Retract This! (Minky Outdoor Retractable Washing Line)

Member Name: low_rider

Product:	Minky Outdoor Retractable Washing Line
Date:	08/06/09 (185 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sturdy, easy to store, ergonomic, cheap, ideal for small gardens

Disadvantages: Installation might be a little tricky for some, but otherwise first rate product

We are somewhat unusual as apartment dwellers in that, as we live on the ground floor, we have a small private garden outside. Our place isn't huge so when we wash our clothes we have the eternal problem of where to put those cumbersome drying racks; far better, we decided, to stick up a washing line outside and take advantage of any and all nice weather. To this end, we purchased the Minky Retractable washing line. These come in 2 varieties; the single line (pictured), and also a double line. However, as there are only the two of us we thought that two lines would be excessive, and so bought the single line. Minky has a reputation for producing high quality items which unfortunately are often quite expensive; not so with this, as you can find it online at Amazon for less than £4. Bargain.

The Product:

The washing line itself is stored on a reel within the outer case; a rather boring grey colour about 6 inches in diameter and about 2 across, so it is small and easy to store, and it weighs just under 2kg. When mounted, it extends about 7 inches from the wall. The line is extendable to 15m, and can carry quite a bit of weight - I don't know the exact load bearing abilities, but suffice to say I have had two sodden, extremely heavy mattress protectors hanging from it to dry without any problems. The line is coated in white PVC which can be easily cleaned, and has a small blue clasp at the end of the line which attaches to a retention hook. The mounting case also comes with a small pivot at the bottom; this is to tie the washing line around once you have extended it to prevent it from retracting.

What's in the Box:

You get a 15m line in a grey retractable casing; a bracket and pin for attaching the product to a wall, a hook-ended retention screw, two countersunk cross-headed screws and three 8mm rawlplugs. Instructions are printed on the outside of the box.

Installation:

This is designed for use outdoors. To put it up, you will need an electric drill with an 8mm drill bit (if you are installing the bracket on brick then you will need a masonry drill bit; if you are attaching it to a wooden post then a standard drill bit will do), and a cross-headed screwdriver. Firstly, measure out the distance - make sure that the space between which you will be hanging it is 15m or less. Choose a suitable height for the product - ideally you would want it at least 1.8m off the ground. To install the bracket, hold the bracket against the wall and mark the drill points using the holes in the bracket as a guide in order to get the spacing right. Drill a deep hole at both points, and clean out any dust etc (holding a vacuum cleaner nozzle against the holes is an easy way to do this!). Then, insert the rawlplugs. Now, you can screw the bracket onto the wall using the screws provided. On the opposite wall, drill another hole for the retention hook (ideally at the same height), insert the last rawlplug and screw in the hook-ended screw. The washing line is attached to the bracket using a removable metal pin, so when you have finished using the washing line you can remove the pin simply by sliding it out and you can then remove the washing line. I store mine indoors when not using it - it is weather-proof, but I don't want it swinging about on the bracket in the wind when not using it.

Using it:

To use the washing line, extend the line and fasten it over the retention hook. Wind some excess line around the pivot at the bottom of the housing case to prevent the line from retracting. Once your washing is dry, take the line off the hook, unwind the line from the pivot and guide the line back into the case. The line does retract very quickly, so keep a hold on it as otherwise it will whip about!

You might also want to consider using a prop with the line to provide a bit of extra support.

Verdict:

This really is an excellent product; ergonomic and affordable. The installation is easy enough as long as you are comfortable using a drill, and the product is very sturdy - we have been using ours for over a year now and have not had any problems with it. It is designed for the smaller garden and it is a nice alternative to having a clothes tree or even just a regular line strung up, as it is discreet, and can be easily taken down so it won't take up any of your precious garden space. We have ours extended to about 14m, and that is long enough for a full machine load of 6kg+ to hang out with some space to spare, and I have yet to find a maximum load capability - the line itself is very strong, and the wall fixings are very secure. If you do need a washing line, I would highly recommend this, as it is an excellent solution for the smaller garden, and I really cannot think of any flaws.

Summary: Fantastic!