The humble ceiling airer is not new, but it has seemingly been forgotten in recent years. However, my elevated clothes airer is an absolute saviour when it comes to drying laundry indoors, so I'm raising awareness to make it a must-have space-saving staple once again.
Traditional pulley ceiling clothes airers – also known as Clothes Maids or Kitchen Maids – date way back to the late eighteenth century but have become somewhat obsolete in modern households, perhaps reserved only for country homes and laundry rooms. But I truly believe this ingenious contraption has a place in every home to aid with drying clothes indoors, especially in smaller homes where space is at a premium.
Here's why I think elevated drying racks are a worthwhile investment ahead of the winter months, to help with laundry you can no longer dry outside in the sunshine.
Why I think every home should have a ceiling clothes airer
My kitchen: demonstrating how my clothes are hoisted up high to dry, keeping them out of the way to free up valuable floor space
Drying laundry indoors is an inevitable fate once the autumn and winter months arrive, and while the best heated clothes airers are unbeatable in terms of quick drying results there's still such high value in having a traditional clothes airer on hand to lighten the laundry load.
I have a floor-standing clothes airer that I use but the problem I encounter is how long the items have to be left out to dry during the colder months – even with the heating on or using a dehumidifier to help dry clothes. I live in a small home where space is premium, therefore finding ways to make rooms feel bigger is imperative. That's where a ceiling-mounted clothes airer is game-changing.
Having the ability to lift the clothes up and out of the way to free up floor space is invaluable in making a small room feel bigger.
Consider it also as a cheap alternative, no costs of running a heated clothes airer or tumble dryer. And because heat rises it's the most logical place to dry laundry indoors.
RRP: £78.99 | This simple design is very similar to my traditional airer, featuring six varnished pine wood rails rather than my four-rail design on a powder-coated cast iron frame. But just the same it offers a strong and sturdy clothes airer with a pulley system that can be loaded and lifted to the ceiling to ensure your clothes are kept out of the way whilst they dry. Easy to fit on most ceilings, even sloped roofs, it includes illustrated instructions and a fixing kit.
Extendable airer
RRP: £39.99 | Similar in style to the original pulley design this model is made from beechwood and aluminium, with a slight more modern asethetic. The best thing about this design is its ability to extend to suit your drying requirements. It provides up to 6.7m of valuable indoor drying space elevated above the floor and surfaces below.
RRP: £129 | This model is perfect for the more modern aesthetic, to avoid looking too twee. You can slide this ceiling-mounted clothes drying rack down its 180cm height or stop it at any intermediate position to keep it closer to the ceiling. Featuring 144cm drying rails this contemporary model offers a total of 12 m of drying space, suitable for up to 10 kg of laundry. Thanks to a special clutch mechanism the design significantly reduces laundry weight.
When I viewed my flat there was a ceiling clothes airer in the kitchen which I was pleasantly surprised by – in a way feeling as though I had discovered a secret space-saving solution. However, when I moved it I was disheartened to discover that the previous owner had taken it with them. So I made this the first thing I ordered for my new home, and I literally couldn't envision how I'd ever manage without it.
Where should you put a ceiling clothes airer?
The most traditional place is a laundry room, particularly handy as a small laundry room idea. But for those without a laundry room, the kitchen is the most obvious place to put a ceiling clothes airer for easy access to the washing machine. It's also a room that is often warmer due to the surplus heat provided by the many appliances and the oven.
But it is worth considering what you are cooking to ensure there are no cooking smells that could linger on your freshly laundered items hanging out to dry.
However, any space is potentially suitable – I have been told of friends who have a ceiling clothes airer in their stairwell to utilise space. Ultimately you want to place the airer in the most convenient space and one that is warm and well-ventilated, one that doesn't have a problem with humidity because it will not help your clothes to dry.
Look for ways to reduce humidity levels in your home to eliminate any potential issues.
Most pulley clothes airers are compatible with any ceiling, but there are less permanent 'elevated' rack solutions that can still help to free up space and make use of alternative drying methods.
With small space solutions being more popular than ever with most retailers there are always new, innovative laundry drying accessories. Here are just a few that I think are the most helpful for helping to streamline homes while drying clothes indoors.
More smart buys to help dry laundry in small spaces
RRP: £65 | If you can't utilise the ceiling this wall-mounted airer is an excellent alternative to provide a clever drying solution that can be retracted when not in use to sit flush against the wall. So rather than using the ceiling you simply need to dedicate an area of wall space to attach the airer. Above a radiator is a great way to utilise the heat when keeping the house warm in winter.
Door hanging option
RRP: £39.99 | If you're looking for an easy way to to find additional drying space from time to time this over-door airer is ideal. No fixtures or fittings you simply pop the rack over the top of a door using the handy hooks attached. This simple solution can provide a staggering extra 5-metres of drying space - perfect for holding everything from bathroom towels to kitchen cloths and smaller items of clothing.
RRP: £41.50 | This space-efficient indoor drying rack has 4.5 metres of additional drying space. Its handy hanging hooks make it super easy to set up – fitting over doors, rails or partitions up to 11cm in width. Stable, cleverly-designed adjustable arms make it ideal for small washes or for flat drying delicate laundry. Thoughtfully designed 'soft end caps' ensure all hanging surfaces are protected from possible damage.
Working on Country Homes & Interiors for years meant I frequently visited stunning country houses where this laundry accessory was often commonplace. But there's a misconception that you need to have a country-style kitchen trend or a dedicated laundry room to warrant having a ceiling clothes airer in your home. You don't, this simple drying accessory is ideal for homes and all styles, shapes and sizes.
The only common thread is a desire to dry clothes more efficiently indoors.
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