The best rotary washing lines
Free drying on a breezy day: rotary lines that take several machine loads at once, turn to catch the sun and fold away when the washing’s in.
A rotary line puts 40 to 60 metres of washing line on a single pole, in a circle two to three metres across, and the arms turn so every sheet and shirt gets its share of sun and wind. When the washing’s in, it folds down like an umbrella and lifts out of its socket, leaving the lawn clear.
Line length decides how much goes out at once, and the 60-metre Brabantia takes the most. Then look at how it’s fixed and adjusted. A ground spike goes straight into a lawn, while the Vileda’s socket is set in concrete for a permanent spot. Tension settings keep the lines taut as they stretch, and the Brabantia lifts and lowers to a comfortable height. A cover keeps the lines clean between washes.
What matters
- Line length: 40 to 60 metres here; more line, more washing out at once.
- How it fixes: a ground spike for lawns, or a socket set in concrete.
- Tension settings to keep the lines taut, and height adjustment on the Brabantia.
- A cover in the box, to keep the lines clean between washes.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Brabantia Lift-O-Matic Rotary Dryer (60m, with Ground Spike and Cover)
£155.00 RRP
The Lift-O-Matic sets the whole dryer anywhere from 129 to 187cm, so it can come down for pegging out without stretching and go back up to catch the breeze. Brabantia began in 1919 in Aalst, in the Netherlands.
What owners say: Owners find it simple to put up, like raising and lowering it to suit the job, and fit several loads on at once.
A closer look: Every arm has holes for clothes hangers, so shirts can dry on a hanger and go straight into the wardrobe. When the dryer comes in for the winter, close the cap on the ground spike to keep soil and leaves out of the tube, and slip the cover over the folded lines.
- 60m of UV-resistant line
- Height adjusts from 129 to 187cm
- 45mm metal ground spike
- Cover included
- 5-year guarantee
Best for: Big washes, easy reach
- Line length
- 60m
- Height and tension
- Lift-O-Matic, 129–187cm
- Ground fixing
- 45mm metal spike
- Cover included
- Yes
#2 of 5
Runner-up
NETTA 45m Rotary Washing Line with Cover and Ground Spike
£39.99 RRP
Everything needed is in the box: 45 metres of line on four powder-coated steel arms that open to 206cm across, a ground spike with its socket, and a weatherproof cover for when it’s folded.
What owners say: Owners say towels, sheets and even sofa covers all fit on together, and that it drops neatly into an old concreted hole.
A closer look: Fully open it stands 194cm high, so long sheets hang well clear of the lawn. Move the hub up a notch when the lines start to sag under wet towels, and fold it down with the cover on when strong winds are forecast.
- 45m of line, 4 arms
- Opens to 206cm across
- Powder-coated steel
- Cover and ground spike included
- Several tension settings
Best for: Everything in the box
- Line length
- 45m
- Height and tension
- Tension settings, 194cm high
- Ground fixing
- Ground spike and socket
- Cover included
- Yes
#3 of 5
Longest guarantee
Addis 40m 4-Arm Rotary Airer with Ground Spike
£20–£30 Price range
A plain, sturdy rotary line with a metal ground spike included and Addis’s 10-year guarantee on its outdoor rotaries. Addis goes back to 1780, when William Addis started making toothbrushes.
What owners say: Owners say it stays steady even in strong winds and went into the ground without any trouble.
A closer look: The only assembly is joining the two halves of the centre pole before it drops into the spike. With 40 metres of line it’s the smallest here, which suits a smaller garden, and there’s no cover in the box, so fold it down between washes to keep the lines clean.
- 40m of line, 4 arms
- Umbrella clip with tension settings
- 32mm metal ground spike
- Two-piece split pole
- 10-year guarantee
Best for: A long guarantee
- Line length
- 40m
- Height and tension
- Clip settings, up to 175cm
- Ground fixing
- 32mm metal spike
- Cover included
- No
#4 of 5
Best budget
SA Products 45m Rotary Washing Line with Ground Spike and Cover
£10–£20 Price range
A full 45 metres of PVC-coated line for less, with four settings for height and line tension and both a ground spike and a weatherproof cover included.
What owners say: Owners find it sturdy once it’s in the ground, and like how much washing it takes in one go.
Heads up: Push the hub up until the latch clicks into place before pegging out: that’s what keeps the arms from dropping under a full load.
A closer look: There’s no assembly beyond driving the spike into the lawn and dropping the frame in. Wipe the PVC-coated lines with a damp cloth before the first wash, and once the washing’s in, fold it and pull the cover over to keep bird droppings and pollen off the lines.
- 45m of PVC-coated line
- 4 height and tension settings
- Powder-coated steel frame
- Ground spike included
- Weatherproof cover
Best for: A full-size line for less
- Line length
- 45m
- Height and tension
- 4 height and tension settings
- Ground fixing
- Ground spike
- Cover included
- Yes
#5 of 5
Vileda 45m 4-Arm Rotary Dryer
£51.49 RRP
Made for a permanent spot: its plastic socket is set in concrete, the split pole comes apart for carrying, and a three-position handgrip tightens the lines again as they stretch.
What owners say: Owners like the size of it, with room on the lines for a big family wash.
Heads up: It comes with a socket to set in concrete; for a lawn without a concrete base, add Vileda’s ground spike, sold separately.
A closer look: Let the concrete round the socket harden fully before standing the dryer in it. Pick a spot clear of fences, sheds and shrubs, since with the arms open it turns in a circle 2.45m across, and hang heavy towels on the inner lines, nearest the pole.
- 45m of line, up to 4 loads
- 3-position handgrip for tension
- 2.45m turning circle
- Plastic socket for concrete
- 2-year guarantee
Best for: A fixed spot in concrete
- Line length
- 45m
- Height and tension
- 3-position handgrip, 182cm high
- Ground fixing
- Plastic socket for concrete
- Cover included
- No
How they compare
| Feature | #1Brabantia Lift-O-Matic | #2NETTA 45m | #3Addis 40m | #4SA Products 45m | #5Vileda 45m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Longest guarantee | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8.2 |
| Price | £155.00 RRP | £39.99 RRP | £20–£30 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £51.49 RRP |
| Line length | 60m | 45m | 40m | 45m | 45m |
| Height and tension | Lift-O-Matic, 129–187cm | Tension settings, 194cm high | Clip settings, up to 175cm | 4 height and tension settings | 3-position handgrip, 182cm high |
| Ground fixing | 45mm metal spike | Ground spike and socket | 32mm metal spike | Ground spike | Plastic socket for concrete |
| Cover included | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Best for | Big washes, easy reach | Everything in the box | A long guarantee | A full-size line for less | A fixed spot in concrete |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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