Lidl Laundry Tower: 16 Metres of Drying Space for €19.99

In towns and cities especially, the problem is familiar: a clothes airer is constantly in the way, takes up half the room and still cannot hold an entire wash load. Discount retailers are therefore increasingly offering compact alternatives. Lidl’s latest deal is attracting attention: a vertical laundry tower with a small footprint that can accommodate a notable amount of clothing – at a very low price.

How Lidl’s new laundry tower saves space

Rather than stretching across a room like a conventional winged airer, this model makes use of height. Its design is closer to a slim shelving unit than the familiar wire-frame airer positioned across the living room.

Its dimensions have been kept deliberately compact: approximately 74 cm wide, 59.5 cm deep and 155 cm high. This means the tower can fit neatly, for example:

• between a cupboard and a wall
• in a corner of the kitchen or hallway
• in a narrow bathroom recess
• in a small storage room or compact utility room

Despite its modest footprint, it offers plenty of room for laundry. There is around 16 metres of drying space in total. That is enough for several loads of T-shirts, underwear, towels or even bedding, without having to make use of every last centimetre.

Vertical construction, 16 metres of drying space and barely larger than a narrow wardrobe – that is precisely what this tower was designed for.

Priced below €20, yet capable of holding up to 12 kg

The promotional price of €19.99 is likely to appeal to anyone who has been considering a sturdier clothes airer for some time. At this price, Lidl states that it can support more than 12 kg – considerably more than many folding airers from DIY shops can manage.

In everyday use, this means heavier items such as jeans, terry towels, lightweight blankets or a thick jumper can be placed on the tower without the frame wobbling or bending. This extra capacity is a clear advantage for households with children, or for people who wash infrequently and then run several large loads at once.

The frame is made from steel, which helps to provide stability. Many low-cost models made with very thin tubing are prone to tipping over or becoming bent after a short period. Lidl is targeting a more robust category here while keeping the product affordable. The individual rails are relatively thick, which not only spreads the weight more effectively but also improves airflow. As garments are not pressed so closely together, they will generally dry more quickly.

Flexible folding tiers for different types of laundry

The tower is divided into several levels with foldable sections. Each side has three tiers that can be folded up or down independently. This allows the system to adapt to different requirements.

How the Lidl laundry tower fits everyday routines

If there are only a few garments to dry, there is no need to unfold the whole airer. One side can simply be opened and the tower placed directly against a wall. This is useful for single people or couples who usually have smaller wash loads: laundry dries in very little space while the walkway remains clear.

For larger amounts of washing, both sides can be opened fully. The result is a kind of ‘laundry shelf’ that can be filled from top to bottom. Individual tiers can be folded up for longer garments such as trousers or dresses, creating more clear height so that nothing trails on the floor.

• Sides can be unfolded separately – ideal when positioned against a wall
• Several levels – allowing short and long garments to be combined
• Parts of the drying area can be closed away – requiring less space day to day

Extra features: castors and hooks for clothes hangers

One often-overlooked feature is the four castors at the base, which make the tower easier to move. Anyone who has tried carrying a fully loaded clothes airer through a flat will know how quickly shirts can slip off or the whole structure can become unsteady.

Thanks to the castors, the tower can simply be pushed, even when loaded. Its position can therefore be changed whenever needed, for instance:

• into the living room in the morning, when the heating is on there
• by the window in the afternoon, when sunlight is coming in
• into the bedroom in the evening, when visitors are using the living area

It also includes rotating holders for clothes hangers. They can hold up to twelve hangers. Shirts, blouses, jackets and delicate garments that are usually dried on hangers can be kept tidy and slightly separated. This helps reduce creasing and cuts down on ironing.

The pivoting holders have room for up to twelve clothes hangers – useful for anything that is better dried while hanging.

Who will benefit most from the laundry tower

This vertical airer is aimed primarily at households with limited space. Typical users include:

• residents of small city flats with one room plus a kitchen
• shared households where several people share a bathroom or tiny utility room
• families needing extra drying capacity in narrow hallways or children’s bedrooms
• people without a balcony or who are not permitted to hang washing in a courtyard

Anyone currently struggling with a wide winged airer could regain a considerable amount of freedom to move around thanks to the tall, narrow format. It can also be placed fairly discreetly in a corner, where it is less noticeable than a frame standing across the middle of a room.

Tips for drying laundry faster in small rooms

The airer itself is only one part of the solution. In compact flats, the way laundry is dried also makes a difference. A few practical suggestions are:

• Shake laundry out firmly before hanging it up – this smooths fabrics and reduces drying time.
• Leave some space between garments so air can circulate more freely.
• Avoid placing the tower directly against cold external walls, where moisture builds up more quickly.
• Ventilate regularly or air the room briefly and thoroughly to let damp air escape.
• In buildings with moisture-sensitive structures, watch for mould and use a dehumidifier where necessary.

A mobile airer with castors can be particularly helpful in winter: it can be moved to wherever warmth is strongest at the time, such as beside the living-room radiator or close to a sunny window. This helps laundry dry faster and allows humidity to disperse more evenly around the home.

Alternative solutions and combinations

Those with particularly limited space often use a combination of systems: a folding wall-mounted airer in the bathroom, a small tower in the hallway and an extendable drying rail above the bath. The Lidl tower can serve as the central element, providing additional capacity whenever more than one wash load needs drying.

A separate airer may still be worthwhile for households with a tumble dryer. Delicate fabrics, membrane sportswear and wool items do not tolerate heat well and should not go in the tumble dryer. They can be dried on the tower while hardier cotton items go in the appliance. This saves energy because the tumble dryer runs for less time, while also helping to protect clothing.

The model is also suitable for a balcony or terrace, provided the location is adequately covered and sheltered from wind. Its vertical construction means it takes up little space there too, while the washing still receives sufficient air. The important point is not to leave it unsecured outdoors in strong winds, as its greater height can create a sail effect.

In daily life, making clever use of limited living space can restore a sense of comfort. A thoughtfully designed clothes airer may seem unremarkable at first, but it can make everyday routines considerably less stressful – particularly when it is stable, flexible and affordable. That is exactly the combination Lidl’s new offer is designed to provide.