Whether you’re living alone or juggling more family laundry than the washing line can handle, a clothes drying rack is a godsend in the home. So, to help take the guesswork out of buying one, we’ve rounded up the absolute best clothes airers in Australia.

A clothes airer is a sturdy portable rack that gives wet garments a dedicated place to air dry, indoors or out. Sometimes called a ‘clothes horse’, they save you the cost of running the tumble dryer and help reduce shrinkage and stretching in your favourite pieces. Best of all, most quality clothes airers fold up and stow away when not in use. This means they won’t cramp the style of your new laundry!

Ready to bring some order to all that washing and drying? Check out our complete list of popular clothes racks available to buy online right now.

Tips For Buying A Clothes Airer

•  Sturdiness is a must – Sometimes the rack could have the weight of six beach towels on it, other times it might be positioned in strong wind. So make sure you choose a stable design that doesn’t topple easily.
• Look for versatility – From adaptable wings to different tiers, look for a style that you can use in multiple ways.
• Check that it is foldable – The ideal drying rack is one that folds down neatly for simple storage. Even better is a style that stands up on its own once folded, meaning it doesn’t need to lean against a wall.
• Beware of rust – Check that any metal parts are aluminium, stainless steel or well covered with plastic or rubber. Any exposed metal could rust over time and this can transfer to your laundry – which nobody wants!
• Consider your style – From beautiful wooden clothes racks that pair beautifully with stylish laundry baskets, to convenient heated airers, there are some products out there that you might even want to show off!

 13 Best Clothes Airers And Drying Racks In Australia

We’ve scoured the country and rounded up the drying helpers that tick all the boxes. Oh, and they look pretty fabulous too!

Norwegia Heated Clothes Rack, $69

Saving you the huge cost of running the tumble dryer, the Norwegia Heated Clothes Rack comes with 18 sturdy bars and a tough, fold-out design. We love the sleek aluminium finish and the fact that it comes with a visible power light for quickly checking if you left it on.

Pros:

• 18 heated bars
• Power indicator light
• Heats up to 55 degrees
• Suitable for indoor use only
• Handy side racks for delicates

Hills Premium 2-Wing Clothes Airer, $79.95

With lockable legs and wings, this clever rack handles everything from heavy towels to quilt covers and sheets. It has 24 hanging slots and thanks to raised wings, it’s fantastic for hanging longer garments like cardigans and gowns.

Pros:

• 24 dedicated hanging slots
• Lockable legs and wings
• Flat-folding frame
• Comes with protective foot caps

6 Lath Supreme Ceiling Airer, $458.99

Made with sustainably sourced laths and organic cotton rope, this top-selling ceiling airer is a fantastic choice for people low on floor space or who want to get clean washing out of reach of pets. The largest size is wide enough to fit queen sheets and the heavy-duty pulleys ensure it glides like butter.

Pros:

• 7 cast iron colours
• 90cm – 240cm options
• Smooth pulley system
• Holds 30kg of washing
• Made in the UK
• Eco-friendly materials

L.T Williams Concertina Wooden Clothes Rack, $169.90

Quick to set up and fold away, this concertina-style clothes rack uses natural bamboo and features nine metres of drying space. But our favourite part of this handy helper is that it comes with four caster wheels for fuss-free moving from one room to the next.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• 4 caster wheels
• Uses natural bamboo
• Folds down quickly and easily

Foppapedretti Gulliver Foldable Airer, $539

Sturdy and functional, this is a drying rack that really delivers. It features clever side arms that either hand vertically or lock in place horizontally. It comes with convenient casters for moving around the house, and it even stands up by itself when folded. So smart.

Pros:

• Stands on its own
• 27 metres of line space
• Made using solid beech wood, steel
• Adjustable, with independent side arms
• 4 x scratch-proof braking casters for easy manoeuvrability
• Comes with 6 x coloured pegs

Soko & Co Limited Edition Rose Gold Clothes Airer, $129

Equal parts practical and fancy, the Soko & Co A-Frame Clothes Airer uses rust-proof aluminium for a lightweight and durable frame. It folds flat when not in use and opens up to reveal 19 drying rails and over 13 metres of line space. The 2 fold-out wings can be locked at any height, making it a fab choice if you have long garments.

Pros:

• 19 drying rails
• 13m of line space
• 100% rust proof
• Lightweight construction
• Folds flat for compact storage

Klika Heated Clothes Airer, $99

With the ability to heat to a temperature of 55 degrees Celcius, the Klika Heated Clothes Airer will have your damp winter gear dry in no time. It comes with 20 heated bars and folds up easily when it’s you’re finally on top of the washing.

