Nothing ruins a room's look quite like a clothes airer covered in washing. And having tested and used more clothes airers than I care to remember, there's one design that still stands out for all the right reasons.

The Joseph Joseph Eclipse clothes airer might not be new, but I haven't come across another that makes drying laundry look quite so stylish.

Unlike traditional clothes horses and even the best heated clothes airers, which leave your washing on full display, the Eclipse cleverly conceals it behind a neutral fabric screen. It's a super simple but ingenious solution to the household eyesore that is drying washing indoors, especially in the colder months.

The clever thing about the Joseph Joseph Eclipse is that it looks more like a snazzy room divider than a clothes airer. The neutral fabric screen hides all the washing hanging behind it, meaning you don't have to spend your evenings staring at socks, towels and underwear drying in the corner of your living room.

Behind the screen are three tiers of drying space, offering 14 metres of hanging room in total. The shelves can be folded down individually to accommodate longer items, and it has wheels that make it easy to move about.

It's also really easy to put together, which is a bonus. My only slight gripe is that the fabric screen needs a good iron to get rid of the creases before it looks its best.

I realise complaining about having to iron something designed to make laundry look more attractive is a little ironic (I didn't do it, by the way, but I will steam it now that it's put together!), but it's worth bearing in mind if you're hoping to have it looking picture-perfect.

At £135, it's not exactly a budget buy, especially since it doesn't have a heating element to help speed up drying times, but what you're paying for is the design and ability to disguise something that's usually a sight to behold.

Shop good-looking clothes airer alternatives

The Joseph Joseph Eclipse isn't going to make the whole process of drying copious amounts of washing any faster, but it does make the whole process a lot easier on the eye.

And when I'm drying laundry all day, every day in winter, there's a lot to be said for an airer that doesn't take over the look of your living space. It might be a tad on the pricier side, but I haven't found a nicer airer that combines practicality with style better!

In our busy household and as a family of four, we get through a fair bit of washing, so when we renovated the back of our house, I wanted to make sure our small laundry room worked as hard as possible because there wasn't much space to work with.

So despite its size, I've managed to squeeze in everything from laundry baskets to my vacuum cleaner, ironing board and cleaning essentials. The secret has been investing in a few clever clutter busters that make the most of every inch and keep everything neat and tidy and out of sight.

Here are the five things that have made the biggest difference to my utility room storage.

1. Individual pull out baskets

This is by far one of my favourite additions to our laundry room space. Rather than having our copious amounts of laundry baskets inevitably cluttering up our floor, we installed a dedicated cupboard that houses four baskets, one for each family member.

It's made sorting the laundry and putting it away so much easier, particularly with two young children and their endless array of tiny garments. I bought these Urbnliving oval laundry baskets from Amazon that fit perfectly into the slots.

2. A pull out shelf for catching laundry

I spotted this clever pull-out shelf idea on Pinterest, and I made sure it fit our design. It gives me somewhere to pull all the freshly dried clothes from our tumble dryer into a basket and also sort and fold clothes. Once I'm finished, it simply slides back into the cupboard, taking no space at all.

It also houses this HoldAll collapsible laundry basket from Joseph Joseph, which folds completely flat when not in use, so it can be tucked in on the shelf when it's hidden away and pops open in seconds when you need it. It's sturdy, easy to carry, has a large capacity and wipes clean.

3. A slim detergent cupboard

Our laundry room needed to work for cleaning storage as well as housing laundry essentials, so things like bathroom sprays, multi-surface cleaners and floor cleaner needed a home, as well as washing liquid, stain removers and fabric conditioners.

I've added a slim pull-out cupboard to store all my laundry kit so it's easily reachable from the washing machine, etc., so the rest of the cupboards keep everything else hidden.

4. A cupboard for bulky cleaning equipment

Finding somewhere to store a vacuum cleaner, an ironing board, an iron and a mop can be tricky, especially if you have a small space to work with.

We made sure we had a decent-sized cupboard, and that's been a game changer for keeping everything in its right place, so I no longer have to look at any of it!

5. A retractable washing line

I'm a big fan of anything that doesn't take up permanent space, which is why I love this viral brass retractable washing line that I picked up last year.

It's a great little buy that's ideal for hanging shirts and smaller items to dry, especially in winter. It just disappears into a pretty little brass unit when not in use.

6. A big laundry basket with built-in sorting

Another laundry essential and one of my many Joseph Joseph buys is the Joseph Joseph Tota Trio laundry basket. Its three genius compartments mean I can sort clothes into different loads as I go, rather than tackling one enormous pile.

The removable bags make transferring everything to the washing machine easier as well. Plus, it's not something you need to hide away, as it's super easy on the eye and doesn't take up too much space.

If you're planning a small laundry room, my advice would be to think about how you actually do your washing before deciding on storage.

These pull-out solutions, hidden cupboards and multifunctional additions have made ours super practical, without sacrificing valuable real estate!

Everyone’s favourite laundry basket has had a glow-up this autumn. The Joseph Joseph Tota 2 Laundry Basket (£120, Joseph Joseph) has had a couple of clever design upgrades that make sorting your washing even easier and more efficient - and no, you don’t have to sacrifice the sleek design of the original.

The Joseph Joseph Tota Laundry Basket has been a favourite amongst Ideal Home editors for the past few years now. Its original design won over our hearts, as not only can you separate lights and darks, but each section has handles, making the whole process easier.

