As the typical Kiwi back garden has been shrinking over the decades, so has the ability to install a permanent, full-sized clothesline. Even if you have enough lawn space, you might not want your clothesline occupying it day and night.
Thankfully, there are some great folding clotheslines available that give you the best of both worlds. They can fit large loads of laundry and then tuck away when you don’t need them. Folding washing lines come in two varieties, folding head hoist and folding frame.
Folding head hoist clotheslines are traditional rotary lines that can collapse when you don’t need them. You can fold the arms down flush with the pole and leave the line in the ground, or you can lift the entire line out of the ground socket and stash it in a shed or down the side of the house. These clotheslines are a great option if you have large loads of laundry as they can provide up to 58 metres of drying space.
Where to place a folding washing line
Folding frame clotheslines are very space-efficient as they can be mounted on the sides of buildings or fences as well as on free-standing legs. They make excellent use of dead space like the narrow walkway down the side of a property. They are available as either a single full line or as a double-folding version where you can fold out half of the clothesline for a small load of laundry or the entire line for a larger load. Folding frame lines tend to suit medium loads of laundry, normally offering 20 to 30 metres of drying space, although some models go up to 39 metres.
To maintain a folding clothesline, simply wipe it with a damp cloth and mild detergent once a month. We also suggest regularly folding and unfolding it to keep the joints operating smoothly. Using oil on the joints is not recommended. An application of good quality car wax every six months will extend the durability of your metal components.
Check out our extensive range of folding clotheslines. We can install them for you (for an additional fee) in Auckland or Christchurch, and take your old line away free of charge!
Need a new clothesline or some TLC for your existing line?
If you are looking for a new clothesline talk to us. We ship across the country and if you are in Auckland or Christchurch we can arrange installation for you to at an affordable price.
Give us a call to find out more.