Therefore, this washing line is best suited to hanging out lighter items, although there are tactics that can be employed to help with hanging heavier laundry like towels. Read next: We've got a Mumsnetter-recommended guide to the best laundry detergents (perfect for new parents! That's why all of our Swear-by articles are informed by recommendations from real parents collected from our Mumsnet forums. Retractable washing lines are a great option for those who don’t want a washing line permanently strung across their garden. It’s the best retractable washing line overall, offering an inexpensive but functional option that has the added benefit of being easy to remove from the wall for storage.

A lightweight, but sturdy, rotary washing line, the Vileda Sun-Life 40m Compact Rotary Airer comes with some helpful features, including a rachet system to alter the height and ensure the lines stay taut, and four clip-on hooks to accommodate coat hangers, offering more drying options during those sunny summer days. For example, a freestanding airer would not be practical if you live in a particularly windy spot (unless you wanted your family’s clothing to end up in your neighbour’s garden. Non-Stretch Cotton Pulley Lines Made for those looking for a natural and biodegradable pulley line able to withstand heavy loads, our ‘Non-Stretch’ biodegradable cotton pulley lines provide great strength and durability. Installing the metal ground spike can be challenging, but soaking the ground (for days in advance), can make the process easier.Produced by the market-leading manufacturer Everlasto, these pulley lines are highly dependable and come with a stong low-stretch sisal core and a natural cotton cover; so they’re soft to touch yet sturdy. One of the benefits of rotary washing lines is that they fold away when not in use, but even the most compact fixed rotary washing lines need around 180 cm square to be used.

Using a 'Lift-o-Matic' system, you can quickly unload your washing machine at a comfortable height before hoisting it up to 187cm from the ground (great for bed sheets and towels you don't want to drag on the floor! Unlike some other retractable washing lines, this option doesn’t sag too easily under the weight of light washing.With 50m of taut washing line and integrated holes for coat hangers, you can dry up to three loads at a time (or five large ticket items). Sarah’s role as chief editor at DIY Garden is about more than just making sure we’re literally dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s (although she’s a stickler for detail, so it’s certainly about that too! Clive Harris is the creator of DIY Garden and a professional landscape gardening consultant with over 6 years experience.