New Lidl tower clothes airer: 16 metres drying length for €19.99

A new deal at the discount retailer is designed to take the sting out of a familiar everyday annoyance - for roughly the price of a large pizza.

Anyone living in a small flat knows the routine: the clothes airer is forever in the way, it ends up blocking the radiator, and there never seems to be enough room for bedding or towels. Lidl is now bringing a tower clothes airer into its stores that, with its vertical design, 16 metres of drying length and up to 12 kilograms of load capacity, is likely to appeal particularly to city residents.

Why a tower clothes airer is in such demand right now

In big cities, homes are getting smaller while rents keep rising. With every square metre at a premium, bulky household kit becomes especially irritating. A traditional, low, wing-style airer can quickly take over half the living room or completely block a balcony.

That is exactly where a tower-style model comes in: instead of spreading out across the floor, it builds upwards. If you have limited floor space but normal ceiling height, you can fit far more laundry into a tight footprint.

The idea: as much drying space as possible on the smallest possible footprint - and for under €20.

Singles, couples and families in two- to three-room flats are increasingly choosing these “vertical” solutions because they offer more flexibility than permanently fitted ceiling systems or wall-mounted rails.

The key specs for the Lidl clothes airer at a glance

Lidl’s tower clothes airer (W5 brand) relies on straightforward but well-considered engineering. The main details are:

• Price: €19.99
• Maximum load: up to 12 kilograms of laundry
• Total drying length: around 16 metres
• Dimensions: approx. 74 cm wide, 59.5 cm deep, 155 cm high
• Material: steel frame with robust drying rails
• Wheels: four castors for easy repositioning
• Additional holders: space for up to twelve clothes hangers

On paper, that places it among many significantly pricier branded products sold in DIY stores and online.

Vertical design: how it really saves space

The standout benefit is clearly the shape. Rather than a wide, winged airer that sits in the middle of everything, this model stacks the drying levels upwards.

It is built from multiple tiers that can each be folded down or flipped up individually, so you can adapt the airer to what you actually need at the time.

Flexible: open one side, push it up against the wall

A practical detail that makes a real difference day to day: the tower does not have to be fully opened every time. If you only have a small load, or you want to position it close to a wall, you can unfold just one side.

That makes it well suited to narrow spaces such as:

• the hallway by the front door,
• a small recess in the bathroom,
• a storage cupboard,
• a corner of the kitchen,
• a covered balcony.

In flats without a separate utility room, this one-sided folding option is a definite advantage.

Up to 12 kilograms - is that enough for families?

With a stated capacity of up to 12 kilograms, this tower airer sits comfortably in the mid-range. It is more than sufficient for a normal washing machine load, even when you are drying towels or bed linen.

Duvets, jeans, large towels: the 12-kilogram limit comfortably covers typical everyday laundry.

Because it has several levels, you can place heavier items such as jeans or jumpers on the lower tiers and lighter pieces like T-shirts and underwear higher up. That improves stability and reduces the risk of tipping.

For households with more than one person doing multiple washes per week, the tower can be used as the main airer or as a second airer alongside a classic wing-style model. If you have lots of sports kit or children’s clothes, the extra metres of drying space are particularly useful.

Steel frame and thicker rails for a sturdier feel

A common complaint with very cheap airers is that they wobble, sag under weight, or start to deform after only a few months. Lidl’s model uses a steel construction intended to counter that.

The drying rails are comparatively thick, which offers two benefits: greater rigidity and better airflow between layers of fabric. Where laundry is not pressed against thin wires, air can circulate more effectively, helping to cut drying times.

It can also slightly reduce marks on delicate materials - even though you can never completely avoid creasing with air-dried clothes.

Four wheels: roll laundry towards the heat source

In many homes, the airer moves around throughout the day: in the morning it might be in the kitchen, later near the balcony door, and in the evening closer to the radiator. Without wheels, that becomes a chore, especially when it is fully loaded.

The Lidl tower has four castors on the base. That means you can shift it with one hand even when it is laden - provided the floor is reasonably level.

Once it’s set up, you don’t have to keep unloading and reloading the airer - it simply rolls from room to room with the washing.

This is especially handy for situations such as:

• quickly wheeling it to an open window when the sun comes out,
• nudging it closer to the radiator when humidity rises,
• pulling it out of the living room into the hall in the evening so it is not in the way.

Twelve hanger holders: shirts and blouses dry with fewer creases

Office shirts, blouses and finer tops are easier to deal with if you hang them wet on a hanger - it can reduce how much ironing you need later. That is exactly why the tower airer includes two rotating hanger supports.

You can attach up to twelve clothes hangers to these. Garments then hang freely with enough space for air to reach them from all sides. For delicate fabrics such as viscose or light cotton, it is a gentler approach.

Who is the Lidl clothes airer best for?

A tower airer will not be essential for every household, but it fits certain living situations particularly well:

• Single people and couples who have limited floor space but still run full washing machine loads.
• Families in city flats looking for an extra airer for sportswear or children’s laundry.
• People with a balcony or loggia who want to make use of height rather than width outdoors.
• Residents in house shares where every square metre is fought over.

If you have a large cellar or a dedicated drying room, a compact, space-saving model is less of a priority. In that case, a wide, traditional wing airer is often enough.

Tips to reduce drying time even further

Even the best clothes airer still needs time before everything is properly dry. A few simple habits can speed things up:

• Give laundry a good shake after spinning before you hang it up.
• Put heavier items such as jeans or sweatshirts on the lower levels, lighter pieces higher up.
• Leave at least a hand’s width of space between items.
• In closed rooms, air the space by opening windows fully for a short burst, rather than leaving them on the latch all day.
• If humidity is high, use a dehumidifier or a fan.

In smaller flats, paying attention to humidity is particularly worthwhile. Too much moisture encourages mould - especially on cold external walls. A simple hygrometer from a DIY store is enough to keep track.

What buyers should look for in a clothes airer in general

Whether you choose Lidl’s model or a competitor’s, a few basics matter - and often only become obvious in everyday use:

• Load capacity: Is it strong enough for bed linen and towels?
• Stability: Does the frame wobble when it is fully loaded?
• Drying length: Can it take at least one, ideally one-and-a-half, washing loads?
• Flexibility: Can it be opened halfway or stored away without taking up much space?
• Portability: Does it have wheels, or do you have to carry it?

If you regularly run several washes back-to-back, it can also make sense to combine a tower airer with a classic wing-style model. That way, different textiles - for example children’s clothes, bed linen and sports outfits - can be separated and hung to dry in a more practical way.