Having a cover for the line is a great idea to prolong its life, but not all come supplied with one, and you may find over time that you need a replacement. These handy covers are about more than longevity though, as we’ll talk about here on this post.
There are a multitude of designs, colours and brands of covers available for your washing line, but they all offer the same simple benefits. Of course, some do offer additional features, but first let’s consider the basics.
You really need a cover because your washing line will almost certainly live outside or in a garage type environment, neither of which are the cleanest or ideal for the long life of your rotary. What’s more, if you leave a line uncovered, it gets dirtier and dirtier over time, and that’s only going to end up on your freshly washed laundry when you hang it out, the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve with the chores!
Here are a few things you’ll need to think about when choosing your ideal rotary washing line cover…
Fitting Method
How you fit the cover depends on the one you choose. Most pull down from the top of the frame of your line while its arms are folded down, holding them together with the slack cable around the vertical pole. While some (usually cheaper) covers simply stay loosely in place thanks to gravity, others have a pull string at the bottom to secure them, while others zip into place.
Generally speaking they will all work well, although those that secure in place will likely last longer before showing signs of wear as they move around less in the wind and bad weather.
Cleaning
As they’re designed to cover up your line, the covers will do a great job of keeping the frame and cable clean when the washing line isn’t in use, but the cover itself is still exposed to the elements. Check the manufacturer’s guidance when you buy, as many covers are washable, and at the very least suitable for hand cleaning.
Following the cleaning guidance will also mean that the build up of dirt and even mould is reduced, meaning that not only your line will be protected for longer, but the cover will too.
Size
While some lines are provided with a cover when you buy them, many are not. For that reason, it can be difficult to know how big the cover needs to be. As a rule of thumb, with the line closed, measure from the top of the closed line to just below the lowest point of the dangling cable or below the umbrella hinge bracket the arms connect to (again in the collapsed, closed position). This means that your cover will protect the moving support of the umbrella hinge.
For the width of the cover, be sure to allow enough space to be able to pull the cover over the line. If it’s too tight it could be very difficult to stretch over the closed line, risking damage to the cover or even the line itself.
Some covers are more stretchy than others, but there’s no substitute for thinking through the size of cover you need before you order.
Highly Rated Covers
Before we finish, let’s have a look at some of the better rated covers Amazon have on sale right now. These are selected based on what Amazon consider to be most relevant…
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Brabantia 120503 Rotary Airer Cover, Green, One Size
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Flatro Rotary Washing Line Cover Waterproof Fabric - Heavy Duty Rotary Clothes Line Cover with Zip - Protective Weather Resistant Parasol Cover for Garden Dryer and Airer (Black)
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Rotary Washing Line Waterproof Cover with Draw String & Zip- Heavy Duty Rotary Clothes Line Cover - Garden Rotary Dryer and Airer Cover - 165 cm Long | Green
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Newthinking Rotary Washing Line Cover, 420D Heavy Duty Waterproof Washing Line Cover with Zips for Dryer Rotary Line, 168x16x16cm
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Rotary Washing Line Protective Cover Universal Fit Waterproof Cover with Zip and Drawstring Heavy Duty and Weather Resistant Trunk Protector for Outdoor Clothes Airer Dryer/Garden Parasol(16x16x160cm)
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