washing line confusion

kialiana

i have stopped using a tumble dryer as it is really bad for environment and it costs so much.

I currently use a clothes horse infront of the radiator but was thinking about getting an outdoor washing line for summer when heating is off also i am expecting a child in march so will have more clothes and can't weight days for clothes to dry.

i was looking at rotary lines but have only a small yard (2m 10cm by 4m) and cannot figure out how much space i will need (the diameter of turning circle).
can anyone help with this?

also i was looking at indoor retractable lines but dont know how they fit onto the wall i understand that one side is screwed permenately in but have looked at lodes and cannot figure out how the other side stays up?

this is probably really ovbious but i just dont want to be spending money and it not working and having to faf around taking things back and looking again.

tigerfeet2006

I don't have a washing line I just use my airers. These can then be moved with the sun and if it rains I just quickly fold them up and bring them inside to finish drying and if it stops raining they can go back out again. If I have a wash out and it is getting dark and the wash isn't dry then I can hoik them in again. I found this much easier when I had babies as well as I could hang the washing out in the house and just lift it outside, there was no worrying about the baby being in the house or garden etc.

Also I am partially disabled and I find it easier than a washing line.

spidersandsprinkles

Looking at the standard ones online they all say you need around 2m around.

Mistral001

If you are going for a rotary line you need to get one at least 2.1m diameter. Probably better getting one much smaller than this as the clothers will be flapping about beyond this diameter. A four arm line is best as it takes up no more room than a thre arm one but has more clothes capacity.

Straight fixed lines are just as good as rotary lines and a fraction of the cost if you have something solid to fix it too. However often you have to put up a substantial steel post in a concrete foundation if you have no available structute to attach it to.

BTW, it is surprising how fast clothes can dry outside even in the winter. If there is a breeze and no rain clothes will dry without sun.

LondonDreamer

Personally I prefer the straight lines, never got on with rotary lines especially for drying larger items like sheets. I had one of the Hills fold down lines at my last house in Australia. And my mum is still using the one that was installed when her house was built over 25 years ago. Brilliant things, really!

I have seen them available online here.

CH27

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

I don't have a washing line I just use my airers. These can then be moved with the sun and if it rains I just quickly fold them up and bring them inside to finish drying and if it stops raining they can go back out again. If I have a wash out and it is getting dark and the wash isn't dry then I can hoik them in again. I found this much easier when I had babies as well as I could hang the washing out in the house and just lift it outside, there was no worrying about the baby being in the house or garden etc.

Also I am partially disabled and I find it easier than a washing line.

I do this too.
I peg my washing on if it's windy so it doesn't blow off.

kialiana

thanks all

Tigerfeet. so simple why didn't i think of that thats a great idea do they never blow over in the wind though? will look into it thanks

spiderandsprincles. sounds perfect where did you find this info please?

mistral. thanks i wouldn't have thought about the 4 arm verses 3 arm great advice. my issue is not what size i need, but were can i get one small enough for my needs. i dont have anywhere to put up a single line outdoors i have looked at that option but i have knowhere to fit lines and area is so small i wont be able to fit much on one even is i could i have no problem drying clothes indoors in winter am looking for neeter ways like the retractable lines but it's trying to get things dried when the heating is off thats the issue.

kialiana

CH27 wrote: »

I peg my washing on if it's windy so it doesn't blow off.

wow perfect. how do you do sheets though?

london dreemer. i'll have to look at the wall mounted a bit closer they're so expensive though. cheers i do prefer lines myself used them all the time in my old house but i just dont have the space to so that, i could only attatch it so i have 2 meters of length thats not even 4 large items at a time. and thats if i start diggin holes in the concrete for a pole.

lucy*locket

kialiana wrote: »

i have stopped using a tumble dryer as it is really bad for environment and it costs so much.

I currently use a clothes horse infront of the radiator but was thinking about getting an outdoor washing line for summer when heating is off also i am expecting a child in march so will have more clothes and can't weight days for clothes to dry.

i was looking at rotary lines but have only a small yard (2m 10cm by 4m) and cannot figure out how much space i will need (the diameter of turning circle).
can anyone help with this?

also i was looking at indoor retractable lines but dont know how they fit onto the wall i understand that one side is screwed permenately in but have looked at lodes and cannot figure out how the other side stays up?

this is probably really ovbious but i just dont want to be spending money and it not working and having to faf around taking things back and looking again.

I only have a small back yard too about the same size as yours, and had the same problem. I didn't want the yard to be filled with washing lines so invested in one of the wall mounted Brabantia washing lines
I ummed and ahhed for quite a few months, as they're not cheap, but it was money well spent, they're well made and should last for years. There are 5 adults living in my house and there's enough space for all our laundry. Sheets towels and duvet covers fit on it. You can easily fold the dryer up when you're not using it.
In the winter I use airers indoors and only use the tumble dryer maybe once or twice a week for smalls and to finish off towels. HTH.