When summer rolls around, it’s hard not to immediately gravitate everything we possibly can to the outdoors. Sure, there’s a certain romance in snuggling up in cosy blankets in the depths of winter, but there can be little better than being out in the sun. soaking up the rays. Even when there are household chores to be done, they can be brought outside too, and one of those things that can benefit from the great outdoors is laundry.

There’s a beautiful simplicity to air-drying your clothes outside. They dry better, keep damp out of the home and somehow, air-dried clothes even smell better. But if you want to maximise your garden space for decorative elements, so that the laundry isn’t taking up all the room, then look no further than a rotary washing line. We’ve collected the best outdoor rotary washing lines you can buy today, so that you can buy what’s best for you.

1. Brabantia Lift-O-Matic

The entertainingly named Lift-O-Matic by well-reputed household name Brabantia offers a well-made and user-friendly rotary clothes airer. The name comes from the proprietary system that allows you to adjust the height of the airer to your ideal working height, between 129 and 187cm, making it a versatile choice. The line system also makes sure that the lines are taut no matter the height.

Fixing into the floor via a ground spike, the arms rotate instead of the main pole, ensuring it remains stable in the ground. The arms themselves have a huge 50m of line space, although a smaller and larger size are available, and have holes for clothes hangers – a great solution for shirts or more delicate items. Brabantia also offer a 5-year warranty and even claim to plant a tree for every airer sold.

2. MultiWare Foldable Rotary Line

This foldable, freestanding rotary washing line by MultiWare has the versatility to be set up anywhere, giving you the freedom to move it so that it’s always in the sun, or always out of your eyeline! Coming in at the more wallet-friendly end of the pricing spectrum, this offers good performance and value for money.

The heavy-duty pole design is sturdy and the whole unit, built from strong and lightweight aluminium, packs down quickly and easily, with reassembly being just as straightforward. With 4 arms offering a total line space of 16m, it is ideal for smaller households or even camping and travel, balancing a strong build without being overly weighty.

3. Addis 3-Arm Rotary Airer

The tiple-armed design of household staple Addis’ outdoor rotary washing line melds solid build quality and useful features. With 35 metres of line space (larger units are available), there should be more than enough room for all but the biggest loads of laundry, or the largest items. It also benefits form an adjustable line tension system, giving you versatility with different weights of laundry or different wind conditions outdoors.

The adjustable tension system also allows some flexibility with the working height of the airer, with a maximum of 1.83m. A maximum diameter of 2.36m also ensures that your laundry will catch plenty of air to dry efficiently, while the smart grey finish of the main pole is sure to remain unobtrusive when dug into the ground.

4. Oypla 4-Arm Freestanding Rotary

This freestanding rotary airer by from Oypla comes with the flexibility to fold and set up anywhere, so you’re not limited as to where you place it, meaning you can always benefit from the optimal place to dry your clothes. It’s also a solid budget option, with minimal investment for a good quality washing line.

Constructed from sturdy and lightweight aluminium with plastic hinges and fixings, the 15 metres of line space are generous enough for one to two people’s laundry. The lines themselves are also PVC coated, ensuring that they’re strong and durable. Assembly couldn’t be easier, as the main shaft inserts simply into the base, which promptly folds out, and the whole construction will remain sturdy unless too much weight is placed on top.

5. Home Treats Rotary Airer

Home Treats’ outdoor-specific rotary airer is an ideal choice for frequent large loads of laundry, with an abundant 40 metres of line space on a 4-arm construction (a larger 50-metre option is also available). Made from heavy-duty powder coated steel, it’s tough when faced with the great outdoors, and is strong enough to withstand heavy amounts of damp clothes.

It also benefits from an adjustable working height, to a maximum of 1.93m, and the arms can be folded flush to the central pole when not in use. It also comes with a cover for added protection. Able to rotate through 360°, you have the freedom to use all 48 of the separate lines to maximise your drying space, as well as being sure to catch plenty of air for the most efficient drying.

6. Livivo Rotary Washing Line

Livivo’s heavy-duty outdoor rotary washing line is a great solution for hanging out large loads of laundry. Making use of a huge 45 metres of line space across 4 arms, the frame is made from a weatherproof powder-coated steel, which is easy to clean and repellent to rust and mould as well as the wind, something which is also helped by the ground socket and spike. A supplied cover also aids with protection, as well as keeping it neat when not in use.

The lines themselves are coated with PVC for the best possible durability and strength. There are also 4 adjustable height positions for versatile operation between 82cm (retracted height) to 1.94m (maximum height), with variable tension in the lines as well. A carefully designed soft grip handle also makes opening and closing the airer is safe and simple. It even comes in two different colours, silver (pictured) or black.