Now, the Tota 2 has these key features, but it has also upgraded its lid, fixing perhaps the basket’s only pain point. Here’s everything you need to know.

This year, we’ve seen the rise of the pretty laundry basket, and the Joseph Joseph model remains one of the best-looking laundry baskets you can buy. Its sleek, compact design and neutral colourways blend seamlessly into your utility room and bedroom ideas. The Tota 2 is no exception.

At first glance, the two models look very similar. The difference is in the material and the new lid design upgrade. The plastic used for the original lid has been swapped for a luxe felt that matches the side of the laundry basket.

The other upgrade is that the lid now cleverly docks onto the side when in use. So instead of floundering around for a spot to perch the lid while you're lifting the laundry out to take to the washing machine, you just tuck it onto the side where it's always at hand.

‘I've had my tota twin laundry basket for 3 years; it was an expensive purchase, but so worth it. It neatly tucks away in the corner of my bedroom and speeds up laundry day as all my colours are pre-sorted. My partner has gone through 2 laundry baskets in the time I've had mine, and it still looks as good as the day I bought it,’ says Rebecca Knight, Ideal Home’s Digital Editor.

‘However, if I were to buy it again, I'd opt for the Tota 2 Trio (£130, John Lewis) so I have an extra compartment to separate things that need special washing care. I'm also very jealous of the new lid holder feature on the new and improved model!’

I’ll admit that Tota Laundry Baskets are expensive. Rebecca snapped hers up on sale, but does say it is worth it, genuinely streamlining her laundry routine. To further level up your laundry routine she also recommends pairing it with the Hold-All™ Ecru Collapsible 35L Laundry Basket (£37.50, Joseph Joseph). It is one of the best space-saving laundry baskets as it folds completely flat, making it easy to stash down the side of your washing machine or tuck behind the Tota laundry basket when not in use.

If you're looking to overhaul your laundry routine, here are a couple of other clever buys to help simplify the process.

If you laundry routine is due a refresh, the Joseph Joseph Tota 2 is a serious contender for a more streamlined experience.

Laundry hampers are a practical household buy that I usually want to find ways to hide rather than show off. Let's face it, an overflowing laundry basket doesn't add anything to a bedroom or bathroom scheme! However, Next's latest design has completely changed my mind.

The Next Pink stripe hamper is one of the most stylish laundry hampers I ever did see. In fact, at first glance, I'm not sure I'd even guess it was one.

With its structured shape, pink and white stripe upholstery and pretty brass-effect handle on the lid, it looks far more like a chic upholstered stool or a decorative storage solution than somewhere to stash dirty socks. It's the perfect home buy, and here's why.

Stripes have been everywhere in interiors recently, and I love how Next has used them to turn something as ordinary as a laundry hamper into a feature you might actually want on display, which is especially useful if you have a lack of storage space to contend with in a bedroom or bathroom.

The upholstered finish makes it feel much more like a piece of furniture, while the brass-effect handle is a small detail that seems to make it look considerably more expensive.

And it isn't all style over substance either. At 55cm high and 35cm wide and deep, it gives you a decent amount og space for clothes without taking up an enormous amount of floor space, which is useful if you have a small bathroom or bedroom. It's also surprisingly lightweight, so you could carry it up and down stairs easily.

What really sold it to me was that there's no reason you have to use it for laundry. It looks so much like an upholstered storage stool that I could see it working in any room as a secret clutter buster.

It could be filled with throws and blankets in the living room, used to stash toys in a playroom or to hide random clutter when you've got someone popping over in 10 minutes. I've actually been using it in my daughter's bedroom, where her cuddly toy collection is out of control.

There's also a striped laundry bag option that's a little more budget-friendly if you prefer a flexible style, but for me, the structured hamper is the standout. Its furniture-like design means you could move it around the house and give it a completely different purpose.

At £65, it's not the most budget-friendly hamper you can buy. I'd probably opt for something a little more affordable if you think you'll most likely hide it in a cupboard. If, like me, though, you love a bit of practical, pretty-looking storage that contributes to the room rather than detracting from it, the price feels a little more worth it.

Shop pretty laundry basket alternatives

Whether you want to use it to conceal a week's worth of washing, your child's toy collection, blankets in the landing or random living room storage idea for clutter, this is the laundry hamper I am happy to have hiding in plain sight.

At this time of year, I'm finding that keeping on top of laundry feels a bit like a never-ending job in our house. With the weather turning a tad on the chilly side, I can no longer rely on the washing line; I've been looking at ways to dry my clothes faster indoors. Enter Beldray Anti-static tumble dryer balls, £9.99 on Amazon.

I'm a big fan of using one of the best heated clothes airers alongside a dehumidifier for speeding things up, but there are inevitably loads that end up in the tumble dryer too, such as towels, bedding and the bottomless pile of my daughters' tiny clothes. So this handy addition to my laundry routine has been a bit of a game-changer in our house.

Here's why you should grab a pack of these energy-saving must-buys.

There's nothing really complicated about these bad boys. You pop the two balls into your tumble dryer alongside wet laundry and start your cycle as normal.

How they work is pretty simple too. As the drum turns and the balls move between the clothes, they help lift and separate them rather than allowing everything to clump together. This means that more warm air can circulate around them, which Beldray says helps your laundry dry faster and more evenly. And they're right. They've really helped speed up drying time and have made a noticeable difference when I'm trying to dry mega loads.

My usual drying cycle takes around two and a half hours, and these guys have reduced the time to, on average, one and a half. However, it depends on how much I'm washing I've put on and the type of items I'm drying.

They've been most useful for bedding, because without the dryer balls the sheets twist themselves into one enormous bundle, leaving lots of damp patches trapped in the middle. And I'd say they've become invaluable when I'm doing several loads in one day on laundry day (aka most days).

Not only do they help with drying laundry faster, but Beldray have designed these reusable balls so they also help reduce static and soften fabrics as they tumble. And the biggest advantage is that the design can also help minimise wrinkles and creases too.

As someone who tests plenty of steam irons and steamers, and spends more time than I'd like tackling a mammoth ironing pile, I'm here for anything that makes that job a little easier!

Now I won't claim that these two little balls are going to dramatically slash your energy bills or suddenly make a full load dry in half the time, but I have noticed that my laundry dries faster and more evenly when I use them, and that is definitley not something to sniff at.

More tumble dryer balls I rate

They're a small addition to my routine, but I've found they make a big difference with the bulky loads I'm trying to dry at the minute. For £10 and with no effort at all to use, they'll be in and out of every drying cycle from now on!

Nothing ruins a room's overall look quite like an overflowing clothes airer, especially if you have guests coming over. As the colder months make outdoor drying more difficult (nigh on impossible), most of us end up with laundry racks taking over our living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms.

While practical, a traditional clothes horse (and even some of the best heated clothes airers) is rarely pretty when it's covered in washing. Thankfully, there are a number of clever ways to make drying laundry indoors less of an eyesore, from changing where and how you hang clothes to swapping a bulky floor-standing rack for a more discreet alternative.

If, like me, you're fed up with staring at laundry all week, these expert-approved solutions are worth giving a whirl.

1. Choose a clothes airer that hides the washing

If you can't hide your airer, conceal the clothes instead. Covered and screened designs are a smart option for anyone who regularly dries washing in a living space, and the Joseph Joseph Eclipse 3-tier ecru clothes airer with screen, £135 on Amazon, is one of the smartest-looking examples we've seen.

Rather than leaving every item of washing on show, it has a fabric screen down one side that helps disguise the laundry behind it. It's a small design detail but one that could make a big difference if your airer has to live in your kitchen, living room or another highly visible spot.

Richard Joseph, CEO and co-founder of Joseph Joseph, agrees. 'A covered side instantly tidies the look of laundry while adding an elevated design element to your home,' he explains. 'It's great at concealing clothes whilst blending seamlessly into your surroundings.'

Covers can also be useful for heated airers. Catrin Parry, buying lead for cleaning and laundry at Lakeland, recommends pairing a Dry:Soon heated airer with its purpose-designed cover. It conceals the clothes, helps speed up drying and is my top pick in our buying guide.

2. Swap a wide airer for a tower design

When floor space is limited, think upwards. A tall, narrow tower airer can hold a large wash while taking up less room, says Lauren Roelofs, Laundry category expert at Brabantia.

The Brabantia HangOn tower, £80 at Argos, for example, offers 23 or 30 metres of drying space, with independently folding levels and wheels making it easier to move when guests arrive.

Mary Widdall, Product Category Manager for Laundry at Minky, agrees that vertical designs suit flats and smaller homes. Slimline and extendable models can also provide drying space without permanently taking over the floor.

3. Make use of the back of the door

For smaller loads, an over-the-door airer can keep laundry off the floor and out of the centre of the room.

Brabantia's Hanging Drying Rack provides 4.5 metres of drying space and attaches to a door or suitable radiator. Lakeland's Beechwood and Steel over-the-door airer, £34.99, is another slick-looking alternative to a traditional clothes horse.

Catrin says these designs are useful for 'making the most of underused drying spaces,' and most collapse for easy storage.

4. Install a retractable washing line

This is one solution I've actually built into my own utility room that has also gone viral on Instagram. I have a brass retractable washing line, £14.99 on Amazon, that I can pull out whenever I need extra drying space and then retract completely once the washing is put away.

With a retractable clothing line, you get a useful drying space without having another bulky laundry product permanently taking up room. I also deliberately chose a brass design so that even the small part that remains visible feels like it belongs with the rest of the room rather than looking overly functional.

'For a larger wash, a wall-mounted retractable line is a practical option,' says Emma Rawley, Senior Product Manager at Beldray. 'Beldray's 16m retractable clothes line, £12.99 at Amazon, can be used indoors, provides drying room but then retracts back into its casing afterwards.'

5. Use a radiator, bath or ceiling airer

Radiator, wall-mounted, over-bath and ceiling-mounted airers make use of otherwise wasted space and keep laundry off the floor.

Lakeland's over-bath and extendable ceiling airer, £39.99, is designed for this purpose, while Minky's Over Bath Airer, £29.99 on Amazon, provides 9.5 metres of drying space above an area used only occasionally.

Radiator airers are useful for small loads, although Emma warns that they should only be used on compatible radiators and work similarly to a heated clothes airer, but should never be placed on portable or electric heaters.

6. Put small laundry on a peg airer

Socks, underwear and kids' clothes don't need to take over your main drying rack.

Richard recommends a compact peg hanger, such as Joseph Joseph's Petal 22-piece quick-grip drying hanger, £10 on Amazon. 'Peg airers can be ideal for drying smaller items without the need to assemble a full-sized airer, helping the space feel more organised and less cluttered,' he says.

Beldray's 20-peg folding airer, £9.99 on Amazon, works similarly, clipping onto an existing airer or washing line before folding away.

Separating smaller pieces makes the washing look tidier and frees the main rails for longer garments.

7. Make the laundry itself look less messy

If buying another product isn't an option, changing how you load your airer can make a difference, says the experts, whether it's a traditional clothes airer or a heated one.

Lauren recommends grouping similar garments, placing larger pieces towards the outside and smaller items inside, with underwear and socks on the lower racks. Shirts and blouses can go directly onto hangers, freeing rail space and allowing them to move straight into the wardrobe once dry.

Mary also suggests grouping similar items and colours together, while leaving space between garments rather than overlapping them.

And Emma recommends an extra spin cycle before hanging washing. Removing more water means less drying time and less looking at your airer!

Shop clothes airers you won't need to hide

Failing all that, if you're in the market for a new clothes airer, these are by far some of the prettiest looking I've found.

So there you have it! Disguising an ugly clothes airer isn't just about hiding it. Choosing a smaller or more attractive design, organising the washing and getting it dry and put away quickly can make the biggest difference, say laundry experts! Easier said than done, though!

If you've been thinking about buying a heated clothes airer ahead of the colder weather, I've found a budget Beldray option that really impressed me in testing. The Beldray winged electric heated airer, £49.99, is affordable, quick to heat up and most importantly, I found it surprisingly speedy at drying my clothes.

Having tested plenty of the best heated clothes airers, I know that you can easily spend upwards of £100 on one. But what stood out to me about this Beldray airer was just how effective it felt for its price. It also has a relatively compact, familiar winged design, so it didn't feel like it was taking over the room, which is a huge bonus if you're trying to dry laundry in a smaller space.

Here's a little more about why it's an absolute bargain and a must-buy.

Speed was one of the first things I noticed about this heated airer. Its heated bars get warm quickly, so you don't have to wait long for it to start getting to work on damp laundry.

However, there is a knack to getting the best results from this winged style of heated airer. Because the heat is concentrated around the bars, I found it worked best when I moved and repositioned my clothes periodically. This helps different parts of the items come into contact with the heated rails rather than one section drying much faster than the rest.

Alternatively, I took heated airer advice from the laundry experts, and rather than hanging one garment from a single bar, you can drape it across a number of heated bars. This gives more of the fabric contact with the heat and can help it dry more evenly. I've found that this is particularly handy for smaller items, such as my kids' clothes, which fit easily across the main section without taking up too much drying space.

I'd also recommend using it with a heated airer cover, like Beldray's cover, £7.99 on Amazon. A cover helps trap the warm air around your laundry rather than allowing it to escape straight into the room, creating a warmer environment and helping the airer work more effectively.

Its size was another big win for me. Some of the larger three-tier models I've tested offer a huge amount of drying space, but they can feel cumbersome, especially in smaller homes. The winged design of this one felt much more manageable while still providing enough space for an everyday load of washing.

Now, I'll admit, it is a fairly simple heated airer, but I don't necessarily see that as a negative. If you want an affordable way to speed up indoor drying without a huge appliance taking over your room, this does the job remarkably well.

More heated clothes airers I rate

And if this heated clothes airer isn't quite fitting with what you need, there are plenty of other models I rate that are well worth a look.

If you're a heated airer that won't cost a fortune ot ake over a room, I think this Beldray model is a brilliant budget buy. It's simple, heats up quickly and with a little repositioning of your clothes as they dry, gets the job done. Happy drying!

There is most definitely an autumnal chill in the air recently, so what better time or place to welcome Lidl’s dehumidifier back to stores? Not only will it reduce the amount of damp in your home, but it has a dedicated laundry mode to make drying clothes faster and easier.

If you struggle to dry laundry during wet, chilly weather (i.e during autumn and winter), then one of the best dehumidifiers is an essential item to help you keep on top of your laundry routine. However, these appliances can be pricey, even costing hundreds of pounds for the best models, which is where Lidl’s budget dehumidifier comes into play.

Landing in stores on Sunday (27 September), the Lidl Tronic Dehumidifier is just £79.99 and is perfect for getting rid of damp and reducing humidity levels for a more comfortable home. Here’s everything you need to know.

Usually, the dehumidifier we recommend for drying laundry indoors is the ProBreeze Premium 20L Dehumidifier with Special Laundry mode (£159.99 at B&Q); however, if you’re working to a smaller budget, I think the Lidl dehumidifier can be used as an alternative.

It offers a moisture extraction rate of 10 litres per 24 hours and offers two programmes: ‘dry laundry’ or ‘dehumidifier’. It has a decent-sized water tank of 2.1L, a removable and washable filter, as well as a built-in timer and warning signal for when the tank is full.

The dehumidifier also has four castors, making transportation easier around your home. But if you’re struggling to dry clothes in winter, this is where a dehumidifier shines. As a dehumidifier’s job is to suck moisture out of the air, when placed near your drying rack can help clothes dry faster. It also helps prevent any musty odours or mould forming if your clothes are taking too long to dry. The other alternative is using one of the best heated airers, but these don’t have quite as many benefits as dehumidifiers with dedicated laundry modes.

Ideal Home’s Senior Digital Editor and resident dehumidifier expert, Jenny McFarlane, is also impressed by the specifications of the Lidl Tronic Dehumidifier.

‘The Tronic dehumidifier is a really affordable option for tackling condensation and excess moisture. Its 10-litre extraction rate makes it a good fit for smaller rooms, and I really like that it has a laundry mode so it can help speed up drying your clothes indoors. Being able to set your target humidity is another feature I'd normally look for in a good dehumidifier, while its compact size and castors make it easily portable from room to room,’ she says.

Lidl’s dehumidifier will only be in store, so if you find your local store quickly sells out, or doesn’t stock the dehumidifier, I’ve rounded up a few more models the Ideal Home team rate highly.

When you think about the everyday items in your home - your bin, ironing board or clothes airer, for example - do you ever consider them to be beautiful?

I’ll wager you barely even notice such household items, let alone consider them beautiful. Yinka Ilori OBE’s new collaboration with Brabantia is here to change that. The collection, titled ‘There is Magic in Joy ’, takes the best kitchen bins or even the best airers and turns them into works of art.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Yinka to discuss his latest bold and colourful collection (the Yinka Ilori x Dunelm collection impressing the Ideal Home team in the summer). After discussing the importance of colour and joyfulness in his work, I was convinced every area of your home should add joy to your life.

British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori is well known for his use of bold colour and intricate detailing within his designs. He’s a master of creating a kaleidoscope of colour, and the most recent Brabantia collection is no exception.

The collection includes statement bins, a bold, colourful airer, and ironing board and lunchbox accessories. Yellow and pink feature heavily throughout the designs, with Yinka even telling me they’re two of his favourite colours to work with.

‘I was really interested in seeing how you could reimagine an everyday object into something that is a ritual that we do daily. But how can that ritual become a ritual of joy?’ Yinka told me.

‘And I think having slogans and artworks on things that we use daily within our home, I think, can really kind of shape our day, our moods, and really kind of change the way we look at kitchen utensils and kitchen objects within the home space.’

What struck me as someone who has a small home and a really small kitchen was that this latest Brabantia collection contained items that look like pieces of decor, rather than functional items. For example, I don’t have a tumble dryer, so my bog-standard grey clothes horse is on show the majority of the time in my home. Since seeing the HangOn Drying Rack (£99) in person, I like the idea of my clothes horse adding colour to my space, rather than looking unsightly.

‘I thought there’s something quite playful about the drying rack because of all the kinds of block colours. I mean, for me, I might put my socks in the yellow section, and I might put my t-shirts in the purple section. So I think there's also something quite playful that kids might find interesting about, you know, an object that we see daily,’ Yinka added.

‘People shouldn’t be nervous by color. For me, it's just like doctors saying to you, you know, you need vitamin D from the sun, right? You know, for your skin, it's good for your body. It brings you joy. It's the same thing as, you know, as if you are around colour and around affirmation, it will uplift your mood and change your home space.’

So as we head into winter, and Vitamin D starts to wane, consider finding yours in colourful and joyful home decor. I saw that the Yink Ilori x Brabantia collection is a good place to start.

One thing I’ve learned during my time at Ideal Home is that functional items can, and often should, be beautiful. And if anything is beating the drum of pretty yet functional, it’s John Lewis’ new range of laundry baskets.

Given that this is an item that is on show in our homes, whether that be your bedroom, bathroom or utility room, I think it makes absolute sense that pretty laundry baskets should be available for every home.

John Lewis has answered our call, dropping stunning new styles that add glamour to such a boring chore. You may already be aware that wicker is a defining home decor trend this autumn, and imagined into a laundry basket genuinely looks fabulous.

Wicker has been a breakout trend for autumn 2026, particularly in the form of wicker vases and lamps. But it’s also perfect for your laundry basket, as John Lewis demonstrates. Wicker is a natural material and typically a warm, brown colourway, making it gentle on the eye and relaxing - perfect for inclusion in your bedroom storage ideas.

A natural wicker laundry basket is the perfect balance of good looks and being able to blend into your surroundings. If you have a classic country style, it’s an ideal laundry basket material for your home.

First to catch my eye was undoubtedly the Oval Seagrass Storage Basket (£30), which is perfect for depositing loads of laundry around your home. It has integrated handles and sturdy construction to make the chore easier, while its stunning design looks far more expensive than its £30 price tag. I love the blend of rich, autumnal red and beige - it makes the basket look like fallen leaves.

Similarly, the Wicker Oval Laundry Basket (£35) offers the same function, but has a more traditional look. It combines classic woven wicker with a white fabric insert and bow to create a timeless style that won’t look out of place in any home.

Lastly, the Rectangular Bulrush Lidded Laundry Basket (£90) is large enough to hold the washing of a busy household, yet its simple, timeless look means it won’t take up too much visual space. It also tucks neatly along a wall or in a corner, taking up less physical space, too.

It’s also made from natural bullrush, a sustainable grass that grows in brackish water to help improve soil and water quality. It’s lidded and comes with built-in handles to keep dirty laundry out of sight.

These may be the newest additions to John Lewis’ pretty laundry baskets, but they’re not the only ones. Here are a few more styles that have caught my eye.

If you find your current luandry basket is a bit of an eyesore in your home, consider upgrading to one of these gorgeous woven alternatives.

There are some people who just seem to have laundry figured out. Their washing baskets never seem to overflow, clean clothes don't live in laundry baskets to be sorted later, and they always have somewhere to dry clothes indoors during autumn and winter.

Who are these people, you ask? Well, I'm about to tell you! As someone who tests the best heated clothes airers, steam irons and other laundry kit for Ideal Home, I've learned that a good laundry routine isn't necessarily about doing more washing. It's often more about having a few simple systems and the right tools in place to make sorting, washing, drying and putting clothes away that little bit easier.

According to the laundry pros I spoke to, there are seven things worth having in your laundry arsenal.

1. They own more than one laundry basket

One enormous laundry hamper might look tidier, but it can leave you with a mountain of clothes to sort before you've even got them to the washing machine.

'Separate laundry baskets make sorting as you go much easier,' says Emma Rawley, Product Development Director at Beldray. ' Stackable baskets (like this set of 2, £9.99 at Amazon) are great for separating lights, darks or different household members, while collapsible designs are ideal when storage space is limited.'

Mary Widall, Product Category Manager for Laundry at Minky, agrees. 'Using a divided laundry hamper is one of the simplest ways to make sorting easier, as clothes can be separated as soon as they're taken off rather than tackling one big mixed pile on laundry day.'

For larger households, she recommends giving each family member their own basket. Stackable versions like this laundry basket organiser (£37.96 from Amazon) are particularly useful as they make use of vertical space and can then be used to return clean clothes to the right room.

Shop pretty but practical laundry baskets

2. They use a versatile clothes airer

A reliable clothes airer is one of the first things I'd invest in for a smoother laundry routine, particularly in the UK where the weather can't always be relied upon.

'A good airer is another essential, particularly in the UK where drying outdoors isn't always an option,' says Mary. 'Choosing one that suits the size of your household and folds away easily when it isn't being used can help prevent laundry from taking over your living space.'

Emma recommends having a mix of drying options, such as a main airer for larger loads and a radiator or heated clothes airer when you need additional space or faster drying.

Catrin Parry, Buying Lead at Lakeland, also recommends an indoor/outdoor airer, like this Lakeland airer, £44.99, that can be folded without removing all the clothes if the weather suddenly changes.

The important thing is having a drying setup flexible enough that one rainy day doesn't bring your laundry routine to a halt.

Shop clothes airers you won't need to hide

3. They've invested in a heated clothes airer

If you regularly dry washing indoors, I think a heated clothes airer really comes into its own during autumn and winter.

Catrin recommends Lakeland's Dry:Soon Deluxe heated clothes airer, £169.99 (our top choice in our buying guide), which can hold a whole load of laundry and costs around 8p per hour to run, based on Lakeland's figures. She also suggests pairing it with a cover to help speed up drying.

However, you don't necessarily have to buy another airer. Mary highlights Minky's SureDRI Heat Pod Pro, £45 at Argos, which can turn a standard three-tier airer into a heated drying set-up.

Whichever method you choose, remember that drying clothes indoors releases moisture into the air, so ventilation is important too and is one of the main considerations when choosing a heated clothes airer and one of the main reasons why getting your hands on a good dehumidifier with a laundry mode is a real gamechanger.

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

4. They use mesh wash bags

This is possibly the smallest addition to the list, but it's one all three experts really rate.

'Wash bags are great for keeping delicates such as bras and smaller items together, while larger bags can be useful for washable trainers,' explains Emma. 'Using wash bags protects delicates and can help extend the life of clothing and also helps you keep socks together.'

Catrin similarly recommends using different mesh bags for bras, trainers and socks (like this set from Amazon has a selection of different sizes and shapes for items, £9.33) to stop smaller pieces disappearing amongst the rest of a load or becoming tangled.

They're inexpensive, take up virtually no storage space and can save time at the other end of the wash (which is an actual godsend). Anything that reduces the number of odd socks I'm dealing with is worth having!

5. They've got a laundry essentials caddy

It's much easier to stay organised when you're not searching through cupboards for stain remover or hunting for a peg bag every time you need to hang up a load.

Mary recommends keeping pegs, wash bags, stain removers and other frequently used products together in a dedicated storage caddy (this 10L capacity caddy is a great pick, £9.99 at Amazon) so they're always ready when you need them.

Even small accessories can make a difference. Mary recommends a peg bag that clips onto a belt loop to keep both hands free, like this drawstring bag from Minky, £7.99 on Amazon, while a no-peg dryer (this one on Amazon, £9.99 from Amazon, is perfect) can make hanging socks, underwear and other small items considerably quicker.

Catrina also singles out stain remover as a laundry essential (I really rate Dr Beckmann power brush stain remover, £2.75 on Amazon). Keeping yours within easy reach of the washing machine means you can treat stains immediately rather than discovering them again once the wash is finished.

Must-have laundry accessories

6. They have a quicker way to deal with creases

For many of us (ahem, me), washing and drying isn't actually the problem. It's the pile of clean clothes waiting to be ironed that brings the whole system to a standstill.

If you don't want to get a full-size ironing board out for every garment, Mary recommends a clothes steamer and steam pad for quick crease removal, or a tabletop ironing board for smaller jobs.

For larger households with substantial ironing loads, Catrin recommends investing in a good steam generator (I second this and recommend the Philips PerfectCare Steam Generator 8000, available at AO) and a sturdy ironing board to make the job quicker and easier.

It's also worth looking at how you're drying clothes in the first place. Mary recommends Minky's SureDRI Compact Drying pod (£79.99 at Amazon), which dries up to 10 garments on hangers while helping to release creases, potentially reducing the amount of ironing needed afterwards.

