Retractable Washing Lines

[plocket]

I'm still thinking about having a retractable washing line in the garden rather than my rotary drier, and have a question - what is the washing line made of? Because my garden is so small it would be most practical if I could have the washing line and the hook on the same wall, but when in use I would want to thread it through a loop on the opposite garden wall - so that the line then forms a V shape from the house. Would this be practical or would I damage the line?

[sweetleaf]

Some are nylon and that wouldnt hurt them, some are plastic, and wouldnt be very good in that case, Sleepy has bought a double one with two lines in it, cant remember where though.

[plocket]

Oooh a double one sounds good! SLEEPY!!!!! Where did you get the double retractable washing line?

[Sleepy]

Sainsbury's

[sweetleaf]

Is it nylon or plastic, the line that is? The one I have atm has a plastic line, and it stretches when theres anything too heavy on it, leaving me with mud and another job to do.

[plocket]

Ooooh ok then! Thanks Sleepy!

[The witch]

Have a look here Plocket, too.

[plocket]

Thanks The witch! They've also got them at Tescos which is probably the easiest Supermarket for me to get to. Their's is made by Minky which for some reason made me laugh!!! Are they easy to install and do they come with the hooks to hang the other end of the line on?

[The witch]

No idea Plocket - sorry.

[sweetleaf]

Dont know Plocket. I put mine on a hook that was originally for a hanging basket.

[The witch]

I looked into buying one a couple of years ago, but couldn't find one long enough for my garden.

I don't like using a rotary drier, but OH wouldn't agree to having a clothes post, with a washing line permanently in place! :

He is rather tall and our garden is very dark at night (no street lights here and just open fields behind our house) - there was a serious risk that he could've gone into the garden and been garroted. ;D

I did say that I could grow a clem or such up the clothes post - but in reality he didn't want the job of installing one!!

[plocket]

Hahaha! Well I'm quite happy to install it myself but I want to know it's the right route to take - we already have a rotary drier and it would be a bit of a waste to give it away then find I need it back ;D

[sweetleaf]

Rotary driers can take an amazing amount of washing, the retractable one only takes about a quarter of the load, but gets out of the way after, its a choice I was happy to make.

[The witch]

I've got a very large rotary drier, but only use the outer parts of it - I find clothes in the middle don't dry quite so well. Also the widest part of my rotary isn't wide enough for king size bedding.
I would prefer to have a good old fashioned washing line TBH

[plocket]

I haven't made my mind up yet but the rota drier has to be moved anyway because everything will brush against LPs garden where it is at the moment, and there isn't anywhere else for the garden to go. The other dilema I have is that wherever I put the line or the rotary drier will probably cause an inconvenience to people being in the garden. Humph. Perhaps I'll just try moving the rotary drier first hey?

[The witch]

Or use the tumble drier

[plocket]

I do in the winter, but there are some things that I like to be line dried, and some things that can't be tumble-dried!!!

[The witch]

I agree Plocket - fabric conditioner will never replace the wonderful smell of clothing and bedding dried outside, irrespective of what they want us to believe by the labeling. ;D

[plocket]

I like my cotton sheets to be crisp which works better outside ;D

I had a natter about the washing line to OH last night but he wants to stick with the rotary one for the time being. After all that!!! So I've got to try and get the hole thingy out of the ground and move the bird feeding station.

[sweetleaf]

Why dont you give the retractable one a go, while storing the rotary in the garage? If it doesnt suit, you could put the retractable in the garage and swop em about?
Im sure when your OH sees the extra space created he`ll come round to your way of thinking

[plocket]

Good thinking. I'll ponder that one! Cash's a bit short this week so I'm not going to rush out and get one, but I like the idea of being able to dry stuff in the garage.

[maggyd]

retractable washing lines are fine at first untill you get lazy !! and then you have a permenent washing line, I dont know anybody that keeps up with the unhooking and winding back in. Why dont you use your rotary line and only use the retractable for large items such as your Kingsized bedding and then you probaly will remember to take it in? Dont mind me Im only talking from experience .

[sweetleaf]

I must be the odd one out then, I cant wait to put it away! But then my back garden is smaller than Plockets so it really does stand out.

[plocket]

Thanks Maggyd that's a good suggestion. My rotary dryer is a big square one so it can even take the kingsize bedding, but I'm already lazy and don't take it in so goodness knows what I'd be like with a retractable line! It would be criss-crossing about the garden though so would garotte anyone if I left it out. I've decided I'm sticking with the rotary for the time being, but might well put a retractable line in the garage - when we've had another clear out ;D