Household jobs have a bit of a bad rep for being a chore, but they don't have to be. That's especially true when you have the right products to assist you. Thanks to the best clothes airers for fresh laundry, you'll never have to dread doing the washing again.
If that sounds like music to your ears, then What's The Best's shopping experts have pulled together an extensive list of everything you need to know about clothes airers, plus put together a list of recommended products and tips on how to use a clothes airer.
Whether you're fed up with draping garments all over your house or the price it costs to run a tumble dryer, heated clothes airers could be exactly what you're looking for.
What is a clothes airer?
If you don't have a tumble dryer at home, clothes airers are a great alternative to sorting out the laundry.
In a nutshell, a clothes airer is a purpose-built frame for drying clothes on.
Also known as a clothes horse, there are lots of different types of clothing airers available. Here are all the different types of clothes airers available:
Wall-mounted clothes airers: Incorporate your clothes airer into your home décor thanks to a wall-mounted option. If you have a dedicated utility area, a pull out airer will create a rustic/vintage vibe. Plus, it's really handy, too.
Floor mounted clothes airers: These are the most common types of clothes airers and for good reason. A floor-mounted clothes airer is a freestanding rack, that allows you to hang a load of washing on. Not only are they a greener choice, but they're portable, making them easy to use around the house.
Heated clothes airers: The main difference between classic clothes airers and their heated cousin is that a heated option uses electricity to dry your clothes more quickly.
Keep reading to find out more about heated clothes airers later in this guide.
How to choose a clothes airer:
Not sure how to pick a clothes airer? Here are key features to look for when buying one for your home.
- It's all about the material. Select a product that is built to last, sturdy and won't rust. Plus, the material is a big requirement for coordinating with your home décor.
- That leads us nicely onto the design. As well as being stylish, you want the design to be functional - or else your clothes won't dry properly.
- It's all about the price. Pick a budget and stick to it, otherwise, you'll spend hours contemplating which is right for you.
Now that you have all the information you need to help you choose the right clothes airer, it's time to find out more about our top picks. But, first...
It's essential to know that all of these clothes airers have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching the best indoor clothes airer, so you can choose the best one. We'd never recommend a product we don't believe in. Find out why you should trust us here.
Shop Aldi's sell-out heated clothes airer
Best heated clothes airer
www.aldi.co.uk
Description
We all know the struggle of drying clothes in the dead of winter, which is why Aldi's heated clothes airer is simply a dream. Your clothes will be dry in a matter of minutes, and we love the space-saving foldable design, which is ideal if you're tight on space. The airer includes a shoe rack, two mesh shelves and two peg hangers to accommodate all your drying needs.
Material: Aluminium | Dimensions: 135 x 66 x 72.8cm (approx.) | Guarantee: Three-year warranty
Verdict:
This heated clothes airer will maximise the efficiency of your laundry routine by a lot, drying your clothes in no time. The price is steep - but can you really put a price on fluffy, warm clothes?
Best clothes airers
Editor's pick
AmazonDescription
Need a simple solution to dry your undies or a towel or two? This lightweight airer does the job if you're looking for an effortless way to dry your washing when you can't get it out on the line.
Material: Metal | Dimensions: 81.2 x 76.8 x 5.2cm | Holds: N/A | Mounting type: Floor mount
Verdict:
The best thing about this dryer is the price. It's good value for money as does what it says on the tin - it helps to dry clothes. However, this option isn't the biggest or sturdiest on this list.
Best stylish clothes airer
Not On The High Streetwww.notonthehighstreet.com
Description
Who knew laundry could be so stylish? This wall mounted laundry ladder rack is everything we need at home and more. Yes, this does benefit the planet from being an eco-friendly alternative to a tumble dryer, but the biggest blessing is how many compliments you'll receive about it.
Material: Wood | Dimensions: Bunty (Slim) 113 x 60 x 12.5cm | Holds: N/A | Mounting type: Wall mounted
Verdict:
This is an extravagant purchase, but it's totally worth it. For how complicated it looks, it's actually simple to install and straightforward to operate.
Best clothes airer with wheels
AmazonDescription
Gone are the days of needing pegs thanks to this two in one clothes airer. Not only can you use this as a traditional floor mount airer, but it also has a detachable wing that can easily be draped over a radiator or even a balcony. How cool is that?
Material: Metal | Dimensions: 8 x 57 x 106cm | Holds: 16kg of washing | Mounting type: Floor mount and detachable wing that can be hung on radiator or balcony
Verdict:
What more do you need than a clothes airer that has wheels to move it around? Nothing, that's what. Yes, this clothes horse is a great size, yet this isn’t the strongest option on this list; so, don’t overload it.
Best lightweight clothes airer
www.argos.co.uk
Description
A light and portable clothes airer which is perfect for smaller homes. It has a one wash load capacity and folds flat for easy storage.
Material: Plastic-coated steel frame | Dimensions: 110 x 109 x 109cm | Holds: 4kg | Mounting type: Floor | Guarantee: Manufacturer’s one-year guarantee
Verdict:
We adore this clothes airer from Argos; it has a large amount of drying space, is lightweight and folds away nicely - and all that for just £15? we're sold.
