When having your washing outside, only the best free-standing rotary washing line will keep your clothes secure and get them dried fast.
You need something sturdy enough to take the weight of wet clothes yet light enough to easily fold down and move around as needed.
Here’s our guide to the best free-standing rotary washing lines (or whirlygigs if you prefer!) currently available in the UK…
Our Top 5 Best Free-Standing Rotary Washing Lines In The UK:
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Typically, free-standing rotary washing lines do not have as much hanging space as one that are dug into the ground.
That’s because being free-standing, they are more prone to tipping over in high winds as the clothes act like a ships sail. The more hanging space they have, the more likely this will be a problem.
So, bigger isn’t always better. With that in mind, let’s look at what came out top in our list of the best free-standing rotary washing lines…
#1: Minky Freestanding Indoor/Outdoor Airer with 15 m Drying Space
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 15m drying space (enough for 1+ washing loads)
- Strong moulded joints provide strength
- Can be folded for storing, securely locks in place
- Completely free-standing, no drilling or digging
- Easy to transport
What To Consider:
- Best free-standing rotary washing line on our list
- Weighs around 3.3kg
- Can be used inside or outside
- Excellent customer reviews
- Stores very compactly
If you want a good value for money product that allows you to dry clothes quickly and securely, our pick for the best free-standing rotary washing line is an excellent choice. It has 15m of drying space which is plenty, even for active families and folds away neatly when not in use.
#2: Brabantia – WallFix – Foldable Rotary Dryer – 24m Drying Space
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Foldable wall-mounted rotary washing line
- Gives 24m of drying space
- High quality dryer made for outdoors
- Weighs 5.5kg
- Includes a 5-year guarantee
What To Consider:
- Recognisable premium brand
- Easy to install
- Cannot be moved once mounted
- Fantastic user reviews
- Includes a protective cover
While this isn’t technically free-standing, we’ve included it on our list of the best free-standing rotary washing lines as it doesn’t need to be fixed in the ground. Instead, you simply mount the bracket on a suitable wall and the washing lines pulls out whenever you need it.
#3: Leifheit Umbrella Stand Dryer With 14m Drying Space
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Folds down to just 12cm wide
- Fairly light at 3.6kg
- 14m of drying space
- Low height increases stability
- Can be operated one-handed
- Includes protective case
What To Consider:
- Compact size can be used in small spaces
- Pops up just like an umbrella
- Locks in position to create a stable frame
- Excellent user reviews
- Might be too longer to hang longer items
This is a slightly different, more compact design than you might be used to seeing but that makes for a really stable free-standing washing line. Its low centre of gravity means it’s one of the sturdiest you’ll find, the downside is that makes it unsuitable for longer items.
Still, it folds up so small it’s perfect when space is an issue or if you want a convenient option when travelling or camping.
#4: Andes 4 Arm Aluminium Rotary Airer With 16m Drying Space
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Lightweight yet strong aluminium construction
- Offers 16m of drying space
- Lightweight at only 2kg
- Able to stand freely on it’s own
- Includes a carry bag for use when transporting or storing
What To Consider:
- 145cm tall by 100cm wide
- Suitable for use outdoors
- Great customer reviews
- Includes ground pegs for extra stability
- Easy to transport when camping
This is a very similar dryer to our number one pick, though this one has ever so slightly more drying space yet is still some way behind our number two pick.
The quality is good, though it doesn’t feel quite as well made as our top pick and it’s not from a well-known brand which creates a few question marks. Overall though, it’s still an excellent choice.
#5: 4 & 5 Arm Rotary Airer Free Standing Or Wall Mounted
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Low price
- Choice of free-standing or wall mounted
- Capacity for up to 7kg of clothes
- 16m (free-standing) or 24m (wall mounted) drying space
- Both versions fold neatly when not in use
What To Consider:
- Not able to take heavy loads
- Reports that the durability isn’t as good as other options
- Regularly out of stock
Our final pick for the best free-standing rotary washing line actually comes with a choice between free-standing or wall mounted. The good news is that neither require any kind of fixing to the ground!
This is a fairly lightweight line but that also means it cannot take a huge amount of weight. The price reflects this but you should be aware before buying that it’s only made to hang small, light items.
What Type Of Washing Line Is Best?
The best type of washing line will depend on your preferences and how much space you have, however, rotary lines are among the most popular.
That’s because they allow you to dry lots of clothes in a very small area, making them ideal for larger families limited in space. Plus, the fact the line spins in any wind helps to dry clothes even quicker.
Because there is more movement, you need to buy a decent quality rotary washing line otherwise it will soon become damaged and worn. It’s worth spending a little more to avoid the false economy a cheap line may offer.
How Do I Stop My Rotary Line From Sagging?
Rotary lines tend to sag if too much weight is placed on them, or weight is distributed unevenly.
To prevent a rotary line from sagging, make sure you space items evenly and try and avoiding place too many heavy items too close to each other. It can also help to hang items such as towels so that their longest side is touching the line, thereby better distributing the weight.
How Do You Stabilise A Rotary Washing Line?
Whether you’re using the best free-standing rotary washing line or a really good ground or wall mounted one, you’ll still need to ensure it is well stabilised.
You can stabilise a free-standing rotary washing line by either anchoring the base to the ground with pegs, or by placing a heavy weight on the stand (being careful not to cause damage).
A rotary washing line that is in the ground or mounted on a wall shouldn’t need any extra stabilisation. However, picking a relatively sheltered spot and avoiding the windiest days will help ensure no additional stabilisation is necessary.
Do You Have To Cement A Rotary Washing Line?
You do not have to cement a rotary washing line, providing you use a suitable anchoring point.
Many rotary washing lines include spikes that can be screwed or driven into the ground. These should be provide an adequate base for long-term use providing you are sensible about not using the line in high winds.
The only time you may need to cement a rotary washing line is if you are placing it on a hard surface such as a patio. In this situation, you may need to create a hole in cement or cement in place a ground spike or tube capable of holding the rotary line pole.
We do not recommend cementing the main rotary washing line pole into the ground as you’ll want to be able to store it away over winter and easily replace the line if it becomes damaged.
Where Do I Put My Rotary Washing Line?
The best place for a rotary washing line is in a sunny, yet sheltered spot. This will give you the maximum drying power of the sun while protecting your washing line from high winds.
Of course, the practicalities of how you use the space where you position your washing line also need to be considered. Placing it too close to a path, for instance, may be a hazard for anyone passing by. Think also about where it is in relation to yours or your neighbours BBQs if you want to avoid smelly washing!
The Best Free-Standing Rotary Washing Lines:
