Best clothes airers for a bathtub

Decide whether the bath rim or floor can support the rack

A bath airer uses the space above an empty tub for washing. Some racks rest on the rim and fold into a roof shape. Others stand inside the bath on their own feet. The fit depends on where the frame makes contact, how level those points are and whether the wings can open without hitting a tap or screen.

A bath that has enough room for a narrow rack at the top can still be too rounded or tapered at the bottom for a freestanding model. Equally, a roomy floor does not guarantee a usable rim. Check the bath maker’s guidance if you are unsure about supporting a load on the rim or base. Choose a different setup if a foot would rest on a sloped surface, a slippery patch or a bath fitting.

If you already own a rim-supported bath rack

For an existing Acrobath, Vileda shows three layouts, with a roof shape, an L shape and a flat arrangement across the edges. That gives you a choice about how much height the rack takes up and where the laundry hangs. Use only a documented arrangement whose contact points can be supported by your bath.

Picture the clothes as well as the frame. A flat layout may be convenient for short pieces that would otherwise brush a wall or screen. A raised layout can put some rails higher but needs room above the rim. If you have to squeeze one panel against a screen to support it, choose a different position. Check the supplied instructions for the exact frame and wet-load limit.

Check the extension and locks on an existing Pegasus Bath 190

If you already own a Pegasus Bath 190, model 81702, it is a V-shaped rack with extendable rails and lockable positions. Leifheit lists between 9.6 and 18.9 m of total drying length. Measure the usable span for the arrangement you can actually set up. You may have enough space for the rack to stand securely while a fixed screen or shelf prevents full extension.

If you wash small loads, start by checking how the shorter arrangement fits. Extra line length is useful when it separates clothes, but a longer rack that blocks access to the bath can be awkward to unload. Confirm that the wings lock and stay supported according to the manual before you hang anything. Keep clear of controls, taps and glass during setup.

Leifheit Pegasus 120 Solid Compact for the bath floor

The freestanding Pegasus 120, model 81720, stands on parallel legs. Leifheit gives the set-up dimensions as 149 cm long, 43 cm wide and 93 cm high at the wings. It offers 12 m of line and can also be used on a suitable floor. This is the option to measure for when the rim will not support a rack but the bath floor has enough level space for both feet.

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Stands inside the bath

Leifheit Pegasus 120 Solid Compact 81720

A folding rack with parallel legs, a 43 cm base width and wings that rise to 93 cm.

Good for

A bath with enough level space for the feet, or a floor setup elsewhere.

Bear in mind

Allow room for the full 149 cm open length and check the bath floor where the feet will sit.

• 149 × 43 × 93 cm
• 12 m

The wings need the full open length at their height. Check that they do not hit a tap or panel even if the feet fit. In a narrow bath the inner walls can curve upwards around the feet. If any contact point is unstable, try a level floor or a different airer. Avoid wedging the frame in place or adding loose blocks to raise one foot.

Measure the actual space where the airer will sit

Measure across the rim where the supports would sit. A fitting position in the middle of a bath may be narrower or wider than one near the taps. Check how much flat rim is available on each side, especially on a bath mounted against a wall. For a floor-standing rack, measure the level area inside the tub where the feet would land. Leave room around the plug and away from the sloping backrest.

Then measure above the bath. Include the screen in both its usual and open position. A hinge, curved handle or shelf can overlap the space the rails need as they unfold. Finally, see whether you can reach the far rails from outside the bath. You should be able to put laundry on without climbing into the tub or reaching awkwardly across wet surfaces.

After setting up the rack empty, check that every support rests where the maker intends and that any locks engage. Clean grit off contact surfaces before use. If the rack slides, twists or does not sit squarely, move it to another permitted position or stop using it there.

Load for drying and for sharing the bathroom

Use the rated wet load and spread the weight as directed. Shorter pieces fit where there is less drop into the tub. On higher rails, check that a sleeve or hem clears the bath floor. Place especially thick pieces where you can turn them without pulling on the frame. Do not hang washing from a bath screen, shower fitting or tap.

The bath can catch occasional drips from fabric that is meant to drip dry. Keep the drain clear and use the spinning or water removal method the garment label permits. Give neighbouring pieces room. A tightly packed rack can leave thick seams damp even when the exposed fabric feels dry. If a garment must dry flat and the bars cannot support its shape, use a suitable flat drying rack.

Plan to unload the rack before using the bath or shower. If this is the only bathroom and you regularly need the bath before the washing dries, a compact freestanding airer elsewhere can be easier to live with. Keep the room ventilated while the clothes dry and check how to limit indoor drying condensation if windows or walls regularly stay wet.

Manufacturer references

• Vileda's documented Acrobath arrangements
• Leifheit Pegasus Bath 190 specifications
• Leifheit Pegasus 120 Solid Compact dimensions