Foldable Washing Lines

A foldable washing line solves the problem most South African homes actually have, which is not a shortage of drying space but a shortage of room to put it. Ours opens out to 13 metres of line, then folds flat against the wall when the washing comes in. No pole in the middle of the lawn, no footing to dig, nothing left standing in a small courtyard. Built in Cape Town from aluminium, R2 050 including VAT.

How the fold works

The frame is hinged at the wall bracket. Pulled open it stands 2 300mm wide and 800mm deep, holding five lines spaced 10cm apart. Folded it drops back almost flush against the wall. There is no catch to fight with and nothing to unclip, so it takes a second in each direction. That matters more than it sounds, because a line that is awkward to fold simply never gets folded.

What it is made of

• Powder-coated aluminium brackets, so there is nothing on the frame that can rust
• Stainless steel screws, washers and bolts
• 13 metres of PVC coated line over a polyester core, UV protected
• UV-protected shoulder washers, which is where most lines fail first
• White, charcoal or bronze
• Two-year warranty on the aluminium frame

What it will carry

13 metres at 10cm spacing takes a full machine load. It is also built for the heavy items that finish off a rope line: blankets, duvet covers and bath sheets. Because the frame is rigid and fixed into the wall rather than strung between two points, it does not sag in the middle as the load goes on.

Foldable against the alternatives

A retractable line is the other space-saving option, and it does disappear completely. The trade-off is capacity and sag, because a retractable line is a thin cord under tension and it will droop under wet bedding. A folding washing line gives you a rigid frame and far more line, at the cost of a bracket that stays on the wall. We have set the two side by side in retractable versus foldaway washing lines.

If your space is a balcony or an indoor drying spot rather than a yard, read indoor and balcony washing lines for small spaces.

Fitting and delivery

It arrives fully assembled and mounts to brick, plaster and most standard walls, so it is a fixing job rather than a build. The walkthrough is in how to install a wall-mounted washing line, and we offer optional installation in Cape Town.

Delivery is R149.99 anywhere in South Africa. Collection from Diep River is free. On the Cape Peninsula we can bring one to you and complete the purchase there, with no obligation to buy.

Frequently asked questions

Question: Which foldable clothes line is the best?

Answer: Look at three things: what the brackets are made of, what the fixings are made of, and how much line you get. Aluminium brackets cannot rust, stainless steel fixings will not stain the wall, and anything under 10 metres of line will struggle with a full load. Assembly matters too, since a line that arrives built is far easier to fit.

Question: What is a portable foldable washing line?

Answer: Portable usually means a free-standing A-frame or concertina airer that folds down and can be moved or packed away entirely. It suits renters and very small flats. A wall mounted foldable line is fixed in place instead, which gives you a rigid frame, much more line and the ability to hang heavy bedding.

Question: Do retractable washing lines work?

Answer: They work well for light loads in a narrow space, and they vanish completely when wound in. The limitation is sag. A retractable line is a cord under tension, so wet towels and duvet covers pull it down in the middle. For a full household load a rigid folding frame holds its shape far better.

Question: How much is a washing line in South Africa?

Answer: Prices run from around R300 for a basic rope and bracket set up to R6 000 and beyond for an imported rotary or wall-mounted dryer. Aluminium wall mounted lines from a local maker sit in between. Ours is R2 050 including VAT, which covers the frame, 13 metres of line, all stainless fixings and assembly.

A foldable washing line is worth having because it stops being there the moment you stop needing it. Ours gives you 13 metres of drying line on an aluminium frame that folds flat against the wall, arrives assembled, and is built in Cape Town rather than imported. White, charcoal or bronze, R2 050 including VAT, delivered anywhere in South Africa. See the range or read the washing line buyer's guide.