If you're asking yourself "how to choose a clothesline?" then you've come to the right place. When it comes to choosing a clothesline, there are several things that you should be considering such as location, space, budget, washing load and installation.
In this article we will discuss these 5 important factors you should consider when finding the right clothesline for your needs.
But first, one important question to think about is...
Do I Really Need a Clothesline?
In today's modern world we are fortunate enough to have appliances that certainly make our lives much easier and more efficient, especially when it comes to the more mundane household tasks of laundry and washing dirty clothes. Yes, having a clothes dryer is of course more convenient! Particularly if you have a large family, or even if you live on your own its still worth having, because let's be honest, we don't want to be spending our days hanging up clothes on a clothesline when we can just press a button. However, all that being said there are numerous reasons why any home should also have a clothesline.
Why You Should Have a Clothesline
Here are 10 reasons why you should start using a clothesline:
- It will save you money
- It is more gentle on your clothing
- It is better for the environment
- It does not make ANY noise
- It will make your clothing last longer
- It naturally freshens your clean laundry
- You can use it year round (especially during summer power outages)
- Your clean laundry will smell amazing
- It accommodates most (if not all) sized items
- No indoor humidity, mould or mildew build-up.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing a New Clothesline
Whether you live in a tiny apartment, house or on a farm, taking the time to consider what the best drying solution for your laundry washing is worth it. Here are our five recommendations on what you should consider when picking a clothesline.
1. Space
Ask yourself, how much space do I have to work with? Clotheslines come in all shapes and sizes from large rotary clotheslines to small, compact fold down clotheslines. Whether you have very little space or too much space, the important thing to consider is, do I have sufficient space for a clothesline to function correctly. This includes, is there enough space for the clothesline to be installed according to the manufacturers recommendations, and is there enough space for items to swing freely.
2. Location
The location of a clothesline often goes hand in hand with how much space you have to work with. However, in addition to this, you should consider the following when it comes to choosing the best location for a clothesline:
- Accessibility - is the location easily accessible to you and anyone else who will be using the clothesline?
- Climate & Sun Exposure - is the location in full or partial sunlight? If you live in a climate where it rains frequently, a partially indoor location may be more suitable like a porch or verandah.
- Aesthetic - these days clotheslines come in all different stylish, minimal designs that won't detract from your homes appearance.
- Privacy - is the location out in the open? Do you mind if the neighbours can see your "delicates" hanging on the line? Consider if privacy is important to you when deciding the location of your clothesline.
Be sure to consider these location factors when choosing a clothesline to best suit your lifestyle.
3. Budget
When it comes to the price of a new clothesline it really depends on the quality of the product. The price of a clothesline can range from $160 to $500 depending on the type of clothesline you are looking for. When it comes to Australian clothesline brands, the top of the line brands include Austral Clothes Hoists. Austral clotheslines are one of the very few brands that design and manufacture their clotheslines exclusively in Australia, making them very high-quality and therefore more expensive. If you're looking for a more budget friendly clothesline brand, Sunbreeze is a good alternative that still offer good functionality and design in a clothesline. Generally, most people will go through between 1 to 2 clotheslines during their lifetime, making the cost of a clothesline pretty inexpensive, as well as the money you can save on electricity in the long run.
4. Washing Load
A very important factor to consider is washing load when choosing a clothesline. Consider the following questions:
- What is your average washing load size?
- How often do you put a load of washing on?
These two question will help determine the type of clothesline that will best suit your needs. If you have a small family, it does not necessarily mean you don't wash as often as a larger family. Just remember, the more line space a clothesline has, the more space you can hang your laundry. So you want to make sure you have enough line space to hang a single washing load, whether you wash once a day or once a week.
5. Installation
Installing a clothesline can be very simple and done by following the manufacturers instructions. However, depending on the type of clothesline and your preferred location of where you would like it installed, clothesline installation can be more difficult. A standard wall mounted folding or retractable clothesline is easier to install compared with ground mounted rotary or even an indoor clothesline. Important things to consider when it comes to clothesline installation include:
- Is it easy enough to install myself?
- Do I have the tools or equipment at home or will I have to buy them?
- Do I need permission from the council before installing it?
Ease of installation does not have to be a determining factor when choosing your dream clothesline. Citywide Clothesline Services can take care of installing your clothesline. Our experienced clothesline installers will work with you to determine the best location for your clothesline, including finding the right height and how to operate your new clothesline.
I've Chosen My New Clothesline, How Do I Get it Installed?
Head to our website now to book your Clothesline Installation and one of our team members will be in contact with you to organise a time and date for us to install your new clothesline. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a team member first, give us a call on 1300 366 229.