Laundry8 Best Pull-Out & Retractable Clothesline Solutions
If there’s one thing most families always need more of, it’s clothes-drying solutions that don’t cost an arm and a leg! If you’re in the same boat, hang tight, because we’ve dug up Australia’s most popular retractable clotheslines that pull out fast for easy drying all year.
How does a pull-out retractable clothesline work?
A retractable clothesline contains one or more space-saving lines that you manually pull out from a mounted unit and secure to another wall. A fantastic supplement to clothes airers and racks, it offers families a robust hanging line in a matter of seconds. When not in use, you’d barely notice it’s even there, so for convenient drying that packs away perfectly, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Before diving into our shortlist of sanity-saving options, take a closer look at what to consider when you’re shopping for one.
What’s in this article
- How does a pull-out retractable clothesline work?
- What to consider before buying a retractable clothesline
- 8 Best Pull-Out And Retractable Clotheslines In Australia
- GorillaLine Retractable Indoor Outdoor Washing Line, $38
- Hills Retracting 7-Line Outdoor Clothesline, $259.98
- Leifheit Rollfix Indoor 5-Line Wall Dryer, $50.50
- Brabantia Retractable 5-Line Clothesline, $134.50
- Sunfresh Single Line Retractable Clothesline, $29.98
- Austral 40m Retractaway Clotheslines, $266
- Hills Planter Retracting Clothesline, $65
- Daytek Indoor Micro Retracting Line, $16.98
- FAQs
What to consider before buying a retractable clothesline
Where will you put it?
If you’re looking for an outdoor pull-out clothesline, make sure it uses weather-resistant materials to go the distance. For indoor products, you’ll want to make sure it fits on the wall you’ve picked out.
How many lines do you actually need?
Only after a single line to take care of tea towels or those extra items that don’t fit on your large washing line? Or do you need a solution with multiple lines? The more cords included the larger, heavier and more expensive the product. So, make sure you only buy what you’ll use.
How much weight will it hold?
Planning on hanging lightweight items like baby clothes, socks and jocks? Or do you need something strong enough for towels and heavy bedding? Some retractable lines use nylon rope which is prone to sagging under heavy weight. Higher-end clotheslines use plastic-coated cords better suited to heavy loads.
8 Best Pull-Out And Retractable Clotheslines In Australia
Whether you don’t want a bulky clothesline ruining your backyard aesthetic anymore, or you’re sick of the sight of the clothes rack in the lounge room, stick with us. We’re stepping you through the most loved pull-out and retractable clotheslines in Australia.
How did we choose? Our team hand-picked these products based on functionality, style, price and customer reviews. We aim to take the hard work out of shopping by doing the research for you and putting a selection of stand-out products in one handy spot. We may receive commissions from purchases made off links in this post.
GorillaLine Retractable Indoor Outdoor Washing Line, $38
Smart looks, easy use and affordability – it’s little wonder this beauty has received thousands of positive reviews from happy customers. What we love most about this unit is that it is quick to set up and it attaches securely to walls with screws. It extends to more than 4m in length and it even has an anti-sag lock to keep the cord nice and tight. We’re giving this the big thumbs up for over bathtubs and laundry areas.
Pros:
- Comes with an anti-sag lock
- Holds up to 18kg of washing
- At less than $50, it’s an affordable way to add more drying power to your home
- Perfect for hanging indoors given the unit is quote inconspicuous
Cons:
- It has a single line, which is a problem if you like to hang larger things over two lines for better airflow
- At only 4m in length, it’s only really suited to small and medium rooms
Where to buy it:
Hills Retracting 7-Line Outdoor Clothesline, $259.98
Less than a metre wide and boasting 47m of drying space, this Hills clothesline is perfect for large households. Each line runs individually from a tough spring to give you optimal tension at all times. The clothesline housing uses a combination of high-grade steel and industrial-strength plastics and it comes with a lifetime warranty. Colour-matched with COLORBOND Monument, this one is mountable on a wall or with a compatible Hills post.
Pros:
- Good distance between lines for optimum airflow
- In COLORBOND Monument, it’s matches many Aussie rooftops
- Comes with a lifetime warranty, so you really can’t go wrong!
Cons:
- Designed to be mounted to solid walls, not hollow walls. You may need to buy additional brackets or plugs if dealing with hollow walls.
