Lidl laundry tower for small flats: W5 tower clothes airer for 19.99 euros

In many city flats, every square metre is carefully planned - yet the washing still has to dry somewhere. Traditional clothes horses often swallow up half the room, feel flimsy, and are full after a couple of loads. Lidl is now offering a vertical alternative at a bargain price of 19.99 euros, with unexpectedly high load capacity and a few touches you would not usually expect at this level.

Why Lidl’s new laundry tower is interesting for small spaces

Lidl’s tower clothes airer is designed to go up rather than out. Instead of stretching across the living room like a winged rack, it stacks the drying area over several levels. That means far less floor space is taken up, making it a better fit for small flats, narrow hallways, or a tight gap beside the washing machine.

The dimensions underline the idea: about 74 cm wide, 59.5 cm deep and roughly 155 cm tall. In other words, it is more of a slim tower than a sprawling “laundry park” in the middle of the room. Anyone who has tried squeezing a standard airer between sofa, coffee table and balcony door will know how much hassle a compact footprint can remove.

"Around 16 metres of drying length in a small footprint - that is the Lidl tower’s key advantage."

Despite its narrow base, the tower offers around 16 metres of drying space. Depending on what you are washing, that is enough for a full machine load - sometimes more. The three tiers can each be folded out, which makes the set-up adaptable: open everything up for bedding and bigger wash days, or use just one side when you only need to dry a few T-shirts and towels.

Price under 20 euros: strong, steady, and not just for singles

At 19.99 euros, this tower airer sits firmly in the budget bracket - but it is not aimed only at students or single people in tiny apartments. What makes it stand out is its claimed capacity: it should take up to 12 kg of washing without trouble.

That makes it relevant for families doing several loads a week too. Blankets, jeans, towels - the kind of items that often end up consuming two racks can be handled here in one spot. For small multi-person households, shared flats, or holiday lets, that is a convincing benefit.

The frame is largely made from steel. It may not sound exciting, but it matters in real use: many very cheap airers start to wobble as soon as you hang wet laundry on them, with the “wings” tipping and the whole thing feeling unstable. A steel structure adds weight and therefore steadiness - especially when the upper levels are heavily loaded.

"Steel frame, thicker drying bars, 12 kg load capacity: Lidl’s laundry tower is clearly aimed at everyday practicality rather than throwaway kit."

The drying bars are slightly thicker than those found on many ultra-budget racks. This helps air move between items and can speed up drying - particularly in cooler homes or flats where ventilation is poor.

Practical everyday details: castors, folding sides, space for hangers

What makes the laundry tower genuinely appealing is the collection of small convenience features that add up in day-to-day use. The biggest is mobility: it stands on four castors, so you can push it from one room to another even when it is fully loaded, without having to take everything off first.

That means, for example, you can hang washing in the bedroom and later move it nearer a radiator, or roll it out of the living room during the day when visitors arrive. If you do not have a cellar or shared drying room, this flexibility is particularly useful.

It is also handy that you can fold out just one side. That way, the tower can sit right up against a wall or tuck neatly into a corner. In narrow hallways or very small bathrooms, that further reduces how much space it occupies.

Another thoughtful touch: at the top there are two swivel holders with space for up to twelve clothes hangers. That is ideal for shirts, blouses, dresses or jackets that you would prefer to dry on hangers so they crease less.

• Four castors for easy moving, even when loaded
• Three fold-out tiers for flexible use
• Space for up to 12 clothes hangers on two rotating arms
• Up to 12 kg load capacity
• Around 16 metres of drying length
• Price: 19.99 euros at Lidl (W5 tower clothes airer)

Who is the Lidl tower actually worth it for?

This laundry tower is clearly aimed at households with limited space and a tight budget. Typical use cases include studio flats, older apartments without a balcony, shared houses, or small homes where a clothes airer is constantly in the way. If your washing machine lives in the bathroom or a narrow utility cupboard, you can park the tower right beside it and avoid carrying dripping laundry across the flat.

Families can also benefit from the vertical approach when, for example, children’s bedrooms are small or the utility area is restricted. Two classic winged clothes horses can quickly take up the full width of a room - the tower uses that same footprint vertically and leaves more room to move around.

It is less suitable for anyone who frequently dries very long items such as large sheets or fitted sheets and needs long, uninterrupted lines. You may need a bit of a system when hanging things so nothing drags on the floor. For that reason, many homes pair a tower like this with a second, flatter rack, depending on the laundry.

Tips to help laundry dry faster in small spaces

The tower is only part of the solution. If you want drying to be genuinely efficient - especially in poorly ventilated flats - a few basics make a big difference:

• Spin laundry well: A high spin speed leaves far less moisture behind and shortens drying time.
• Leave gaps: Do not hang garments too tightly together, or moisture will build up.
• Ventilate: Regular burst-ventilation helps prevent mould and musty smells, particularly in older buildings.
• Use warmer spots: Thanks to the castors, you can easily roll the tower closer to radiators or into sunny corners.
• Hang delicates on hangers: Put shirts and blouses on the hanger arms so they dry in shape.

What to look for when buying a clothes airer

If you are shopping for a clothes airer, you will quickly find dozens of options. A few criteria make the choice easier:

Criterion	Question
Space available	How much floor space do I actually have?
Drying length	Is the line length enough for typical loads in my household?
Load capacity	Does the airer need to cope with thick towels, jeans and blankets?
Material	Steel or aluminium for stability, with plastic only in non-load-bearing areas?
Mobility	Do I need castors because the rack will often be moved?
Flexibility	Can tiers be folded in, or opened only halfway, to save space?

For its price point, Lidl’s tower ticks a surprising number of these boxes. In particular, the mix of a compact footprint, castors and high load capacity is uncommon in this bracket. Still, anyone planning for the long term should remember: in damp environments, a clothes airer takes a lot of wear. Coatings, screws and hinges do not last forever, especially if the frame is frequently unfolded and shifted around.

More than just a household gadget

Offers like this reflect a broader trend: in many large cities, living space is shrinking while rents keep rising. Household equipment is responding by moving upwards - from tall shelving to tower clothes airers. When space is limited, you need furniture and devices that combine functions and are easy to move around in everyday life.

In rented homes without a vented tumble dryer, gentle air-drying becomes important, often for cost reasons as well. A sturdy clothes airer may sound mundane, but it can strongly influence whether a home feels cramped or organised. A mobile tower that can be rolled out of sight in one motion contributes more to that sense of order than many people expect.

If you are currently trying to balance laundry, space and electricity costs, this Lidl model is a genuinely interesting piece of the puzzle: compact, robust enough for daily use, and priced so you are not taking a big gamble.