The GorillaLine Retractable Clothesline Is a Genius Invention You Didn’t Know You Needed
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More often than not, some of our favorite buys are small, how-didn't-I-know-about-this products that solve an everyday problem. That's what we're highlighting in our Little Lifesavers series: cheap, simple purchases that you'll use on the daily. Hit "Add to Cart" and thank us later!
The Problem: I’m short on space in my apartment and was in desperate need of a clever and more efficient way to air dry my clothes.
The Solution: The GorillaLine retractable clothesline is an affordable, highly convenient, and easy-to-install clothesline that saves you space at home and even some money on your energy bill.
As much as I’d love to have a functional full-fledged laundry room like the ones my colleagues write about in Elle Decor, my stackable washer and dryer set is modestly tucked away in my small bathroom. The space is quite tight in there, and since the room serves dual purposes, come laundry day, my bathroom is in shambles. To prevent my clothes from shrinking or getting damaged in the dryer, I hang them anywhere I can: on door handles, over my shower rod, and I even balance hangers atop my doorframe so they can air-dry. Unsurprisingly, they’d oftentimes fall to the ground or get wrinkled.
If you’re like me and lack the space to install a traditional clothesline or drying rack, a retractable clothesline is the solution you’re looking for. The almighty Amazon algorithm recommended a product called the GorillaLine that looked too good to be true. So, I decided to put it to the test.
The GorillaLine comes in three main parts: There’s a piece that contains the stainless steel clothesline, a plastic outer cover, and a piece that acts as a hook and holds the clothesline. It took me just 15 minutes to install the GorillaLine, and the hardest part was making sure it was level. I had to use a step ladder to mount it, since it’s recommended to hang it about 5 inches above your head.
Several retractable clotheslines on Amazon use Command-strip like adhesives so you can affix them to your wall — but the Gorilla Line comes with screws, making it sturdier and able to bear more weight. In fact, it can hold up to 50 pounds without issue. The Gorilla Line is 167 inches long and was plenty long (and strong enough) to hang-dry my king-sized duvet from it, but I recommend measuring your space before purchasing.
Although you can use the GorillaLine with clothespins, I just use hangers so I can move my clothes straight from the line to my closet after they dry. I've found that the heavy items should be placed toward the end of the line while lighter items should be placed in the middle. This method allows the weight to get distributed equally and will prevent your clothes from sliding to the center of the clothesline.
The GorillaLine also has a lock to prevent the line from sagging and to ensure it doesn’t accidentally retract and fly all over the place.
Hands down the best part about the GorillaLine is that it’s retractable. As soon as I’m done with laundry for the day, I undo the line and push a button, and the clothesline retracts into the wall-mounted piece and disappears like measuring tape.
I also love how it blends in. I’ve been using my GorillaLine for 6 months now, and no visitors have asked me what it is, and I keep it in the hallway next to my primary bathroom. My only complaint is that I wish the logo were printed on the side rather than front and center. So it could blend in even more.
Although I haven’t had any problems yet and have no issues hanging heavy towels, coats, and my bedding from the GorillaLine, it’s nice knowing that it’s backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
The Bottom Line: At my previous apartment, I had an accordion-style drying rack that I loved (and highly recommend) but I just don’t have the wall space to mount it in my bathroom. I was hoping the GorillaLine would be a suitable alternative, and it completely serves its purpose and gives me the freedom to hold even more clothes. Priced at just $30, I can’t recommend this product enough.
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