A rotary line with three arms and 30 metres of drying space would be ideal. The Brabantia 30 Metre 3 Arm Compact Rotary Washing Line would be suitable in this case.

One of the main factors you must consider when getting a washing line is; do you have space in your garden for a rotary washing line? Rotary washing lines, if looked after correctly, can last a very long time! It’s not unheard of for some washing lines to last over 10 years. Most of the larger rotary lines need space. So you must consider how much space is available in your garden or courtyard before settling on a rotary line.

Best rotary washing lines at a glance

Brand: Minky | Dimensions open: H18.5 x W16.5 x D12.5cm | Material: Plastic | Ground spike included: No - includes wall fittings | Cover included: Plastic housing for line - retractable | Maximum load: 25kg What we like Is your laundry basket overflowing? Does your family produce a seemingly never-ending pile of dirty clothes and sheets you struggle to find space to hang up and dry? In that case, our best heavy-duty rotary washing line by BPIL could be the one for you. Choose between three sizes to find one that's right for your garden. Brand: BPIL | Dimensions open: Unspecified | Dimensions closed: Unspecified | Material: Alloy steel | Ground spike included: Yes | Cover included: Yes | Maximum load: Unspecified What we like

Brabantia, as a brand, really steals the show with Mumsnetters. Many raved about this product, the Brabantia Wall Fix, in particular, as a unique space-saving rotary washing line for small gardens or those without a suitable patio or lawn to fix a traditional one into. As a follow on from the point above, you’ll need to think about where you get the most sun and best breeze in your garden. Wherever this is, is the ideal location to put your rotary line. If your laundry can reach out and get caught on things as they blow in the wind, you might find that your line doesn’t rotate as it should, the laundry could get damaged, or in extreme circumstances, it could put unnecessary pressure on the line and break it. You can consider embedding the ground spike in concrete or plaster for extra support, but it is optional. How deep should a hole be for the ground spike?In addition to this, if you’re going to go with a well-known brand, like Brabantia or Vileda, you’re likely to pay more for the expertise and exceptional build quality of the lines. Gets a bit unstable when windy - previous customers recommended adding extra support and using your own screws to keep the line stable

A lightweight, but sturdy, rotary washing line, the Vileda Sun-Life 40m Compact Rotary Airer comes with some helpful features, including a rachet system to alter the height and ensure the lines stay taut, and four clip-on hooks to accommodate coat hangers, offering more drying options during those sunny summer days. The Vileda 60 Metre Super Dry Hoist Rotary Airer comes with a crank handle, and users frequently note how easy it is to open/close the line. Now more than ever, we don't want to waste money on ridiculously expensive products only to find out that they don't actually work. That's why all of our Swear-by articles are informed by recommendations from real parents collected from our Mumsnet forums. Your weekly laundry cycle: How many loads you do over a week can influence the size of your rotary washing line. There is no point going for a three-arm that can manage one load at a time when realistically, you need a four-arm that can handle up to 4+.The weather: Now, we know we cannot control the weather (otherwise, it wouldn’t rain half as much as it does). However, you still need to think carefully about it. For example, a freestanding airer would not be practical if you live in a particularly windy spot (unless you wanted your family’s clothing to end up in your neighbour’s garden.) You need to be able to open the line up without it causing any damage to itself or to anything around it. There’s no point putting your rotary line next to a wall, for example! This is where you have a little handle on the central pole, and you turn it to lift the arms of the washing line. It’s basically the same mechanism as you get on most outdoor umbrellas! We had a Minky one at our last house. It had two lines, so it was great for a full load. No complaints." (Suggested by Mumsnet user WeAreTheHeroes) Or perhaps you should look into other washing lines that may be more suitable for your garden, like wall mounted lines, or a line that goes between two washing posts.