Shop our top-rated steam irons

7. They have a small-but-regular washing routine

The final thing people with the best laundry routines have isn't actually something you can buy. It's a system that stops washing from reaching overwhelming proportions (which is us on the daily here!)

Rather than saving everything for one enormous laundry day, the experts recommend tackling smaller loads regularly and, importantly, completing the whole process, which is where I fall short.

Catrin sums it up neatly: 'A cycle a day keeps the washing at bay.' Her approach is to wash, dry and fold rather than allowing clean washing to become another pile to deal with later, no matter how painful it is to sort through.

Emma agrees. 'Keep to small, regular loads and having flexible indoor and outdoor drying options means you're not relying on a sunny day to stay on top of the washing.'

And don't forget the final step. Mary says one of the biggest problems is the journey laundry has to make: 'from hamper to washing machine, to drying space, back to wardrobe.' Having baskets that are easy to carry (like these lovely Minky collapsible laundry baskets, £14.99 on Amazon) or keeping one upstairs and another downstairs can remove some of that friction.

Once everything is dry, Emma recommends folding and hanging clothes and putting them away straight away.

Shop easy-to-carry laundry baskets

Emma also makes an important point, which should give you and has given me, some comfort: sometimes it's okay to be behind. Laundry around the house is a normal part of life, so the aim isn't perfection. It's simply having a routine that makes the washing easier to get back on top of. Happy washing!

As someone who tests heated clothes airers regularly, I thought I had a pretty good handle on how to get the most out of one. However, with autumn approaching and indoor drying season almost upon us, I wanted to know if there were any simple tricks I was missing that could actually get clothes dry faster.

And since a lot of us will be relying on one of the best heated clothes airers to dry our laundry indoors, I asked Catrin Parry, Buying Lead for cleaning and laundry at Lakeland, and Mary Widall, Product Category Manager: laundry at Minky, how they use theirs to speed up drying.

It turns out that where you put your clothes, how you space them and even where you position the airer itself can shave valuable time off drying a load.

1. Don't overcrowd your heated clothes airer

This is probably the tip I need to take on board most because my default is always to get the most washing done in the least possible time. Which means I end up squeezing as much onto the airer as physically possible, but both experts warned against overcrowding.

'There's no fixed amount of space you should leave between garments, but not overlapping or allowing garments to touch each other improves warm-air circulation and helps clothes dry faster and more evenly,' explains Mary.

Catrin agrees, saying clothes shouldn't be 'packed too tightly' and that you need to allow the heat to circulate around them.

One trick I particularly like comes from Mary: rather than folding a garment tightly over one rung, she spreads it across two where possible. It takes up more space but exposes more of the fabric and stops clothes from sitting against one another.

2. Make the most of the hottest part of your airer

I've never actually given this much thought to which tier I use for different clothes (I sort of use instinct), but there's a good reason to be more strategic.

'Heat rises, so if there's something you urgently want first, put that on the top level,' says Catrin. She tends to put heavier towels lower down and lighter items near the top, along with accessories such as mesh shelves for delicates like these mesh shelves, £12.99 from Lakeland) and peg hangers (like these Dry:Soon peg hangers, £7.99 from Amazon) for socks.

Mary takes a slightly different approach and reserves that warmer upper section for garments that naturally take longer to dry. Either way, the important takeaway is that the top of your airer is prime drying real estate, so use it for whatever you most want to speed up.

Clever heated clothes airer accessories

3. Use a cover to trap the heat

If your heated airer has an optional cover, both experts are firmly in favour of using it.

'Yes, always,' says Catrin. 'It can really speed it up, trapping warm, relatively dry air and removing a couple of hours of drying time.'

Mary explains that containing the warmth creates a warmer drying environment rather than allowing all that heat to escape into the room. However, she stresses that ventilation is still important. A suitable cover should allow moisture to escape rather than simply trapping increasingly humid air around your clothes.

Mary also shared a clever trick I'll be trying now: 'In the evening, I'll often switch the airer off after a couple of hours and leave the cover on, allowing the residual warmth to continue helping the clothes dry overnight.'

4. Turn thick clothes partway through

You shouldn't need to constantly rearrange your washing, but particularly thick items can benefit from being turned partway through drying.

Catrin recommends doing this with heavier pieces such as jeans and towels because it takes longer for the warmth to penetrate thicker fabric. Mary also suggests rearranging jeans and jumpers to help speed things up, although she points out that every time you lift the cover, you'll release some of the warm air you've worked to trap.

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

5. Open clothes up as much as possible

Instead of hanging trousers with both legs together or leaving the sleeves of a top bunched up, Catrin says: ' Spread sleeves, open shirts, divide trouser legs, to allow the fabric as much contact with the airer as possible.'

Longer garments can also be hung over the outside rails rather than folded up inside the airer, leaving more space for warm air to move around the rest of our washing.

Essentially, the less fabric you have folded, overlapping, or touching other clothes, the better.

6. Where you put your airer matters more than you think

I've always been conscious of where I position a heated airer, particularly because drying a load of wet washing indoors inevitably adds moisture to your home.

Catrin recommends putting one in a utility room if you have room, underneath its cover and slightly away from the wall. Mary similarly advises choosing a well-ventilated room and giving the airer 'some breathing room' rather than squeezing it against a wall or into a corner.

