I tried the best clothes airers under £20 from high street shops – the £12 winner beat B&M and Lidl
DRYING your clothes in the winter can feel like a lot of effort, but having the right drying rack will make the task a little easier.
Some additional tips include; before placing your items on the rack, use the spin cycle on your washing machine which will remove as much moisture as possible from your clothes.
When hanging them, don’t put the clothes too close together or on top of each other as they need air to circulate for them to dry.
To ensure that your clothes dry quickly, it’s best to place the airer in a warm, well-ventilated part of your home.
Finally, if it’s not too cold outside, it might be worth opening a window to allow fresh air to circulate, as this avoids condensation building up and helps prevent damp.
Natasha Harding tried six standard clothes airers under £20 and gave her verdict…
Black 3-Tier Clothes Airer, £14, Asda
For a clothes airer, this one is pretty stylish. It’s a decent size and there’s enough room for a family-sized load of washing.
It still felt pretty sturdy once it was loaded up, but I’m not sure I’d try this one outside as the feet are a little narrow, so I fear it could fall over easily.
However, it’s a good quality airer for a great price.
- Dryability: 9
- Value: 9
- Overall Rating: 9
- Out of 30: 27
White Deluxe 3 Tier Airer, £12, Dunelm
Without a doubt this is the most sturdy airer I tried, and although it’s ideal for using inside, it could withstand being outside in the wind too.
There’s enough room for a load of washing and enough space between the bars so that all of the items have enough room to dry.
It is marginally heavier than some of the others, but I saw that as an advantage because it felt strong.
This is definitely my winner, especially for such a bargain price tag.
- Dryability: 10
- Value: 10
- Overall Rating: 10
- Out of 30: 30
Minky 3 Tier Airer, £16.99, Currys
This airer is currently on offer at Currys, making it a great deal.
It was pretty secure once I put it up and it was nicely tall meaning there was loads of room for longer items such as trousers, but it wasn’t the sturdiest frame I tested.
It’s easy enough to put up and it feels as though it would last for a long time. It folded down easily making it easy to store.
- Dryability: 9
- Value: 8
- Overall Rating: 8
- Out of 30: 25
3 Tier Extendable Airer, £10, B&M
This £10 airer is great for smaller spaces, although it does also extend if you need it to.
For the price, it is well made and ideal for couples or those with only one child.
It’s also super easy to put up and store. I thought it was a super price and very swish looking, if not the best model out there.
- Dryability: 8
- Value: 8
- Overall Rating: 8
- Out of 30: 24
Home 8m 4 Fold Indoor Clothes Airer, £18, Argos
Compared to the other airers, this one was a bit flimsy and had to be placed just right to prevent it falling down.
However, because it’s so thin, it folds down so that it’s almost flat, which means it will easily fit in a cupboard.
It could easily hold two loads of washing no problem, but I did have to spend some time balancing out the clothes so that it didn’t wobble over.
It’s not one I’d choose to use again.
- Dryability: 7
- Value: 6
- Overall Rating: 6
- Out of 30: 19
Livarno 3-in-1 Clothes Airer, £16.99, Lidl
I really didn’t like this one. It was fiddly to put up and didn’t have much room considering how huge it is, so it takes up a lot of space.
I thought it was pricey compared to the others, too, and not nearly as effective.
It’s not one I’d be in a rush to recommend.
- Dryability: 7
- Value: 7
- Overall Rating: 7
- Out of 30: 21
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