WAVE goodbye to rainy days and get your washing out in the garden to dry
With the sun creeping out for the Summer, it’s time to get your clean laundry hanging outside, rather than taking up valuable room indoors.
There’s a variety of options when it comes to drying your clothes, from retractable washing lines that take up little room, rotary dryers that can command the garden but can carry up to three washes at a time, or even drying racks that can be moved indoors at the very first sign of rain.
What suits you best, can depend on how much washing you do, how much space you have in your garden, whether you’re after a permanent set-up or not, and of course what your budget is.
Our reviews below have something for everyone, read on for the best washing lines available in 2024.
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Best washing lines at a glance
- Best overall: Minky Retractable Reel Clothes Washing Line
- Best value: Addis 35m 3 Arm Rotary Washing Line
- Best mid-range: Premium SureGrip Multidry Airer
- Best premium: Sun-Rise 50m Rotary Dryer
Best Retractable Lines
Minky Retractable Reel Clothes Washing Line
Minky Retractable Reel Clothes Washing Line (30m), £20
Pros: Can get a lot of washing on it, can be removed when not in use, quick to set up, cheap
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If you don’t want a rotary taking up space in the garden, this is a great option.
This retractable line from Minky is a slightly larger unit from the brand, which specialises in washing lines and drying racks – and you'll see them pop up a few times in this review.
This version has two retractable lines of 15-metre length each, which means that you can hang twice as much washing as the Vileda Cordomatic and a touch more than the Beldray model later on in this review.
I tested this unit on days I needed to wash bedsheets, as well as do a normal wash, and there was more than enough room on the line, although the line did sag a bit when I put two wet sheets on the same line, so I spread them out over the two lines.
The unit is slightly bigger and bulkier than the Vileda Cordomatic line, but again it can be lifted off the (slightly larger) bracket and stored when not in use, so it’s not an eyesore. Screwing the unit to the fence was quick and stress-free, as was attaching the hooks to the other end of the garden. This is a good, no-fuss option for a retractable washing line that gets lots of laundry dry in three or four hours.
Material: Plastic unit, cord wires Dimensions: 30-metres in length, Weight capacity: holds up to 25kg, Price: £20
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Beldray Retractable Dual Washing Line
Beldray Retractable Dual Washing Line, £16.05
Pros: Cheap, holds a lot of laundry, removable
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
This Beldray version of the retractable washing line is similar in size and style to the one from Minky, the only clear difference being that the Minky version can hold another 4-metres of washing, and for that pleasure, you pay an extra £4.
The item was quick to pop onto the fence post in the garden and is advertised as being for indoor use too – which is a bonus for rainy days. Also, like the Minky retractable line, you can take it off the screws and pack it away so it doesn’t feel like a permanent fixture inside or out.
The retractable lines are really easy and smooth to pull from the main unit and fix at the other end on hooks which took a matter of minutes to assemble. The lines also feel very similar to the Minky unit in terms of being a strong wire and having a good grip to put the clothes on.
I tested the 26-metre lines with a large wash, including some wet and heavy hand-washed gym kit and the line didn’t sag, which shows good strength, and there was still space left over from the big wash.
Material: Plastic unit, cord wires Dimensions: 26-metres in length, Price: £16.05
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Vileda Cordomatic 15 Metre Retractable Washing Line
Vileda Cordomatic 15 Metre Retractable Washing Line, £14.99 £7.99
Pros: Cheap, easy to assemble, takes up little to no room
Cons: Not ideal if you have lots of washing
Rating: 4/5
This retractable washing line is a tidy little contraception for those who either don’t have the space for something like a rotary dryer or if, you just want an invisible option.
The single line pulls from a small, durable plastic sphere that can be easily mounted to most surfaces in the garden using two small screws. I tried it on a wooden fence post and it took about two minutes to fix the whole thing, and I also liked how the sphere can be lifted on and off the screws if you don’t want it showing in the garden when you don’t need it.
The line can retract up to 15 metres in length, which is enough for my outdoor space. The other end of the line just attaches to a small hook on another fence post.
It’s cheap and cheerful and was perfect for average washing days as it can hold up to 15kg of washing, but was a little short when we did a bigger wash. It’s probably better suited to couples and singles rather than big families who need to do multiple washes a day – they may be better suited to a double-line option for more washing.
For me, although it seems simple, the single washing line was one of the quickest ways my laundry dried.
Material: ABS plastic unit, cord wire Dimensions: 15-metre in length, holds up to 15kg, Price: £14.99
Best Standalone Airers
Premium SureGrip Multidry Airer
Premium SureGrip Multidry Airer, £45 £39.80
Pros: Get a big wash on there, good price, wheels make it easy to move
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
This airer, or airing rack, is a really good option for those who don’t want to commit to fixing something permanent like a rotary or washing line in their outdoor space.
This airer in particular offers coverage for 25kg of laundry, which is similar to some of the washing lines, but takes up less space and can be taken inside in the evening if the clothes need a little longer to dry.
