Hills Products

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT! About three years ago we had to replace our Hills hoist clothesline. We've since realised it was over 20 years old… Read more

but finally beginning to fail.

The first problem found with the new hoist was pretty immediate - they had redesigned the socket that goes in the ground. I'm sure someone would say it was better but it meant the mechanism which locks it into the socket was incomparable with the old socket. Worst of all, they did not sell the older style locking ring - I would have to cut out and dig up the old socket, which was not an option. I eventually found a company overseas that sold the correct ones.

Far forward to this weekend. After finishing the washing/drying, we discovered that the button on the centre housing would not depress at all and we could not fold the unit up. Unlike our previous model, which has a simple button and catch to lock the arms in place, this hoist has a "sleek", over engineered, over complicated piece of garbage button in a complicated centre housing, that conceals the locking mechanism.

According to what I've read online, this new design is "notorious" for locking up.

WHY?!? Why, when the old mechanism worked so well, for so long, did they consider it necessary to "improve" it? The new head piece might look prettier but, with multiple screws and springs, this is not at all easy to fix, particularly given the size of the hoist and the fact it is in a hole in the back garden!

There are times when an existing design has reached its pinnacle and cannot actually be improved. Our previous hoist was one such example of this - simple, effective and easy to fix. Sadly, some bright spark(!) came along and decided it wasn't pretty enough, so wrecked a great design for the sake of making it look pretty. Hang your head in shame, idiot.

So now I have the fun job of trying to disassemble the hoist in the middle of the back garden, at almost 2m above the ground, unable to be folded, while trying to avoid losing screws and springs, and even if I can fix it, what is to say it won't get stuck again.

Methinks it might be time to look beyond Hills.

Rubber disc at base of plunger distorted by folding upwards and coming off plunger Bought repair kit . Kind of works but seems to require a lot of … Read more

difficult pumping for poor spray output. Not impressed. Rubber disc may have been affected by Roundup spray. It should be able to cope with garden chemicals.

It's so wobbly it's going straight back to the store. How can any one manufacture a ironing board with two legs shorter than the others. Obviously not concern for quality control? Show details

Rusting after a year – I bought this just over a year ago, so it's fairly new. I fold the arms when not in use and every 6 months I remove it from the ground socket and… Read more

clean the post so it doesn't seize up. I'm using it as intended but the coating scratches easily and can chip, then the exposed metal will rust. The bottom where it sits in the socket is the worst. Hardly 'rust resistant' as advertised. It will eventually rust. Shame as I actually like the clothesline overall, except it would have been better if the lines were spaced more as they are too close together.

Don't bother with this – This board is heavy it is also hard and noisy to put up and this is the second one I have had after having the 1st one replaced because of the weld… Read more

breaking where the legs join the board! Just lucky small kids or a pet wasn't beneath it when the weld broke.

I bought the Hills Large ironing board because I wanted a good brand. I am very disappointed. It is very wobbly and unstable, I have to put a large… Read more

amount of padding under the feet to help make it stable enough to iron on. Also disappointed that the Hills brand actually sells such shoddy items.

As so many others have said, the design of the pull-out latches is bad. I was able to use this clothes line for about a week after assembling it but… Read more

then decided to fold it and put it on the back veranda. I've never been able to use it since. One of the pull-out latches works just fine with a little WD40 but the other will not move at all. I've tried WD40, gentle massage, kind words, curse words, a spudger, tapping lightly with a small hammer. Nothing works. I spent $209 for one week of airing pullovers and pet blankets. Truly annoying.

For a product that comes with a 'Lifetime' warranty, the materials are pretty substandard. Pivot and assembly bolts are Cadmium plated which are… Read more

going to rust in no time. Mounting plates come with 10mm slotted holes but insufficient clearance to get a hex socket to tighten on a 10mm galvanised bolt. I will be keeping the receipt as I feel its highly likely i will be claiming on the warranty in the future. A suggestion to Hills, replace with 316SS and charge a few dollars more, make it a point of difference. Oh, and increase the clearance for a standard Hex bolt head to allow a socket to fit.

LIGHT & EASY – This very light weight, aluminium airer would not suit either those who are heavy handed nor extra heavy blankets. However it's easy to assemble, to carry and store. Show details

I have a 6 Line version of this. 3.5 years use and all six lines are frayed where the tensioner clamps them. Does this mean I'm up for $150 in spare… Read more

parts every 3.5 years? I don't think that's reasonable.

I bought a 6 Line version, when a 4 Line one would be big enough, so I didn't load it up too much and it's a single person household, so not huge amounts of washing.

If this product could receive minus stars it would certainly be top in that category, it was possibly designed by some one who has never done any… Read more

washing or pegged clothes on a line. Our last trolly possibly 30 years old is in better condition than this load of junk. It's made from almost tissue paper steel, won't hold a standard size basket, you need to be a contorshonist to get the pegs out. You have to fit the basket sideways and then it has nothing to stop it sliding off. I would be embarrassed putting a Hills logo on this piece of scrap metal. Under no circumstances consider this product its Rubbish! If this is the Premium model I would hate to see the cheaper models. Very disappointed that Hills would market such a dismal product.

Worst ironing board I have ever had – Flimsy, moves around on tiled floors, not enough padding. Again I bought from Bunnings and it was sealed in plastic. If I'd been able to see it open I would never have bought it. Complained to Hills who said they'd get back to me. They never did.

Terrible hose, its like wrestling a angry snake each time you want to roll it up. I assume they made some changes as my one does not kink like others… Read more

have mentioned, but it is impossible to kink as it is so rigid you struggle to roll it up. Also the connections are garbage and blow off under pressure. Would advise against buying this product.

Hills have lost a lifelong fan! – Hills Double Retracting Clotheslines used to be good quality and long lasting. Within 5 months of purchasing the latest one the securing lugs cracked and one broke off. Back to Bunnings! Show details

Never buy Hills again – The design workmanship & quality of material were of a very poor standard. We have always bought Hills product because of the inherent quality.… Read more

Never again.

The ironing board titled Elegance FG 228014 was purchased 12 months ago at an expensive price.

This unit has literally just fallen apart so I have placed in the best place ever !The Bin!

Very unstable – Unfortunately this product is sealed in plastic and I was unable to check before purchasing. When I got it home, I was very disappointed with the… Read more

build quality overall, but was most irritated by the fact that it rocked back and forth on the floor. The legs were not even close to being even and I have no idea how this would leave the factory with the Hills label on it. Very disappointed and would not recommend the purchase of any of their products. They should stick to hoists...this is rubbish. Fortunately was able to return for full refund which was the only good part of the transaction.