The Clothesline Store – Our Quick Answer
Urbanite Living drying racks suit indoor and covered spaces. For larger outdoor loads, choose an Air Dry fold down clothesline. At The Clothesline Store, we recommend checking wall width, open depth and hanging space before you buy.
“Clothes airer” can mean anything from a compact indoor drying rack to a full-sized outdoor clothesline. The best choice depends on where you dry your washing, how much room you have and how much laundry you need to hang.
For most homes, we suggest starting with two different solutions: a compact Urbanite Living drying rack for indoor or covered areas, or an Air Dry fold down clothesline when you need more outdoor hanging space. This guide explains where each works best, then covers portable, retractable and rotary alternatives.
Our Two Starting Points: Urbanite Living and Air Dry
Urbanite Living: A Drying Rack for Indoors and Covered Spaces
The Urbanite Living wall-mounted drying rack gives you a place to air-dry clothes without leaving a freestanding rack on the floor. It folds against the wall when you are finished, making it useful in laundries, apartments, bathrooms and covered balconies.
Choose the 80cm rack when wall space is tight. It provides 3.8 metres of hanging space. The 100cm rack provides 5.7 metres of hanging space if you have a wider wall and want more room for washing. Both are intended for indoor or covered outdoor use.
Air Dry: A Fold Down Clothesline for Outdoor Loads
When a compact rack does not provide enough hanging space, an Air Dry made-to-order fold down clothesline gives you a larger outdoor drying area. Air Dry clotheslines are made in Australia from Australian steel. They fold down when you need them and fold up to free the area when the washing is dry.
The made-to-order range lets you select a frame width and depth to suit your space. Standard widths run from 1.5 metres to 3.3 metres, with custom-width options for suitable single-frame models. Measure both the mounting width and how far the open frame can project before choosing a size.
Which Clothes Airer Suits Your Home?
For a small indoor laundry: Start with an Urbanite Living wall-mounted drying rack. Check that you have enough clear wall width and room to open the rack.
For a covered balcony or courtyard: An Urbanite Living rack can work when you want drying space without a standing clothes horse. Check your available wall and any building rules before installation.
For a side path or outdoor wall: Consider an Air Dry fold down clothesline. Its width and open-frame depth matter just as much as the total hanging space.
For regular family loads: Choose an outdoor clothesline with enough line space for the washing you actually hang. Air Dry offers different widths and depths, including larger frames for more laundry.
If you cannot install anything on a wall: Consider a portable clothesline or a rotary hoist, depending on the space available.
What to Measure Before Choosing a Clothes Airer
Width: Measure the clear wall or ground space available for the frame. Allow room around doors, windows, taps and other obstacles.
Open depth: Check how far the airer or clothesline projects when in use. A frame that fits along the wall may still block a path when opened.
Hanging space: This is the combined usable length of the rails or lines. Compare it with the amount of washing you normally dry, rather than choosing on frame width alone.
Mounting surface: Check that the wall or installation location is suitable for the model you choose. If you are unsure, speak with our team before ordering.
Other Types of Clothes Airers
Portable and Freestanding Clothes Airers
A portable clothesline can be moved to a suitable drying spot and stored when it is not in use. It is useful if you cannot mount a rack or clothesline to a wall. Check the open dimensions as well as the folded size, especially if you plan to use it indoors.
Retractable Clotheslines
A retractable clothesline pulls out when you need it and retracts into its housing afterwards. It can suit a long, narrow area if you have suitable mounting points at both ends. Measure the extension distance and check the installation requirements before choosing one.
Rotary Clotheslines
A folding rotary clothesline provides substantial line space in a yard. It needs clear ground area around the open head, so check its full operating size rather than the folded size alone.
Our Clothes Airer Picks by Use
Best for a compact indoor laundry: The Urbanite Living 80cm drying rack keeps the floor clear and provides 3.8 metres of hanging space.
Best for apartments, balconies and garages: The Urbanite Living 100cm drying rack provides 5.7 metres of hanging space while still folding against the wall.
Best for an outdoor space that needs a specific fit: An Air Dry made-to-order fold down clothesline lets you choose a width and depth suited to the area and the amount of washing you dry.
Best when you need an outdoor clothesline sooner: Compare the Air Dry Ready Made range. Check the listed dimensions and available options against your space before ordering.
Best when wall mounting is not an option: Browse our portable clotheslines and check the open dimensions for your intended drying area.
Simple Ways to Get Better Drying Results
Leave space between garments. Air needs to move around the washing for it to dry. Avoid crowding every rail or line.
Use the right location. Outdoors, choose a spot with useful airflow. Indoors, allow ventilation and follow the care instructions for your garments.
Keep the rails and lines clean. Wipe away dust or marks before hanging freshly washed clothing.
Fold the airer away when finished. This gives you back your floor, wall or outdoor living space.
Why Choose The Clothesline Store?
Our team can help you choose a clothes airer that suits your home and laundry needs. Before you order, we can explain the benefits and any drawbacks of the width, depth, hanging space and mounting options you are considering.
As Australia's largest private stockholder of clotheslines and accessories, The Clothesline Store ships in-stock items the same or next business day from our own national warehouse, with a 4.9 out of 5 star customer rating.
Find the Right Clothes Airer for Your Space
Start with where you will dry your washing. For an indoor laundry or covered area, look at the Urbanite Living drying rack. For a larger outdoor load, compare Air Dry fold down clothesline sizes. If neither installation suits your home, a portable or retractable option may be a better fit.