Handily, this Minky version also comes with wheels, which can be popped on and off in seconds, meaning you can wheel the whole thing into the house. I found that the wheels worked well on the patio and worked fine on the lawn too when I wanted to move the laundry into the sun in the afternoon.
I managed to get a large wash onto the unit quite easily and everything is well spaced out so clothes dried very quickly, and one thing to highlight is the super grip frame means that clothes don’t fall off in the wind.
The other thing to note is the flat drying section at the bottom of the drier - ideal for delicate items that shouldn’t be hung and can also be used for an item that needs to be dried a bit quicker.
Material: Steel frame, Dimensions: 25-metres of drying space, Wright capacity: holds around 25kg, Price: £45
Argos Home 14m 3 Tier Indoor Clothes Airer
Argos Home 14M 3 Tier Indoor Clothes Airer, £18
Pros: Very compact for storage, cheap, sturdy with non-slip feet
Cons: Bit of overlapping of longer items
Rating: 4/5
This is a really good option for anyone who wants an airer that they can use both inside and outside, that folds down small for storage and is a fair price.
The Airer can hold a full wash fairly easily and I managed to get a large wash on there too, although trousers and leggings did hang over clothes on the lower rungs and cause some overlapping, which slowed down those bits from drying as quickly as the rest of the clothes.
The dryer is nice and tall, so there’s not too much bending over to get items on it, but the shape makes it a bit useless for bedsheets unless you dry one at a time on it.
You would expect the drier to be a bit flimsy because it’s pretty cheap but it’s actually quite stable in the wind, helped by the non-slip feet. There are no major cons with this item, and the low price makes it very good value for money.
Material: Stainless steel frame, Dimensions: 14m of drying space, holds approx 15kg of washing, Price: £18
Ourhouse Winged Clothes Airer
Ourhouse Winged Clothes Airer, £38.99
Pros: Lightweight but sturdy, adjustable heights
Cons: Less hanging space than some others
Rating: 4/5
Price-wise this is one of the more expensive standing airers but you can tell why; it’s pretty solid, the hanging rails are stronger, and as a whole, it withstood the wind without a problem.
I really liked the way you can adjust the height of the ‘wings’ and have each wing at a different height, which is handy when you’re using one side for a bed sheet and the other side for clothes.
I managed to get a regular wash on this dryer as it only offers about 12.5 metres of hanging space, which is quite low compared with the Minky equivalent, which has 25 metres and only costs about an extra fiver.
Despite this, the adjustable wings, and the fact that rails were strong enough to carry some very heavy, hand-washed jeans with ease, means I did like this drier.
I left it out outside overnight with said jeans and it still stood solid in the morning and the jeans were dry.
Material: Steel frame, Dimensions: 12.5-meters of washing, Weight capacity: 15kg of wet clothes, Price: £38.99
Best Rotary Driers
Sun-Rise 50m Rotary Dryer
Vileda Sun-Rise 50m Rotary Dryer, £159
Pros: Dries quickly, can take two to three loads, weather-protected structure
Cons: Expensive, permanent fixture, takes a while to put up
Rating: 4/5
If you’re someone who needs to do a lot of washing regularly and you’re committed to getting it all dry in one go, then a big, bold drying solution comes in the form of a rotary dryer.
This 50m version from Vileda can get two to three washes drying in one go. It isn’t for the faint-hearted though, as it takes a fair bit of setting up, and does become a permanent fixture in the garden – but the way it closes up after use means that it’s not too imposing and looks more like a metal post.
To set up, it does require a ground installation, and it took two of us to put up. You first need to dig a hole in your lawn and then manually screw in a metal ground spike and plastic socket, which the bottom of the rotary needs to sit in. Once that’s all set up, the dryer can be height adjusted, and then opened to reveal the wire hanging section that will hold the clothes.
I managed to get two large washes of clothes on it in one go, it was great for bed sheets too, and the wide spacing between wires, which can be pulled tighter or looser, means that air can really get between the items. The clothes drying is also aided by the fact that the airer spins in the wind.
The four corners of the rotary arms also have hanger holders for more delicate clothes that need to dry in hangers rather than on a line. Once you’ve finished drying your laundry you can close the unit to protect the hanging sections from the weather, and also to get the space in your garden back, and have less of an eyesore.
Material: Steel and plastic, Dimensions: 50-metre drying space, Price: £159
Heavy Duty 50m 4 arm Rotary Washing Line from Minky
Minky Heavy Duty 50m Rotary Washing Line, £74.99
Pros: Good price, can hold around three large washes
Cons: Permanent fixture
Rating: 4/5
Like the Vileda rotary dryer, this Minky version also needs to be fixed into the ground and is, therefore, a permanent fixture in the garden, it also closes down after use but, rather than fold into a tidy box post, the wires are left on show, but the whole thing can be covered with a weatherproof fabric cover that is included in the price.
Once erected, using a metal ground spike, that again took two of us to set up, the airer was nice and stable despite its large size.
I managed to get two large washes on it very easily, and they included some heavier items like jeans, that didn’t make the lines sag at all, the airer is advertised as being able to hold a whopping 50kg of laundry, and I’m not sure how to judge that without weighing the laundry but that does seem a it of a stretch.
