bed linen and bath towels without them dragging on the floor.

One of the best things about this rotary washing line is how easy it is to use. It’s simple to both put up and take down, with just a one-click mechanism, similar to an umbrella. Initially, the collar can be a little hard to push into position the first few times. There are four different tension adjustments, so it can be loaded with heavier items like jeans and towels without causing the line to sag.

Some of the lines towards the outer edges are quite close together. For this reason, you may have to plan how to hang the washing, such as putting thinner items towards the edge, to allow better air circulation. Thicker items can be hung in the middle where there’s more space between the lines.

The pole measures 32 mm in diameter, which is a relatively standard size. If you already have a ground socket in the garden from a previous rotary washing line, there is a high chance it will fit this one – just make sure to measure it to check! The ground spike can simply be inserted into the ground, then the frame slotted in.

Despite being made from powder-coated steel, this rotary washing line should still be covered in bad weather to help avoid rusting. Fortunately, a well-fitting cover comes included, and it’s waterproof so there’s no need to take this line inside on rainy days.

Overall, this is one of the best rotary washing lines for medium families. Given that it can hold at least three small loads of washing, it’s useful for anyone who has to do a fair amount of laundry on a single day. Plus, helpfully, it’s also tall enough to cope with larger items like towels and sheets.

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  • Overall sturdy construction helped by 40 mm centre pole
  • Line tension can be easily adjusted to help if lines slacken over time or during warm summer temperatures
  • Waterproof cover included that has a zip fastening instead of needing to be tugged on
  • Fits approximately two loads of washing
  • Line comes already attached so no time spend tying it on

  • Can be a little stiff to open and close
Overall Score 4.4
Design
4.3
Ease of Use
4.3
Stability
4.5
Value for Money
4.4

Whilst they all look relatively similar, not all rotary washing lines are created equal. This Premium Quality Rotary Washing Line by The Home Laundry Company is a relatively heavy-duty option, with a 40 mm thick steel pole at its core making it reliable and sturdy.

Along with this construction, there are a couple of other features that make this rotary washing line likely to stand the test of time.

It comes with a high-quality water-resistant protective cover, which isn’t just a basic tarpaulin bag; it has a neat appearance and a zip to help get it off and on easily. This protects the line when it isn’t in use.

This rotary airer offers 40 m of drying space and, PVC-coated lines stretch over time, there is a mechanism to increase tension so that they remain taut for clothes hanging.

Putting up this rotary washing line, and collapsing it down, is done using a system that’s similar to opening and closing an umbrella. It is simple and effective, and there are just three ‘open’ positions to choose between.

On the one hand, this means that there isn’t a large choice of height options, which some people might prefer, but on the other hand it means the system is uncomplicated.

There’s enough space on this rotary washing line to hold approximately two loads of washing. The rotating arms create a 2.52 m turning circle which is enough to air clothes well without taking up an excessive amount of space.

A ground spike comes included, but the line will also fit into most washing-line sockets if you already have one installed from a previous model.

Overall, this is the best rotary washing line if you’re looking for something strong and hardwearing. The only real downside is that it can be a little stiff to put up and down.

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  • Compact design that takes up very little space - a good option for smaller gardens and households
  • 35mm thick steel centre pole is good quality and sturdy
  • Free protective cover included to help prevent rust and weather damage
  • Can be open and shut with ease - suitable for those with limited strength or mobility

  • Less drying space than others on the market at 30m - may only hold one load of washing at once
  • Lines are very close together so some users opt not to use the middle line so that their clothing dries faster
  • Lines are thin so some sizes of peg won’t be effective
Overall Score 4.2
Design
4.2
Ease of Use
4.2
Stability
4
Value for Money
4.3

The Premium 30 metre Rotary Washing Line Kit is a neat and compact rotary washing line – perfect if you’re a small family or short on space in a small garden.

This rotary dryer takes up hardly any room in the garden and is also easy to store.

The centre pole is constructed from 35 mm thick steel, and the rotary arms are strong and well made. It comes with a metal ground spike to secure it into your lawn making the whole unit very sturdy.

This rotary airer is adjustable to a range of heights and has 4 tension settings that are also easy to adjust.

Overall, it’s the best rotary washing line for couples, offering enough space to dry two people’s washing. It’s also a good option for anyone with a small garden as it will fit where other rotary washing lines may be too big.

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  • Offers 50 m of drying space, enough for a 2-4 person family
  • Comes with a waterproof cover included
  • Lightweight and easy to carry in and out of storage if kept in the shed or garage
  • Reasonable value considering amount of drying space and price

  • Not very tall - can’t hang a bath towel lengthways on it or it touches the ground
  • Difficult to push up, especially for anyone who struggles with hand strength or arthritic hands
Overall Score 3.9
Design
3.5
Ease of Use
3.5
Stability
4
Value for Money
4.5

If you’re after a large, value-for-money line, the BPIL Heavy Duty Rotary Washing Line is worth bearing in mind. This rotary washing line offers 50 m of drying space (although 40 m and 60 m options are also available) and comes with a free protective cover for when it’s not in use.

