Usually suitable for standing in the bathtub or on a balcony, they have two large fold-out wings that are perfect for hanging longer items such as towels, trousers and maxi dresses. Most winged models also have flat sections — either between the wings or between the leg rungs — that are great for drying delicates and smaller items. Due to their large wings, they tend to be quite tall even when folded down. Bathtub Chris Michael, Managing Director of Meaco, advises, 'Drying clothes inside is gentler on fabrics than tossing and tumbling in a dryer and prevents static cling. Before you take them out of the washing machine, use a rinse cycle to keep the amount of water left in the clothes to a minimum.'

These are great for those with no floor space to spare. Some have legs and long wings to make the most of the space above a standard UK bath, but you can also find smaller tent-style designs that attach to the rim of the bath instead. Tower The best clothes airer for you will vary depending on the space you have available at home, and the washing you tend to do. In terms of shape, here are the different styles available and the best uses for each: Tiered Wall-mounted styles are great for small-space living too, but that said, are great for households of all sizes! Generally taller and larger than most other airers, a tower airer comprises several horizontal flat sections and some also have hooks at the top for hanging shirts and dresses. Due to their size, they’re great for hanging double or king-size bedding, as well as heavy bath towels. RadiatorHanging corners: These are a great addition to provide extra space for items to dry – some airers can hold up to four items on each corner. Tiered airers have several levels, four feet and a signature concertina criss-cross look. They’re assembled in one swift pulling motion and pushed down to revert them to folded. These multi-level airers come in different sizes but they tend to have enough space to hang an everyday load of washing including hand towels, T-shirts, shorts, trousers and delicates. Gated

verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Another concertina design, gated airers are even more simple than tiered airers. They pull out to create a long zigzag with spacious rungs. Thanks to their fuss-free design, gated airers are popular among students as they tend to be the cheapest option available and fold down to just a few centimetres wide, meaning they can easily be stored behind a bed or wardrobe. Winged Fold down dimensions and floor space: Keep in mind the size of the airer when it’s folded down so that you have room to store it. That said, most are compact and will take up minimal space. How we test clothes airers