Where to buy it:
Leifheit Rollfix Indoor 5-Line Wall Dryer, $50.50
With a crisp white finish and compact design, the Leifheit 5-Line Wall Dryer is your inconspicuous bestie for indoor drying. It features five tear-proof polyester lines that tighten with a handy control knob and it offers 21 metres of drying space. Whether you want to add some indiscrete drying power to a hallway, laundry, bathroom or garage, this great-value buy does the job.
Pros:
- The white unit works well with most interiors
- Easy line-tightening control knob on the side of the unit
Cons:
- Polyester lines can sag under a lot of weight, so this isn’t the best choice for heavy loads
- Only extends up to 4.2m, so it’s not suitable for large rooms
Where to buy it:
Brabantia Retractable 5-Line Clothesline, $134.50
In black and matte steel, the contemporary Brabantia 5-Line Clothesline is one of the best-looking options in the country. It uses corrosion-resistant materials to be perfect for bathrooms and laundries and boats a smooth-action pull-out system for easy use every time. The locking system gives you the right tension for your drying needs and the combined 22m of drying space is enough for two regular washing loads, including large sheets and quilt covers. It comes with wall-mounting equipment and a 5-year warranty.
Pros:
- Easy installation
- Stainless steel housing looks stylish
- Doesn’t corrode, so it’s safe to use in wet rooms
- Auto-lock system for lines that are always tights – no sagging!
Cons:
- The holes in this unit don’t match the previous model, so if you’re replacing an old Brabantia unit, you’ll need to drill new ones
Where to buy it:
Sunfresh Single Line Retractable Clothesline, $29.98
An absolute cinch to install and small enough to take on your next camping trip, this handy retracting line from Sunfresh is worth every cent. It gives you a total of 15m of drying space and holds up to 5kg of washing. This beauty has you completely covered whether you need extra hanging space inside the house or out on the deck to take care of all those beach towels!
Pros:
- Fabulous for camping and outdoor living
- One of the cheapest options we’ve found in Australia
Cons:
- Only holds 5kg of washing
- Has to be drilled onto a fence or wall
Where to buy it:
Austral 40m Retractaway Clotheslines, $266
All Australian and designed to look great in and around modern homes, the Austral Retractaway is a favourite for many reasons. It comes with five lines, a total of 40m of drying space and it holds a huge 50kg of washing. Like the similar Hills units, this model gives you the flexibility of being able to install it on walls or posts with compatible fittings. Use it indoors or outside under cover.
Pros:
- Easy to install!
- Suitable for indoor or outdoor use
- Massive 50kg weight load – great for families
Cons:
- Lines are known to stretch slightly
- Getting the perfect tension can be tricky for some people
Where to buy it:
Hills Planter Retracting Clothesline, $65
As total green thumbs, we had to include the Hills Planter Pull-Out Clothes Line in this shortlist for its ingenuity – it’s a self-watering planter and clothesline in one handy unit! Not only is the planter well-sized for herbs and ferns, but it also gives you 19m of drying space over three lockable lines. This means it handles even King-sized bedding with ease. Features include a removable plug for plant drainage, tension control and a lifetime warranty. Love it!
Pros:
- Easy to drain
- Great option for under carports and in patios
- When retracted, you’d never know it was a clothesline!
Cons:
- Needs to be bolted into a masonry wall, so set up takes a little effort
- The black planter might not work with all aesthetics
Where to buy it:
Daytek Indoor Micro Retracting Line, $16.98
Pint-sized and budget-friendly, the Daytek Micro pull-out clothes line is a great solution for people living in apartments or small dwellings. It gives you 3.5m of hanging space and comes in a choice of grey or white. To hide the bulky end when not in use, one happy customer suggests mounting it in a wardrobe or cupboard. Genius idea!
Pros:
- Fabulous for hiding inside closets!
- An affordable option for drying socks and jocks
Cons:
- It doesn’t offer a lot of drying space
- You still need to screw it into a wall, so it’s not great for renters
Where to buy it:
FAQs
This will largely depend on your needs. For compact single-line options, the GorillaLine is one of the country’s most popular options and it looks great too. For larger lines, the Austral Retractaway and Brabantia 5-Line units are popular for their contemporary finish.
The Hills 7-Line Retractable Clothesline is one of the biggest in Australia with 47 metres of line space!
The main reason many people are skipping the old-style outdoor clothesline is because of their bulky, attractive appearance. Many renovators today are opting for retractable or folding options that pack away neatly when not in use.
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Looking for more laundry inspiration? Take a look at the most stylish laundry baskets in the country!
