Living in a small home means laundry space is at a premium, so we choose to live without an electric dryer.
The only reason we can survive without a dryer is that we have a grunty rotary clothesline which came installed in our back garden.
Line drying is great for your clothes, wallet and the environment (seriously, see here)
For those of you considering your options for buying a new clothesline with a decent-sized backyard, I strongly urge you to consider a rotary clothesline (sometimes called rotary dryers – depending on where you live).
Here’s a quick comparison of the top clotheslines on the market today.
Rotary Clotheslines Comparison Table
| Brand | Drying Space | Number of Lines | Height | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exaco Juwel Nova Plus 500 Rotary Line Dryer | 140ft (42m) | 9 lines | 50" - 73" (129-187cm) working range | 2 years |
| Brabantia Lift-o-matic Rotary Dryer Clothes Line | 196ft (60m) | 11 lines per side for more drying space | 78" (200 cm) when fully extended | 5 years |
| Brabantia Topspinner Rotary Washing Line with Ground Spike - 131 feet | 131ft (40m) | 8 lines | 75" (190 cm) when fully extended | 5 years |
| Breezecatcher TS4-140 7-Line Outdoor Umbrella Clothesline | 140ft (42m) | 7 lines | 78" (200 cm) | 10 years |
They’re hardy, have ample room for large loads of laundry and double as backyard jungle gyms (just ask my kids).
Because we love clotheslines and want to help you find the best clothesline for your home, we spent over 20 hours researching the best rotary clotheslines in the market.
We combed through specifications, reading thousands of clothesline reviews, and we call the Brabantia Lift-o-Matic our winner.
For those on a budget, the best option is the Brabantia Topspinner.
The Exaco Juwel Nova Plus 500 and the Breezecatcher TS4-140 are also highly commended. Keep reading to find out why these rotary clotheslines are our top 4.
Top 4 Rotary Clotheslines
1. Brabantia Rotary Dryer Clothes Line
Our winner, the Lift-o-Matic is one of Brabantia’s new range of rotary clothesline.
Offering almost 200 feet of drying space and designed to accommodate large items the size of queen bed sheets, the Brabantia Lift-O-Matic rotary clothesline has all the makings to take the hard work out of hanging laundry on a clothesline.
We love:
- Arrives pre-strung for easy installation
- Has multiple ratchets on the pole to lock the unit. So you can stop at the first ratchet, reposition to wherever you’re more comfortable, and push it to the top.
- Can be adjusted for height so you can dry longer sheets duvets etc
- Perfect for airing large bedding items, pillows and cushions
- Comes with smoothly turning arms, to dry your laundry easier and faster.
- The lines stay taut
- Adjustable from 129 cm up to 187 cm, which means you can get it to glide to different heights with barely any effort (at 5’1″ this is the major plus for me!!)
- Comes complete with a nylon PVC cover with a zip up side
Could improve:
- The centre post isn’t sturdy enough. Maybe some wedging or additional support could make it a touch sturdier
- Some users also complained that the lines tend to become loose after getting tangled in strong gusts of wind.
Verdict
Ideal for those who have a lot of laundry to dry, the Brabantia Lift-O-Matic gives great value for money.
At this price point, we would not hesitate to recommend this Brabantia rotary clothes line.
2. Breezecatcher TS4-140 7-Line Outdoor Umbrella Clothesline
The TS4-140 from Breezecatcher offers up to 150 ft of hanging space.
Made from sturdy aluminium, this Breezecatcher product boasts smooth folding with a quick, spring action latch mechanism to lock it in firmly and securely.
We love:
- A sturdy aluminum construction equals better support and durability.
- Features well-tensioned poly core PVC lines strung with a loopback to eliminate sagging
- Offers enough space and support for hanging large queen-size sheets
- Value for money considering the years of service you get from it
- 10-year manufacturer warranty
- The components feel solid, not at all flimsy.
Could improve:
- The price. But if you try to focus on the investment and long life, the cost per use will be low.
- Can spin a bit too easily if it gets too windy. Nevertheless, it is easy to hold and manoeuvre.
- Some reviews mention the wire is difficult to pull taut and can become floppy.
Verdict
True to its name, the Breezecatcher makes good use of wind to speed up drying and also handles heavier loads like a charm. Although it’s pricey, like many reviews suggest, this clothesline lasts longer and is totally worth the investment.
3. Exaco Juwel Nova Plus 500 Rotary Line Dryer
Exaco Juwel’s innovative integration of Twaron, a special space-age fibre, into rotary clotheslines pushes the Nova Plus 500 into the top 4. This material cuts vibration in half increasing sturdiness and stability.We love:
- The umbrella-like system goes up and down really well so you can bring it to your desired height level
- Easy to take down so you can use your backyard space for other things such as entertaining your guests
- The Twaron lines don’t droop as much as the plastic lines and make it easy for the unit to hold large loads of wash.
- Comes with a chintzy protective cover
- The top frame spins to take advantage of changing winds, thus allowing for quicker and easier drying.
Could improve:
- Some reviews suggest there might be a problem with slacking of the lines and one has to keep tightening the line every time it slacks off a bit.
- The protective cover that comes with The lines seem to give a little, especially when putting heavy wet towels on it
- Handy hanging loops for coat hangers could have been a nice addition.
- Only a 2-year warranty. However, a 5-year warranty would be a good way to indicate that the makers are quite confident about its ability to last longer and withstand tough weather
Verdict
Overall, Exaco Juwel Nova Plus 500 is a robust rotary clothesline that gets the job done. However, as you might expect at this price, the Exaco Juwel doesn’t come loaded with many extras.
4. Brabantia Topspinner Rotary Washing Line with Ground Spike – 131 feet
Taking top spot for the Best Budget Rotary Clothesline, the Brabantia Topspinner offers exactly 131 feet of drying space. This rotary washing line features a robust umbrella system that’s adjustable and re-tensionable in 3 different positions.
It also features high-quality UV-resistant washing lines with a non-slip finish. Ideal for mid-sized families with a large load of laundry to air, this product from Brabantia is our favorite cheap rotary dryer.
We love:
- Has the best ground clearance in its class. For instance, it allows bath towels, and bed linen to be hung lengthwise. That said, it could be kind of hard for shorter people.
- The lightweight design makes it a cinch to put up and take down.
- The lines do not slacken so you don’t have to mess around trying to firm it up
- Arms with smooth turning mechanism mean you can hang laundry easily and quickly without having to carry the basket around
- Each arm is fitted with a handy loop for hanging cloth hangers, making it perfect for drying soft laundry
- A loop in the centre allows for easy storage
Could improve:
- Some reviews state that this clothesline might not be ideal for short people. I can’t see why short people can’t make good use of it, it’s just a case of reaching up slightly.
- The ground spike that comes with the clothesline might be a bit tricky to install.
- Just nitpicking a bit here; the centre pole needs to be firmly attached and locked in on the ground spike as the whole clothesline tends to rotate in the breeze, rather than the top frame as designed.
Verdict
Overall, it is a sturdy clothesline with a solid design and looks extremely well-made.
At less than $100, it’s definitely a good price point for a budget rotary clothesline.
So there you have it. I hope this article has helped you find the right clothesline for you (and helped to explain how we live without a dryer in our small laundry room).