Lidl tower clothes airer: more drying space for small flats

In many city flats, drying laundry can quickly become frustrating: there is little room, damp towels are constantly in the way, and a bulky clothes airer takes up half the room. A new item in Lidl’s current range addresses precisely this issue, using a design that looks more like a shelving unit than a conventional folding airer.

Vertical clothes airer uses height rather than floor space

Lidl’s new tower clothes airer is designed to stand upright. Instead of occupying the whole floor, it makes use of vertical space. That makes it particularly relevant for studio flats, compact bathrooms and narrow hallways.

“Measuring around 74 cm wide, 59.5 cm deep and approximately 155 cm high, the tower airer fits into tight corners while still providing plenty of room for laundry.”

It provides roughly 16 metres of usable drying length. This is broadly enough for a well-filled wash containing everyday clothes, towels and underwear. Its three tiers can each be folded down or raised at the sides. Users can therefore decide at short notice how much drying space they need and how compactly the airer should stand.

Anyone washing only a small load, or working with very limited space, can simply fold in some of the wings. Those wanting to dry bedding, sportswear and towels at once can use every tier in full. Thanks to the vertical layout, laundry hangs across several levels, both above and alongside other items, leaving most of the floor clear.

Price below €20, capacity up to 12 kg

Lidl has priced the model at €19.99. This places the tower airer in the same price bracket as basic standard clothes airers, while offering considerably more drying capacity within a small footprint.

“According to the manufacturer, the airer holds up to 12 kilograms of laundry – sufficient for heavy jeans, duvet covers or thick jumpers.”

The frame is made mainly from steel. This gives it noticeably greater stability than many ultra-light wire models, which often become wobbly once loaded. In particular, inexpensive airers can quickly start to lean when towels or jeans are hung on one side.

Its drying rails are slightly sturdier than those found on typical budget alternatives. Laundry therefore does not rest on thin wires, reducing pressure marks and allowing air to circulate more effectively. In practical terms, this can shorten drying times, especially in homes without an electric tumble dryer.

There is also an added feature: holders at the top can accommodate up to twelve clothes hangers. Shirts, blouses and suits can be dried directly on hangers, which helps limit creasing and makes ironing afterwards easier.

Flexible for everyday use: part-folding design and wheels

The airer is intended not only to carry plenty of laundry, but also to be as straightforward as possible in daily use. One feature stands out: the tower can be opened on just one side. It can then sit flat against a wall or in front of a cupboard, rather than projecting into the middle of the room.

This “half mode” can make the difference between being able to pass comfortably or not in narrow bathrooms, tiny hallways and small kitchens. For single people or couples washing smaller loads, one side of the drying levels is often entirely sufficient.

“Four wheels at the base mean that the clothes airer can be moved even when loaded, without any heavy lifting.”

Anyone without a permanent drying area can simply wheel the frame to wherever there is room: into the bedroom in the morning, later in front of an open window or close to a radiator. If visitors are announced unexpectedly, the airer can also be moved quickly into a bedroom or storage cupboard.

Who benefits most from the Lidl tower clothes airer

Not every home places the same demands on a clothes airer. The Lidl tower model is particularly useful in the following situations:

• Small city flats: Anyone with very little floor space can reclaim valuable room through the vertical construction.
• Families without a tumble dryer: Several loads of washing in succession can be managed more easily across 16 metres of drying length.
• House shares: With its wheels, the airer can travel between rooms without having to be unloaded and loaded again.
• Transitional seasons and winter: When nothing can dry on a balcony or terrace, the tower airer serves as an alternative without completely blocking the living room.
• People with limited mobility: The wheels remove the need to lift a fully loaded airer.

Tips for drying laundry faster on the tower clothes airer

Anyone who regularly dries washing indoors knows the issue: humidity rises, clothes take ages to dry and the room starts to feel damp. A few simple measures can help reduce this.

• Leave space between garments: Do not completely fill every rail. Air needs room to move.
• Make use of airflow: Leave a window slightly open, keep an internal door open, or direct a small fan towards the airer on a low setting.
• Place heavier items at the top and lighter ones below: Warm air rises, so duvet covers and thick towels benefit from being higher up.
• Use clothes hangers effectively: Shirts, blouses and dresses dry faster on hangers than when folded over a rail.
• Ventilate regularly: Opening windows wide for short periods is more effective at reducing humidity than leaving them slightly open all the time.

Those living in a highly insulated new-build home should be mindful of mould risks when drying laundry. A tower airer concentrates a large amount of damp washing in a small area. If air remains still, moisture can settle on cold external walls. Regular, thorough ventilation and, where necessary, a small dehumidifier in confined rooms can significantly reduce this risk.

Alternative solutions and useful combinations

An electric condenser tumble dryer saves time, but uses energy. Many households therefore take a middle course: everyday laundry goes on the airer, while towels or bedding go into the dryer. A tower clothes airer makes this combination easier to organise because laundry takes up less room indoors.

Anyone who already owns a conventional folding airer does not necessarily need to replace it. In larger households, the tower can serve as an addition: the existing airer for the balcony or terrace, and the new tower for the bathroom or utility room. This maintains flexibility when all sportswear or work clothes suddenly need washing at the same time in autumn.

The tower airer may also appeal to people who deliberately buy fewer clothes and place greater emphasis on care. Air drying is much gentler on fibres, prints and elastic than a hot tumble dryer. Technical clothing, wool and delicate fabrics in particular benefit from a sturdy, well-ventilated clothes airer. Used with hangers, these items can be hung up in a fabric-friendly way without being crushed or stretched out of shape.

Overall, Lidl’s model is aimed at anyone managing with limited space but unwilling to keep tripping over a clothes airer. Its comparatively low price, high load capacity and wheels make the tower airer an unglamorous yet highly useful everyday helper – precisely where laundry would otherwise be in the way.