Retractable clothes line

Wear and tear over the years can leave your clothes line looking a bit on the saggy side, but don’t panic. Replacing the line is much simpler than it looks – even if you have a retractable unit. And it’s much cheaper than buying a new model.

Retractable clothes line

Gather your supplies
Replacement line (either PVC or PVC-coated cord), to suit

• WD-40 (or similar lubricant)

Step 1
With lines of unit fully retracted, unbolt clothes line from its mounting and put on a bench. Old models (see Step 6) do not have an external tension-locking device, so remember the spring in the unit is under tension. New units have a tension handle or wheel and button on the side of housing. Release wheel so you can pull out line.

Step 2
With a person to help you, pull out lines as far as possible. Tighten tension wheel. The tension device may slip slightly, so wrap line at 1 end around case so it doesn’t retract.

Step 3
Replace 1 length of cord at a time. Remove old line. Most retractable lines extend 4-7m, so cut as many 8m lengths as you need, to allow for knotting and wastage. Feed line through hole in the side of spool and pull through. Long-nosed pliers will make this easier.

Step 4
Tie a figure-of-8 knot and pull back to tighten so new line is firmly held. Spray a little WD-40 on any visible metal moving parts.

'Step 5
Without tangling lines, secure other end of line to mounting bar by feeding line through 2 holes. Hold in place with cleat to make later adjustments easy. Repeat Steps 3-4 for each spool, but for last spool, wrap new line at other end (as in Step 2), to stop line from retracting.

Step 6
Old units have 1 large drum, to which lines are attached. Undo screws to remove outer casing to gain access to drum. As housing comes away from roller, the tension of the internal spring will want to unravel. Hold the end before it does so, and release tension by hand. Note the direction and count the number of turns as you go.

Step 7
Working on 1 line at a time, wrap line around drum and over itself at fixing slots, then feed through slots. Pull tight, then feed tail into hole. Repeat for all lines and attach to arm as with new units (see Step 5). Re-assemble unit, tensioning the spring the correct number of turns.

Step 8
Mount unit in place and extend line to far bracket. Lightly tension until 1 line is fairly taut. Tighten other lines to match. Walk arm back to housing cabinet to ensure it retracts correctly into place.

Fold-away rotary line

Gather your supplies
Replacement line, to suit

Step 1
Replacing the cord in a fold-away clothes line must be done with the arms extended. If arms are too high for you to reach and you don’t want to use a ladder, lift line from ground, then lay it on its side. Prise off the cover of fixing block at end of arms, then remove line. Note how it goes back together as you go.

Step 2
Use old line to measure a new length of cord (or use a whole new spool of clothes line). Starting at centre, work your way around arms, clipping line into fittings. These make it easy as you don’t have to feed line through holes. As you move out from centre, step line out along 1 of arms for each row. When you reach the end, feed line back into fixing block at end of arm.

Step 3
Push cover of fixing block back to hold line firm, then stand clothes line in place. With everything hanging freely, go around and tension the line as needed, using line tensioners on arms, or pulling cords tighter, if loose.