I bought this product myself and this review is based on my own experience.
I bought the Minky Retractable Duo Washing Line around two years ago and, quite honestly, it has been a godsend.
We live pretty remotely and our garden is basically rock and stone with a layer of grass over the top.
That normally isn’t a problem.
Until you decide you want to put up a washing line.
We discovered very quickly that a rotary line wasn’t going to work
With two small boys who spend a lot of time outside and seem determined to get as dirty as physically possible, I do an enormous amount of washing.
Add the laundry from our Airbnb into the mix and the washing machine seems to be running constantly.
I know I’m getting old because I actually really enjoy hanging washing outside.
So naturally, I wanted a decent outdoor washing line.
We initially tried putting in a rotary washing line.
After attempting to dig around 11 different holes and hitting rock every single time before we could get deep enough, we eventually admitted defeat.
Our garden simply wasn’t going to cooperate.
I tried other options before finding the Minky
We tried several alternatives, but nothing really worked properly.
Eventually I found the Minky Retractable Duo Washing Line.
Instead of needing a pole buried into the ground, the main unit fixes onto a wall.
The lines then pull out and attach at the other end.
Ours attaches to a fence post.
That meant we didn’t need to dig anything into our ridiculously rocky ground.
Problem solved.
It gives me 30 metres of washing line
The model we have has two separate lines, giving around 30 metres of drying space altogether.
For us, that’s a really useful amount.
I’m regularly washing children’s clothes, bedding, towels and laundry for the Airbnb, so I need more than a tiny washing line.
The fact that something so compact can provide that much line space is one of the reasons I’ve been so impressed with it.
You only see it when you’re actually using it
This is probably my favourite feature.
When I need the washing line, I pull both lines out and attach them to the fence post.
When I’ve finished, I retract them back into the wall-mounted unit.
That’s it.
For most of the time, there isn’t a washing line taking up part of the garden.
That matters when you have children.
They still have the garden available to run around and play without having to dodge a rotary dryer or permanent washing lines.
Retracting the line has another unexpected benefit
One thing I hadn’t really considered when I bought it was what would happen to the line when it wasn’t being used.
Because it retracts back inside the casing, it isn’t permanently sitting outside getting wet.
I’ve had rotary lines in the past where the actual washing line eventually became dirty or mouldy.
After two years, this has been much less of an issue with the Minky because the line spends most of its life protected inside the unit.
It’s one of those small benefits I didn’t buy it for, but now really appreciate.
It’s still going strong two years later
I’ve had ours for approximately two years now.
It gets a lot of use.
We’re not a household where the washing line comes out occasionally on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
It’s used regularly and often has a substantial amount of washing hanging from it.
So far, it has done exactly what I needed it to do.
For something that cost around £20, I think that’s excellent value.
Is there anything I don’t like?
Honestly, there isn’t much.
The main thing I’d say is that you obviously need somewhere suitable to attach both ends.
The unit itself needs a secure wall or similar fixing point, and you need somewhere solid at the opposite end to hook the lines onto.
For us, a wall and fence post worked perfectly.
If you have those available, the system is incredibly simple.
Who I think it would suit
I think this would be particularly useful for:
- gardens where a rotary washing line can’t easily be installed
- smaller gardens where you don’t want a permanent dryer taking up space
- families who do a lot of washing
- holiday-let owners dealing with regular bedding and towel washing
- households with children who need the garden kept clear for playing
- anyone fed up with a permanent washing line sitting outside in the weather
It’s particularly useful if, like us, your ground refuses to cooperate with anything that needs digging in.
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Busy Life Edit Quick Verdict
Paid: Around £20
Owned for: Around 2 years
Why I bought it: Our rocky ground made installing a rotary washing line practically impossible
Line space: Around 30 metres across two lines
Biggest plus: Retracts completely when not in use
Best for: Families, smaller gardens and awkward ground
Unexpected benefit: The line stays cleaner because it isn’t permanently exposed outside
Durability: Still working well after approximately two years of regular use
Would I buy it again? Absolutely
My verdict
Sometimes the simplest products solve the most irritating problems.
All I wanted was somewhere to hang our considerable amount of washing.
Instead, our garden turned installing a rotary washing line into an excavation project.
After trying to dig hole after hole and repeatedly hitting rock, the Minky retractable line turned out to be a much simpler solution.
It gives me plenty of drying space when I need it and virtually disappears when I don’t.
The children still have the garden to play in, I don’t have a permanent rotary dryer sitting in the middle of the grass, and after two years it is still doing exactly what I bought it to do.
For around £20, I genuinely think it’s one of the best practical purchases I’ve made.
Best washing line I’ve ever had.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely.
Busy Life Edit 