Let’s face it: talking about drying laundry is only marginally more interesting than watching paint dry.
But it is a necessary chore and we’re always interested in ways to make it more effective.
If you live in a tiny London home, finding adequate drying space is a continual search, whatever the season. There’s nothing that ruins your carefully considered interiors more than a load of laundry plonked into the middle of the room.
If you haven’t got a tumble dryer or access to a private outdoor space, an airer is your best bet. Luckily for the space-challenged, many are collapsible meaning you can tuck them away out of sight when you don’t need them. But if storage is already at breaking point, there is another option.
Wall-mounted laundry airers mean you can regain floor space while making use of the upper parts of a room where there’s more space for air to flow around damp clothing. The ideal spot to install one would be a dedicated laundry room (the dream being above the washing machine to stop carting baskets around the house) with plenty of ventilation to allow liquid molecules to escape and prevent dreaded mould from setting up shop.
But even without a laundry room, a wall-mounted clothes airer still has its uses.
Many are retractable or have folding mechanisms allowing you to close them once your washing load is dry. This means you can install them in the living room, bathroom, bedroom or kitchen (wherever there’s a window for fresh air) without worrying you’ll ruin the room’s aesthetic.
Genius, right? To help make laundry days a more streamlined experience, we’ve rounded up the best options below.
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Hot Flow Glide Foldable Wall Mounted Clothes Rack
- Dimensions: 35.2D x 70W x 11.1Hcm
- Weight: 2.78kg
Perfect for smaller items like delicate underwear, baby clothes and tea towels, this wall-mounted drying rack is a retractable design that comes with hanging rods and 3.5m of hanging line. It may look dinky but this thing can hold up to 20kg of weight.
We love that it folds flat against the wall when it's not in use. It can be used indoors or outside and is offered in two sizes to best suit your space and needs.
Buy now £61.19, Amazon
WELTRXE Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Rack
- Dimensions: 2.3D x 80W x 10.5H
- Weight: 3.2kg
We prize multifunctionality here at ES Best and this wall-mounted airer ticks at least two boxes. First, it creates hanging space when pulled open, allowing you to dry clothes and linens effectively. Second, when closed shut, the hooks on the front allow bags, towels and light jackets to be hung up.
The design can hold up to 25kg in weight and is rust-proof and long-wearing. It comes with all the fixings - even the drill bit! - for installation into solid walls (sadly not drywall, ceramic tiles, hollow wall, soft wall, or foam board). A small home hero.
Buy now £49.99, Amazon
Ghopy Wall Mounted Clothes Hanger Retractable
- Dimensions: 30D x 94W x 22.9Hcm
- Weight: 1.06kg
Fed up of damp shirts and dresses every time you do a wash? Hang them up on this iron-made retractable drying rack which comes with loops on which to place hangers.
The sturdy bracket plate needs to be fixed onto the walls with a drill and screws but once in position, you should be able to hang the majority of your washing in one space.
The line can be positioned straight or in a zigzag formation to increase airflow and have your clothes ready for putting away quicker.
Buy now £23.69, Amazon
Arredamenti Italia Wall Clothes Dryer
- Dimensions: 63 x 68 x 119cm
- Weight: 4kg
With three lockable grill shelves on which to hang or lay flat laundry, this wood and aluminium airier is made for making the best of small spaces. It's speedy to install (add adhesive along with screws for even more security) and can handle a full family load, keeping damp washing out of the way. When you’re finished, the shelves fold back against the wooden frame, measuring just D4 x W68 x H119cm.
Buy now £105.90, Amazon
JVL Over door utility clothes washing laundry dryer
- Dimensions: 19.7D x 26.8W x 5.9Hcm
- Weight: 68g
Whether you can't nail into the wall or you prefer a less stationary option, say hello to this airer which is designed to hang over doors. Made from strong wire, there's 7m of drying space to use, and it folds flat for easy storage afterwards. It can even be used on balconies, in uni dorms and in motorhomes if you're hitting the road for a long trip.
Top tip: increase the drying space by hanging separates and dresses onto hangers before placing them on the rack - it means fewer creases to iron out later too.
Buy now £7.89, Amazon
John Lewis Wall-Fixed Bamboo Airer
- Dimensions: H40 x W60 x D50.4cm
- Weight: 3.18kg
Clothes airers aren't known for their aesthetic, but John Lewis is attempting to change that with this design. Crafted from an iron frame and bamboo rods, the space-saving device should be fixed to bathroom or laundry room walls creating room to try everything from towels to bed linen. Simply push back into the frame once you're done to regain your space.
Buy now £65.00, John Lewis
OurHouse Wall Mounted Airer
- Dimensions: H40 x W60 x D50.4cm
Available in medium and large sizes with a choice of black, white or grey, this excellent airer creates 3.5m of drying space practically from thin air. Furthermore, it can hold up to 20kg of washing, supported by a steel frame and lighter aluminium rods. Once it's folded away, you'll barely even notice the unobtrusive slim bar.
Buy now £49.00, Dunelm
Brabantia WallFix Retractable Washing Line
- Dimensions: 16D x 107W x 15Hcm
- Weight: 5.49kg
Those familiar with Brabantia will know the company is all about innovative home solutions, from kitchen bins to kitchen sink storage solutions. Okay, it may not be sexy stuff, but it’ll help make the home a less chaotic place - and who doesn't want that?
For smarter laundry drying, this wall-fixed design for outside use offers 24m of space - that's enough for two loads, depending on the capacity of your machine. It's a rather big beast so one for outside use. Unfurl it one-handed and use the cover to protect it from weather when it's folded back in.
Buy now £88.95, Amazon
YOUDENOVA Foldable Clothes Airer
- Dimensions: 59 x 80 x 18.5cm
- Weight: 1.88kg
An all-black design made from painted stainless steel, this wall-mounted airer will soon prove itself an invaluable drying aid. Clothes can be laid flat or hung from clothes hangers to hasten the drying process.
Buy now £31.99, Amazon
MONTAZERI 90cm Foldable Drying Rack
- Dimensions: 90D x 18W x 55Hcm
- Weight: 1.65kg
This solid space-saver is ideal for compact spaces, using a concertina mechanism to pull away from the wall and create drying space for wet laundry. As well as space on the upper grills, there are two additional rods underneath to hang larger items such as towels, tablecloths and bed sheets. Alternatively, place damp clothes on hangers and suspend them from the rods to get more from the space.
Buy now £28.99, Amazon
Julu Wood Foldable Wall Mounted Drying Rack
- Dimensions: 113 x 60 x 13cm
- Weight: 7kg
Crafted from wood, this rack offers a more stylish aesthetic than other airers on our list. Designed to give some breathing room to small spaces, the unit keeps the floor area clear, folding flat against the wall once the clothes are dried and folded. Add an extra set of brackets to your order and it can be moved from room to room, making it ideal for inside and outside use (helpful with the UK's temperamental weather).
Buy now £119.99, Wayfair
Minky 5 Line Retractable Washing Reel
- Dimensions: 43.1 x 7.9 x 7.5cm
- Weight: 80g
Regular guests at fancy hotels may have found this style of washing line in their bathrooms. Compact and discreet, it's ideal for drying hand-washed items like lingerie, shapewear, baby clothes and socks.
The five line design offers plenty of space to dry items and there's a lockable feature to keep the lines taut. Each gives 22m of space and each line goes to 4.4m, allowing you to hang up to 15kg of laundry.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