It’s the best rotary washing line for large families because it offers more drying space than the other lines featured on this list. It’s also a very affordable rotary washing line, despite its larger size.

Made from powder-coated steel, this rotary washing line is sturdy and very durable. It’s rust resistant and weatherproof, and the waterproof cover helps keep it clean and dry between washes. The rotating arms turn smoothly through 360°, so clothes get plenty of ventilation and dry quickly on breezy days.

Be aware that despite offering more drying area, this rotary washing line isn’t particularly tall – so longer items need to be draped across several lines to stop them dragging on the ground.

All ground fittings are included, and opening the line is done as expected – by pushing the central collar up the main pole. Bear in mind that this can be tricky to do the first few times, and may require the help of two people.

The pole is sufficiently sturdy, and the line offers good value for money as well considering the amount of drying space and the price. It’s also lightweight, which helps with storage when not in use.

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Clive's Smart Buying Tips

  1. Smaller rotary washing lines with 30 m of line will be suitable for two-person households. To fit two loads of washing, a larger line with approximately 45 – 60 m of space will be required.
  2. You’ll naturally need to base the size of your line on the space you have available. However, these are some useful facts to know: to hang up double bed sheets, the outer line needs to be around 140 cm long. For king-size sheets, it will need to be around 150 cm.
  3. When it comes to line placement, look for lines that come with a ground socket included. Many standard lines have a 32 mm pole, which may fit in an existing ground socket if you have one. However, it’s also not uncommon to find 40 mm or 42 mm poles.
  4. For hanging longer items, you’ll want a rotary washing line that is around 180 – 200 cm tall. This can help prevent laundry from dragging on the ground. However, this may not be a practical height for everyone. Some of the best rotary washing lines are height adjustable, allowing the line to be lowered without affecting line tension. Speaking of line tension, make sure the washing line offers a way to adjust this.
  5. For a strong construction, look for powder-coated steel and PVC lines. These stand up well against the elements. An included cover is useful to have, to keep the lines clean when not in use.

On this page, I’ve recommended a range of rotary washing lines to suit various family sizes and budgets. The LIVIVO Rotary Washing Line is my top choice – it’s a great quality line with a modern look and 45 m of drying space.

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 retractable line as there’s no need to mess around propping them up and they don’t take up so much space.

The following information will help you choose the best rotary washing line for your garden.

Aluminium or Steel Rotary Washing Lines

Most rotary airers have frames made from aluminium or steel.

Aluminium rotary washing 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 lines made from aluminium may be more likely to bend or buckle if loaded with too much weight compared to 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 rotary washing 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 washing line space to dry all the washing.

For smaller families, of just a couple of people, a rotary washing line with 30 – 40 metres of line should be sufficient.

Also consider:

  • The types of items you will be drying, and how big they are. Different rotary washing lines vary in how much space they have between their arms, and therefore how much room there is for drying.
  • 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 because of the materials used.

If you have a very small garden, you might like to look at our reviews of The Best Wall Mounted Washing Lines. These can offer a practical way to save space.

Ground Spikes – 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 washing line, you can avoid having to remove it and putting in a new one as long as you buy a washing 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 ground 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 you don’t already have a rotary line socket installed in your garden, check to see if the rotary 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 rotary washing line.

When it comes to installing a rotary washing line socket, they can either be positioned directly into the soil or concreted in.

There are a few steps that will make it easier to install a ground socket directly into the soil:

  1. Soak the ground for several days before attempting to install the socket. The softer the ground is, the easier it will be.
  2. Use a spade to mark a deep X into the ground, with the central point being where the socket will be positioned.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Remove the pole and continue to use the mallet to get the socket into the ground.
  6. Repeat steps 4 – 5 until the socket is flush with the ground.

Alternatively, to fix a ground socket into concrete:

  1. Dig a hole approximately spade-width wide and as deep as your ground socket.
  2. Place the socket in the hole and pour in a bag of dry post concrete while holding the spike upright.
  3. Check that the socket is level with a spirit level, and add water to the concrete according to the instructions on the bag.
  4. 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.

Taking Care of Your Rotary Washing Line

Close and cover the rotary 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 rotary washing line away in very bad weather to protect it from strong winds.

Rotary Washing Line FAQs

Firstly, your rotary washing 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:

  1. Start by setting the rotary washing line at a low position.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 rotary washing line will easily open and close.

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.

  1. Measure all of the line in one section and multiply this number by three or four (depending on how many arms your washing line has). This will show hoe much line you need to buy. Add a little bit extra for threading and tying. Buy line of the same diameter as the previous line.
  2. Before removing the existing line, have a good look at how it is threaded and tied (taking a few pictures at this stage can be very helpful). Then, remove the old line.
  3. To restring the line, start at 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.

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