Here are some things to think about to help you choose the retractable washing line that'll be best both for the available space, and your personal needs.
Space Retractable lines are really good if you've got limited space.
Even if you're in an apartment with a covered balcony as your only outside space, they make having an outside line a possibility, and they're great for courtyard gardens.
They can also be a really good second washing line if you do have the luxury of a large garden.
If your main washing line's open to the elements in an exposed part of the garden, you could fit a retractable in a car port or garage as a back-up line for rainy days, or if you have certain items of washing you don't want exposed to the sun.
Decide where you're going to put the line taking into account ease of access to the laundry, how exposed to the elements you want your washing to be, and well worn routes around the garden.
Then make sure the walls you're proposing to fix it between are strong enough to take it.
If not (or if wall to wall installation isn't possible), consider ways around this.
Some retractable washing lines can be fitted between two posts or between a wall and a post.
Measure up, so you can make easy comparisons between your space and the manufacturer's recommendations.
There'll often be a minimum and maximum length for the lines to extend between, and measuring means you can avoid ordering the wrong size.
Personal Needs How many people there are in your household, how often you wash, and the type of washing you do will determine the total length of line you need to have.
Lots of people equals a need for a large line capacity due to the sheer volume of washing generated each day that you'll need to dry.
Similarly, if there are only two of you in the house but you like to wash everything just once a week, you'll need a larger space to hang it than if you wash little and often.
And if you're running a backpackers and constantly washing sheets, you'll need a retractable line that's intended to take them.
Once you've considered this, you can take your choice between single or multiple line retractable washing lines.
Look over the installation guidelines - the easiest option will be to go for one that comes ready to install.
And make sure that, once installed and up and running, you're going to find the washing line you've chosen easy to use.
Check out and compare the mechanisms for extending and retracting the lines.
Has the washing line you're considering been designed so that the lines won't tangle, and what about the line tension - will it be easy to adjust?