7. Homegear Rotary Clothes Line

Homegear have offered up a great value option for a rotary washing line when you have very large loads of laundry to deal with. The four-arm design comes with a massive 50 metres of line space, which is PVC coated for strength, while remaining lightweight at only 2.8mm thick. The airer itself is built from powder-coated steel, meaning that it is sturdy, durable and weatherproof, while the latter is aided by the provided protective cover.

When fully opened, it has a maximum height of 1.9m, which can be adjusted to accommodate your preferred working height. The arms also spin freely ensuring that your laundry will catch all the air it needs to dry efficiently.

8. Brabantia Topspinner

Seemingly not trying to make a niche cricketing (or any other ball sport) reference, Brabantia’s Topspinner (pictured here in the 40 metre version, although 50 and 60 are available) is a well-constructed rotary washing line. Particular attention has been made to the rotation of the 4 arms to ensure they move smoothly, for easier use as well as more efficient drying with good access to the wind.

Their adjustable ‘umbrella’ system allows the line tension to remain the same no matter the height, and there are three different positions for more or less line tautness. The lines are also treated with a non-slip coating to keep your clothes in place, and there are clothes hanger hooks at the end of each arm for more delicate items. Brabantia also offer a 5-year warranty and promise to plant a tree with each airer sold.

9. FunkyBuys Heavy Duty Rotary Airer

FunkyBuys entry into the world of rotary airers comes courtesy of this heavy duty offering. A four-arm design with a massive 50 metres of PVC coated line space (a 60 metre version is also available), notable for its extra strength and durability, the frame itself is made of powder-coated steel. Therefore, it’s sturdy, durable and above all, weatherproof. An additional protective cover, which comes free with the airer, also doubles down on the weatherproofing.

Fully opened, it has a maximum height of approximately 1.6m, meaning that it’s a good middle ground for people of all heights. The freely-rotating arms also have a maximum diameter of 1.7 metres, to ensure that all your laundry gets an even amount of fresh air.

10. Minky Freestanding Airer

Minky’s freestanding rotary clothes airer works both indoors and outdoors, giving you a good level of versatility as well as plenty of line space. A versatile design, it folds and unfolds in an instant with a ‘concertina’ design, also clicking into position you can be confident its stored securely. The tripod base with moulded joints is sturdy enough to handle a good amount of laundry, which would be hung across the useful 15 metres of line space up top.

Featuring moulded plastic joints paired with a tubular steel construction, it balances light weight with a durable, weatherproof build. The 3-arm top section can also be clipped into place to prevent unexpected collapses. A relatively compact option at around 1.52m tall, in nonetheless packs plenty into its smaller size.

11. Livivo Heavy Duty Rotary Washing

This rotary washing line by Livivo is designed to be rugged and perform well at a fairly affordable price point. Thanks to a heavy-duty pole design, made from powder-coated steel (which is also available in either silver or black finishes), and PVC coated lines, this is a tough weatherproof option. The line, stretched over 4 arms, gives you 45 metres of usable line space, more than enough to tackle up to four loads of laundry at any one time.

Installed via a sturdy ground spike, the line folds down when not in use and also comes with a cover that offers further protection from the elements, but keeps the whole thing looking smart. The lines also click securely into place at a useful working height for all users.

12. Marko Homewares Rotary Airer

This mid-sized rotary clothes airer by Marko Homewares offers a good amount of line space, solid build and good value. Made from a tubular steel, the main frame of the airer is strong and durable, which can be dug into the ground for extra stability thanks to the provided ground spike. The line itself, coming in at 34 metres, should be sufficient for most households, and is made from a tough PVC coated wire.

At 1.72m tall when fully extended, it offers a working height that should be useful for everyone. When you’re done, the hardwearing plastic level allows you to fold it down, and a supplied weatherproof cover allows you to protect it from the elements when not in use.

Which Rotary Washing Line to Go for?

Best quality & features – The Brabantia Lift-O-Matic is undoubtedly the product with the best quality and features of our selection. It’s not cheap compared to other items on our list, but it more than justifies its premium price point. It’s incredibly well-made and sturdy, and the colossal 50 metres of line space may even challenge you to buy more clothes, just to fill it. The finely-adjustable height, as well as the neat mechanism that allows you to adjust the line tension at each height, also mark this out as a brilliant addition to your laundry routine.

