Clotheslines – not just about the hills hoist
December 28th 2008 01:18
It’s much more environmentally friendly and cheaper to dry clothes on a clothesline rather than using a clothes dryer. Living in the Australian climate means its common sense to have one strung up somewhere.
With smaller blocks of land, and higher density housing, there is not always the room for a huge clothesline in metropolitan areas anymore. Even in rural areas of Australia, having a portable clothesline under a verandah helps when the rain sets in. Backyards, balconies and verandahs also often double as entertaining areas, and an unsightly clothesline can get in the way. All these factors mean consumers need to know more about the different types of clotheslines on the market, and which type will best suit their renovation or garden makeover.
One option is the innovative product called Versaline. It’s a clothesline that slides into brackets on the wall, and can be taken out and packed up within 10 seconds. It can also be fixed onto two posts, between a wall and a post, or even on verandah posts. The Versaline is perfect if you don’t have much room, for example down a side path or in a courtyard. Best of all you can take it down if you need to use the space for anything else. It’s made from durable powder coated galvabond steel or 316 stainless steel. There are two sizes, the four line, with gives twenty metres of line space, or the 6 line, which gives thirty metres of line space.
Other clotheslines that are easy to hide include the retractable variety. Retractable clotheslines are fixed to a wall on one side, where individually tensioned lines are coiled around a spool. The lines are connected at the other end to a rod, and can be pulled out and fastened to a hook or pole to make a clothesline.
Another variety of clothesline has a frame around three sides, with the fourth side attached to a wall. This can then be folded up to make a clothes line, or folded down to sit flush against a wall. Unlike the Versaline, this requires the space or area to be able to fold it down, as the rigid structure does not contort.
If you are a devoted fan of the hills hoist there are varieties now that enable the arms to be folded down, and a cover put over it, leaving a less obtrusive pillar in the backyard. Or, there is the option of buying a hoist which can be removed whole, and slotted in and out of a hole in the ground when needed.
There is even a product on the market that does not require pegs. Ezyline clotheslines have a system where clothes are gripped between the intertwined lines; so you don’t need to worry about pegs, and can pull the clothes off quickly. It is portable and useful for campers, can be attached to your existing line, or set up on a balcony or in a laundry. It holds thirty kilograms of weight, and lasts 5 years in the full sun. Not to mention being recyclable.
With so many options on the market, you are sure to find one that suits you. Don’t forget to assess the space you have available for the line, and the previous uses of that space.
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