The material on the washing lines provides some extra grip, and the clothes sat well with, and without, pegs. It also has the corners for the hangers like the Veiled version. This rotary dryer is very similar to the Vileda option, with the main differences being that the other one feels more secure in the ground, and the way it closes into a protective box is quite impressive.
But if you want to save a fair bit of money and are happy just popping the fabric cover on the washing lines at the end of the day then this is a great, cheaper option.
Material: Steel and plastic, Drying space: 50-metre drying space, Weight capacity: holds 50kg of washing, Price: £74.99
Addis 35m 3 Arm Rotary Washing Line
Addis 35m 3 Arm Rotary Washing Line from Dunelm, £25
Pros: Cheap, can hold lots of washing
Cons: Takes time to fit into the ground
Rating: 4/5
For anyone who really wants a rotary drier, but just doesn’t want to pay the prices that most of these units cost, then this 35-metre Addis version from Dunelm is just perfect.
It’s a little smaller in size, so can’t carry as much laundry, but the smaller size is more manageable to put up and down. This model can also be taken out of the ground and put away when not in use.
Before putting the drier in the ground, you need to dig a hole in your outdoor space and insert a plastic casing into the ground, add concrete around it, and give it 48 hours to dry into place. That part of installing is a bit arduous, but once it’s done, the drier just slots in and out of that casing when you need to use it.
I managed to get a large wash and a half on the lines, and everything dried nice and quickly, the drier is also very stable in the wind, although maybe not as sturdy as some of the more expensive ones, but there were no issues.
The height of the drier is adjustable and comes with four settings, it doesn’t come with a covering, but you can take it indoors if you’re worried about weather damage. This is a really good value option for those who don’t have huge washing loads or big gardens.
Material: Steel with plastic add-ons, Drying space: 35-metre drying space, Price: £25
Rusha Foldable Birch and Metal Drying Rack
Rusha Foldable Birch and Metal Drying Rack, £190 £95
Pros: Looks great, quick dry, very sturdy, quick and easy to put up
Cons: Can’t put a whole big wash on it, expensive
Rating: 3/5
For those looking for something that looks chic, that can be used both indoors and outside while complimenting both wooden or metal decor, this drying rack might tick all the boxes.
The best thing about it has to be the way it looks and we even got called ‘posh’ by friends who were over for a drink in the garden when they saw our washing hanging on this. It’s also very sturdy once up and withstood a fair bit of wind on one of the test days.
Unlike some of the others I tested, it can’t hold a huge amount of washing, but I did manage to get a small wash on it and the generous spacing of the bars means that the items dried very quickly outside – especially when we used it for small items of clothing only, such as underwear and socks.
It’s very easy to put up and pack away - a matter of undoing two lots of hooks that take seconds. And the item did stay standing even when only one lot of hooks were in place because it’s made of really good quality birch and metal. It’s also fairly easy to store as it folds up flat. One really good point was that the clothes stayed on even during the wind because of the grip on the metal poles. The main downside is the price, although it is now half-price.
Material: Birch unit with metal drying poles, Price: £95
OurHouse 4 Panel Gate Folding Airer
Ryman Ourhouse 4 Panel Folding Airer, £19.99
Pros: Compact, good for small spaces, cheap
Cons: Bit unstable, some clothes end up overlapping
Rating: 3/5
This airer gave us old-school vibes, and I hadn’t seen one in this style for years, so I liked the retro feel of it.
However, it doesn’t hold as much laundry as some of the other dryers – but it was ok for a small wash. The style of the airer is not ideal when you have long items, as they start to overlap with other clothes. For example, when I hung some jeans on the top rung, they pretty much took up that whole top section of the airer, the best we could do was hang underwear and socks in the gaps.
It generally performed well outside when clothes weren’t overlapping and actually dried clothes quicker than some of the other styles of airers and rotaries.
But on a windy day, I did find it knocked over on the ground because it’s not super stable. I ended up taking the washing in that day and dried it in front of the radiator – which I must say, the shape of this drier is perfect for. It also folds down flat for easy storage, but maybe it’s more of an inside airier in hindsight.
Material: Steel frame, Drying space: 8-metre capacity, Price: £19.99
How we tested
The different washing lines, rotary driers and standing racks were tested over six weeks by one tester, in the same outdoor space.
Each item was tested in a variety of weather conditions, using a variety of clothing items and sizes of laundry loads.
Where to buy washing lines in the UK?
Washing lines in their different forms are readily available at most big retailers. If you’re keen to buy now, we’d recommend the following places:
How much do washing lines cost?
This really depends on what sort of washing line or airer best suits you, but generally, there does seem to be something for every budget.
Rotary driers tend to be the more expensive option and regular washing lines the most budget, but many airers are inexpensive too.
In our round-up, the cheapest washing line tested was the Vileda Cordomatic Retractable 15m Washing Line which is currently on sale for only £7.99. Despite its low price, we gave it a five out of five.
The most expensive item tested was the Rusha Foldable Birch and Metal Drying Rack from La Redoute, which retails for £190 but is currently on sale for £95.