On a budget – Home Treats’ Rotary Airer offers a lot at a really affordable price point. It provides a huge 40 metres of line space, which is a real positive at this price. It’s also made from a weatherproof and durable powder-coated steel, which you would not unreasonably expect to be charged more for, and coming with a free cover as well as all the necessary ground fittings, it’s hard to go wrong for wallet-friendly rotary washing line.

The best for small laundry areas – The 4-Arm Freestanding Rotary Airer by Oypla is the best choice for when laundry and utility airers are not accommodating to the huge rotary washing line that dig into the ground. Coming in at a compact but usable 1.4m tall with four 85cm arms that carry a total of 15 metres of line, it’s not too obtrusive but at the same time offers more than enough room. Whether it’s student accommodation, a shared house, or even a studio apartment, you want to maximise the usable space you have to dry your clothes, and Oypla’s offering is the one to do that.

For large households – The FunkyBuys Heavy Duty Rotary Airer’s huge line length of 50 metres can comfortably accommodate massive volumes of laundry, making it an ideal choice for big households. Those 50 metres of line, made from PVC coated steel wire, will take up to four full loads of laundry. So, if you’ve got a household that’s producing more than that on a regular basis, it may be time to have a bit of a clothing clearout!

Best for camping and road-tripping – The MultiWare Foldable Rotary Airer is an essential companion if you plan on any kind of camping trip that’s going to require laundry. Given that the other option would be regular laundrette trips, or buying unnecessary quantities of clothes, you can’t go wrong with this airer. It offers 16 metres of line space and folds down to a super compact size, easily kept out of the way in the boot of a car or a cupboard in a caravan. When folded out, it relies on a lightweight aluminium pole that is surprisingly strong and four legs at the bottom for maximum stability. Because you know how it is, it always rains when you go camping, and you need something that’ll stand up to that.

Rotary Washing Line Buying Guide

Choosing the best rotary washing line for your needs is not as simple as picking up the first one you see and sticking it into the ground. Everyone has different needs, and every rotary airer is going to address those needs differently, whether it’s about height or how much laundry you’re going to be able to hand on it. You might also have to consider space, as well as how you’re going to use the airer – is it a permanent fixture, or are you going on the road and need to dry your clothes en route? Whatever your needs, we’ve put together this buying guide to take the hassle and confusion out of which kind of rotary clothes airer will best suit you and your clothes.

Adjustable height

Most rotary washing line will have adjustable height options, to make them as user friendly to as many people as possible. Therefore, this is something you may need to consider, as it’s no use having a clothes line that you can’t reach! Broadly speaking, you’ll have more adjustability the more expensive you go, but in order to have the most flexibility the adjustability of the height is a serious consideration.

Line length

This tends to depend on you and your household, and by extension knowing how much laundry space you need typically. If you’re laundering for a large household, or if you have more clothes than you know what to do with, then it might be worth looking for airers with line lengths of 30 metres and above. These can hold between two and four full loads of laundry, so would be absolutely vital with more crowded households.

Ground spike or freestanding?

If you’re fortunate enough to have a grass lawn, then a static rotary washing line that fixes into the ground via a ground spike might be the best option. These will be fixed in place but tend to offer a much larger amount of line space compared to their freestanding counterparts. What the latter offers instead is versatility – whether you’re taking it camping or caravanning, there’s no way you’ll want to dig in a new ground spike every day. Besides, that may not even be possible depending on the ground at your campsite. Freestanding units are also a good bet for gardens without grass, such as on patios or paved outside areas.

Line material

The strongest clothes lines are made from (usually) steel cables coated in PVC plastic. These typically last the longest, but other options are out there – plastic cables are relatively strong but are prone to wear and tear and may eventually fail, leaving your laundry cascading to the ground. The majority of rotary airers nowadays do specify these lines as standard, but don’t be caught out by any cheaper models with lower quality lines.

Durability

Durability and weatherproofing are imperative for clothes airers that spend the majority of their time outside. After all, what use is a structure that can’t stand up to the wind and rain? Most higher-standard rotary washing line will be made from powder-coated steel, which is by and large the strongest material for these kinds of things. Some, especially the freestanding models, will be built from aluminium, which is ideal for lighter weights, but won’t necessarily stand up to the rigours of more extreme weather. Also keep an eye out for airers that come with weatherproof covers, which can be invaluable for protecting your airer when its not in use.

Laundry can be a monumental chore, but it doesn’t have to be. Nothing beats the sensation of air-dried laundry, and the best results undoubtedly come from rotary washing line. Whether it’s a permanent fixture in your back garden, or a versatile folding and freestanding airer for indoors, outdoors and camping trips, you’ve now got all the knowledge you need to buy yourself the right rotary clothes airer. Here’s to fresher clothes!