Best high-capacity clothes airer
Description
Large and in charge should be this clothes airer's nickname for sure. It has plenty of room for you to hang your best shirts and dresses, 15kg of washing to be exact.
Material: Alloy steel | Dimensions: 136 x 58 x 162cm | Holds: 15kg of washing | Mounting type: Floor mount
Verdict:
Easy to set-up, store and dry clothes - that’s what we call a triple threat. The only drawback is if this airer is overloaded, it can tip over; so bear that in mind when you’re organising the washing.
Best wooden clothes airer
AmazonDescription
Just as gorgeous as the wall hanger airer, but with less commitment, this Lakeland airer is super chic.
Material: Wood and aluminium | Dimensions: 50 x 61 x 152cm | Holds: 15kg of washing | Mounting type: Floor mount
Verdict:
Searching for a clothes horse that will last for years? This is a very durable and strong choice. Although a wooden airer might seem bulkier, it actually folds away effortlessly to store. This gets a big gold star from us.
Best space-saving clothes airer
AmazonDescription
Are you looking for a dryer that can easily be tucked away in a cupboard? Well, you're looking at it. This indoor airer is a real space-saver as it folds down completely flat, result.
Material: Metal | Dimensions: 6.8 x 74.9 x 106 cm | Holds: N/A | Mounting type: Floor mount | Guarantee: AmazonBasics one-year limited warranty
Verdict:
Although this only has three tiers, this rack still has lots of capacity to dry clothes. Even though this is a lightweight product, it'll still hold bulky items like jeans. It certainly gets the thumbs up from us.
Are heated clothes airers any good?
If you've been a big fan of a tumble dryer in the past, then a heated clothes airer is everything you've dreamed of.
Although key factors like not being able to fit as much washing on a heated clothes airer can be a drawback, they're a more convenient device to use. So yes, we would say that heated clothes airers are good.
Let's take a look at our favourite, shall we?
Best heated clothes airer
www.dunelm.com
Description
This is the smallest size that Dunelm offers however, there are larger driers available. It's still great value for the price, and very handy for those tricky to dry items such as bedding and towels. Made from lightweight metal, this silver clothes heater will look modern in your home du00e9cor layout, complementing existing colour schemes and styles. Heated to aid in drying your clothing and made with low consumption levels for energy efficiency, this 100-watt airer will speed up preparing clothes. Built with a folding construction for your convenience, this indoor heater can be simply moved from room to room when needed and stored away when not.
One review said: "The heated airer works lovely, it is warm enough to dry the clothes and towels, but not so hot that it will burn you. I keep it available all the time so I haven't taken it apart and stored it away, probably a little bit of a hassle to do that all the time. Will be using it over the winter period as it's harder to get out in the garden and the washing line. A useful airer and reasonably substantial, hasn't collapsed or anything. Pleased with my purchase."
Material: Metal | Dimensions: 94 x 53 x 74cm | Power: 100w | Care instructions: Wipe clean with a soft cloth
Verdict:
This is a small heated clothes airer but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in usability. The positives for this clothes horse is that it doesn't take up too much room, it's good value for money and it dries clothes quickly.
This item is currently out of stock, but check back again soon!
FAQs:
How to use a clothes airer?
Decided to treat yourself to an indoor clothes airer? Before you get this delivered, here are some top tips when it comes to drying clothes indoors. Whether you've opted for a heated clothes airer or a traditional model, this advice should still apply.
• Once your wash finishes, the quicker you get your clothes out of the machine, the better. Not only should this stop your garments from getting creased, but this will ensure that they don't smell. It can also prevent a musty smell and a build-up of dirt/mould in your washing machine.
• Position your airer near an open window, the fresh breeze will help your clothes dry quicker.
• Spread clothes evenly on the airer and avoid placing too many items on it; overcrowded attire will take longer to dry.
• Avoid placing the rack in the kitchen as the smell of food can be transferred on to clothes.
• As soon as an item is dry, put it away – this can help other bits on the airer.
Can you leave clothes on airer overnight?
If you're using a heated airer, we wouldn't recommend leaving this plugged in overnight or if you pop to the shops. Anything that is an electrical good should not be left unattended.
That said, if you turn this off and head to work, you might come back and find that your clothes are creased; it's always best to sort the washing out before you leave the house.
Do heated clothes airers use much electricity?
Drying your clothes on a heated airer can indeed be more efficient as well as cost a fraction of the price of running a drier, but exactly how much this will cost is up for debate.
According to the Banbury Guardian, "Using Sust-it to figure out the cost of running the heated airer, it would cost 4.09p for 60 minutes of use for an appliance with an energy consumption of 230W. Over the course of a year, assuming you used the airer once a week for an hour, it would cost £2.29 to run." Totally affordable, right?
Read more:
The best air fryers to get your fried food fix without feeling guilty
Lily Anderson is a writer at Bauer Media, where she reviews products for titles such as Heat, Closer, What's The Best and Mother&Baby.
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