Pros:

• 20 heated bars
• Heats fast to 55 degrees
• Folds and stores with ease
• Comes with protective foot caps

Butlers Suite Over Door Clothes Airer, $59

It’s one of Australia’s best clothes airers for discreet drying – and it comes at a great price too. Simply hook it over the back of a regular door and you’ve got six metres of drying space when you need it! It’s rust-resistant, ultra-lightweight and folds flat against the door when not in use. Genius.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Resistant to rust
• Suits most internal doors
• 6 metres of drying room
• Folds flat against the door for storage

Foppapedretti Octopus Clothes Airer, $339

Impeccably designed to make life simpler, the Octopus Airer by Foppapedretti is a stand-out – and not just because of its good looks! This gem features legs and arms in solid beech wood with a PVC body, and it has foot grips to prevent cuffs. But what’s really won us over is the ability to remove arms if you don’t need them!

Pros:

• Made in Italy
• Nylon foot grips
• Beech wood legs and arms
• Lightweight and adjustable
• Tapered legs for extra balance

Brabantia T-Model Drying Rack, from $157

Available in a choice of white or grey, this heavy-duty rack is perfect for growing families. It has a 20-metre drying capacity, adjustable wings and a super handy lower tier for drying garments flat – like your favourite jumper.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Folds flat for storing
• Available in grey or white
• 20 metres of drying space
• Stainless steel and plastic

Leifheit Pegasus Deluxe 200 Clothes Drying Rack, $279

Not only does this clever rack come with 20 metres of hanging space, but it’s also equipped with a host of extras that make life easier. There’s a handy peg bag attached to the side rail, five windproof hangers, holders for socks and undies, plus 360-degree caster wheels. Who knew hanging clothes could be so blissful?

Pros:

• Peg bag
• Spinning casters
• Dual fold-out wings
• 5 windproof hangers
• 20 metres of drying space

Large Rolling Clothes Drying Rack, $119.95

With not one but three tiers of drying space, this jumbo rack is made using stainless steel and ABS plastic to see you through years of wash cycles. It’s simple to assemble and comes fitted with eight rolling casters for rolling through the house.

Pros:

• Huge drying space
• Eight rolling casters
• Stainless steel and ABS plastic
• Three tiers plus extendable wings

WilliamsWare W-Frame Wooden Clothes Rack, $192

Made using hardwearing bamboo, this w-frame drying rack comes in super handy for apartment living and smaller spaces. It has 14 rails and 12 metres of hanging space and it folds down flat for storing. Loving the natural look of wood for eco-friendly homes.

Pros:

• 14 hanging rails
• Flat-folding frame
• 12 metres of drying space
• Made using 100% natural bamboo

Pottery Barn Trenton Laundry Drying Rack, $299

After a wall-mounted drying rack? This contemporary unit from Pottery Barn Australia is crafted from mango wood and powder-coated steel and it comes with seven tough rungs. Not only is this fantastic for freeing up floor space, but you can even install it in a closet for a hidden drying solution!

Pros:

• 7 tough rungs
• Contemporary look
• Compact and discreet
• Uses steel and mango wood

What type of drying rack is best?

The best clothes airer is the one that suits your needs and in Australia, there are a number of styles to choose from. If you are using an indoor clothes airer permanently, we suggest integrating it into your laundry or indoor spaces seamlessly.

Install a hanging rail in your laundry or invest in a ceiling-mounted unit that works on a pulley system so that your floor is clear. Another option is a unit that is wall-mountable and extends or drops out. Then when it’s not in use, it sits against the wall out of the way.

If you’re after an occasional rack for managing overflow from the washing line, look for a foldable option that you can easily store in a cupboard when it’s not in use.

Is it better to air-dry clothes?

In many ways yes, it is better to air dry clothing than use an electric tumble dryer for a few reasons. While tumble drying may be faster than air drying, it can damage certain fabrics and shrink clothes. Secondly, they use a huge amount of energy – which means they cost more to run. A clothes airer is environmentally sound and provides you with a long-term drying solution at a much lower price.

Do heated clothes airers work?

Heated clothes racks are similar in many ways to heated towel rails in that they warm up items and help speed up the drying time. So while they certainly don’t work as fast as a tumble dryer, they definitely facilitate quicker drying than a non-heated airer.

Top Image via: Foppapedreti

This article first appeared on Making HOME.

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