Lidl tower clothes airer for small flats: vertical drying on a budget

Drying laundry in city flats can quickly become a test of patience: there’s barely any room, damp towels are always in the way, and a bulky clothes horse seems to take up half the floor. A new option in Lidl’s current range targets exactly that issue - with a shape that looks more like a shelving unit than a traditional folding rack.

Vertical clothes airer uses height instead of floor space

Lidl’s new tower clothes airer is built around an upright, vertical layout. Rather than spreading out across the floor, it stacks the drying area upwards. That makes it particularly appealing for studio flats, small bathrooms or narrow hallways.

"With around 74 cm width, 59.5 cm depth and about 155 cm height, the tower airer fits into tight corners - and still offers plenty of space for laundry."

Its usable drying length is roughly 16 metres. In practical terms, that’s about one well-filled wash of everyday items such as clothes, towels and underwear. The airer has three tiers, each of which can be folded down or flipped up at the sides. This means you can decide on the spot how much drying space you need - and how compact the airer should be.

If you’re only drying a small load or you’re short on space, you simply fold some of the wings in. If you want to dry bed linen, gym kit and towels at the same time, you can open all tiers fully. Because everything is arranged vertically across several levels, the room’s footprint stays largely clear.

Price under €20, load capacity up to 12 kg

Lidl is charging €19.99 for this model. That puts the tower airer in the same price bracket as basic standard clothes horses, but with noticeably more drying length on a smaller base.

"According to the manufacturer, the airer holds up to 12 kilograms of laundry - enough for heavy jeans, duvet cover sets or thick jumpers."

The frame is made mostly from steel. This gives it a more solid feel than many ultra-light wire models, which can wobble when loaded. Cheaper racks, in particular, often start leaning when towels or jeans are hung on one side.

The drying bars are also slightly sturdier than those on typical budget alternatives. That helps clothing sit on broader rails rather than thin wires, which can reduce pressure marks and allow air to circulate more freely. In day-to-day use, this can shorten drying times - especially in homes without an electric dryer.

There’s another practical feature at the top: fitted holders allow you to hang up to twelve coat hangers. Shirts, blouses or suits can dry directly on hangers, which helps to cut down creases and makes ironing afterwards simpler.

Flexible day to day: half-opening design and easy to move on wheels

The aim isn’t just high capacity - Lidl’s tower is designed to be straightforward to live with. One standout point is that the tower can be opened on only one side. In that setup, one side can sit flat against a wall or in front of a wardrobe, instead of sticking into the middle of the room.

In narrow bathrooms, tiny hallways or compact kitchens, this “half mode” can make the difference between being able to walk past comfortably or not. For singles or couples doing smaller washes, using only one side of the drying levels is often enough.

"Four castors at the base mean the clothes airer can be moved even when loaded - without heavy lifting."

If you don’t have a permanent drying spot, you can simply roll it wherever there’s room: into the bedroom in the morning, later to an open window, or closer to a radiator. And if unexpected visitors are on their way, you can quickly wheel it into the bedroom or a storage cupboard.

Who the tower airer is particularly good for

Not every home needs the same kind of clothes airer. Lidl’s tower shows its strengths most clearly in these situations:

• Small city flats: When floor space is limited, the vertical build gives you valuable room back.
• Families without a dryer: With 16 metres of drying length, it’s easier to manage multiple washes back-to-back.
• House shares: Thanks to the castors, it can be rolled between rooms without unloading and reloading.
• In-between seasons and winter: When nothing will dry on a balcony or terrace, the tower works as an indoor alternative without taking over the living room.
• People with limited mobility: The wheels remove the need to lift a fully loaded airer.

Tips for drying laundry faster on a tower airer

Anyone who dries indoors regularly knows the downside: humidity climbs, clothes take ages to dry, and the air starts to feel clammy. A few simple habits can help.

• Leave gaps between items: Don’t pack every rail edge-to-edge; air needs space to move.
• Use airflow: Keep a window on the latch, leave an internal door open, or point a small fan on a low setting.
• Put heavier items higher up, lighter ones lower down: Warm air rises, so duvet covers or thick towels benefit from being higher.
• Use hangers intelligently: Shirts, blouses and dresses often dry faster on hangers than folded over a bar.
• Ventilate regularly: Short, wide-open airing is usually more effective at reducing humidity than leaving windows slightly open all day.

If you live in a highly insulated new-build, it’s worth paying attention to mould risks when drying indoors. A tower airer concentrates a lot of damp washing in a small area. If the air doesn’t circulate, moisture can collect on cold external walls. Regular, strong ventilation - and, in tight rooms, a small dehumidifier if needed - can significantly reduce that risk.

Alternative options and sensible combinations

A condenser tumble dryer saves time, but it uses energy. That’s why many households choose a middle way: everyday laundry goes on an airer, while towels or bed linen go into the dryer. A tower airer can make this routine easier to manage, because it keeps lots of washing in a compact footprint.

If you already own a classic folding clothes horse, you don’t necessarily need to replace it. In larger households, the tower can work as an extra: the old rack for the balcony or terrace, and the new tower for the bathroom or utility room. That keeps things flexible when, for instance, autumn means sportswear or workwear suddenly needs washing all at once.

The tower format can also appeal to people who deliberately buy fewer clothes and focus more on care. Air-drying is gentler on fibres, prints and elastic than a hot dryer. Performance kit, wool and delicate fabrics, in particular, benefit from a stable, well-ventilated clothes airer. Used with hangers, these items can be hung in a fabric-friendly way without being squashed or stretched.

Overall, this Lidl model is aimed at anyone who has to manage with limited space but doesn’t want to keep tripping over laundry racks. The relatively low price, the high load capacity and the castors make the tower airer an understated but genuinely useful everyday helper - especially in homes where drying washing usually gets in the way.