And while a garage or bathroom might seem like a convenient place to hide an airer, Mary says a room that is already cold or humid could actually increase drying times. A reasonably warm, dry and well-ventilated space is preferable.

7. Get rid of the moisture your laundry releases

This is something I already do when I want to get washing dry quickly: I pair my heated airer with a dehumidifier.

Wet laundry releases a significant amount of moisture into the surrounding air as it dries. If that moisture is allowed to build up, you're essentially trying to dry clothes in increasingly humid conditions.

Mary recommends opening a window or using an extractor fan or dehumidifier where appropriate. 'Good ventilation helps manage humidity and condensation, while also reducing the risk of clothes taking longer to dry or developing a musty smell.'

Catrin agrees, explaining that you'll release excess moisture into your home whether you're using a heated or non-heated airer.

I already swear by running mine alongside a dehumidifier when I have a big load to get through, particularly when it's too cold or wet to open the windows.

Shop our top-rated dehumidifiers

The biggest lesson I picked up from the experts is that faster drying isn't about cramming as much washing as possible onto your heated airer (which is a huge mistake). It's quite the opposite.

Give clothes room, expose as much fabric as possible to the warmth and get excess moisture out of the room, and you have a much better chance of getting your washing dry quickly and efficiently.

Finding the right heated clothes airer for your home comes down to a few key things, including how much washing you regularly need to dry, the size of your household and, importantly, how much space you have to spare.

I've tested quite a few of the best heated clothes airers for Ideal Home, from compact options for smaller spaces to family-sized tiered airers and speedy drying pods. Through testing them with real loads of laundry in my own home, I've learnt which features genuinely make a difference and which are worth looking out for before you buy.

So I've rounded up the main considerations below so you can decide if a heated airer is worth buying for your family and household.

How to choose a heated clothes airer

1. Types of heated clothes airers

There are two main types of heated airers: heated drying pods and heated drying racks. A heated rack warms the rails to speed up drying, while a drying pod circulates warm air around clothes inside a cover.

In our tests, drying pods such as the JML DriBUDDI Heated Indoor Airer, £79 at Argos and Minky's heat pod, RRP £60 at Argos, were the fastest, drying clothes in roughly three hours. However, their fans make some noise, and they generally hold less washing, making them particularly useful for getting school uniforms and sports kits dry quickly.

Traditional heated racks are slower, taking around six to ten hours in our tests. However, they're silent, generally cheaper to run and can accommodate more washing.

If you're choosing a rack, we've generally found tiered models more effective than winged designs. More of the laundry sits close to the heated rails, whereas longer garments can hang below the heated sections of a winged airer and remain damp.

2. Their drying capacity

Check how much washing an airer can accommodate before buying. Capacity may be given in kilograms of laundry, metres of drying space or, for pod-style airers, the number of garments it can hold.

'The right heated airer size depends on how much laundry you regularly dry, the size of your household and the space available in your home,' says Mary Widall, Product category manager for laundry at Minky.

Mary suggests a compact model will generally suit one or two people, while a larger three-tier heated airer offers more drying space for a household of three or four. Larger families should look for maximum drying capacity and multiple heated tiers.

Catrin Parry, Buying lead for cleaning and laundry at Lakeland, gives a useful benchmark for a family-sized model. The Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-Tier Deluxe Heated Airer, £199.99 at Lakeland, offers 21m of drying space, holds approximately 15kg of washing (around two wash loads) and is well suited to a family of four. Its design is also more accessible from the front than the smaller mini and standard models.

However, bigger isn't always better. 'Avoid overcrowding; leaving space between garments improves warm-air circulation and helps clothes dry faster and more evenly,' Mary advises.

If floor space is limited, a vertical or tower-style airer can also provide plenty of drying capacity without taking up as much room.

3. Size and storage

Don't underestimate how much space a heated clothes airer can occupy once unfolded. Check the dimensions and think about where you'll use it, remembering you'll need access to a plug socket and enough room to move around it safely.

Storage is just as important, particularly if you don't have a dedicated utility or laundry room. 'One that folds up nice and compact' is Catrin's recommendation for homes where storage is limited. Look for a design that's quick to put up and collapse, and always check its folded measurements before buying.

Small practical details can make a difference here too. Lakeland's Dry:Soon models have handles at the top to make them easier to move, and optional wheels are available if you need to transport a loaded airer between rooms.

Some covers can even double up as storage solutions. Catrin explains that the Dry:Soon cover can be zipped flat around the airer once it's collapsed, so you don't need to find somewhere separate to store it.

If you already own a three-tier airer, another space-saving option is a system such as the Minky Heat Pod Pro (£45 at Argos). It sits underneath a standard three-tier airer and adds a cover and warm-air technology, so you don't need to store a second full-sized drying rack. Minky says it can dry clothes up to four times faster than air drying.

4. Covers

A cover is one feature I'd recommend looking for, as it can make a heated rack more effective.

'A covered heated airer can be more efficient than an uncovered one because the cover helps trap warm air around the clothes rather than allowing heat to escape into the room,' explains Mary. 'This creates a warmer drying environment and can help clothes dry faster.'

Catrin agrees: 'We'd always suggest adding the cover. It traps the heat in and dries things faster.'

However, ventilation is important. Look for a cover with vents that allow moisture to escape rather than trapping humid air around your washing, which can leave clothes damp or musty.

5. Energy use

Heated airers are generally much cheaper to run than a tumble dryer, but running costs vary depending on the model's wattage and your electricity tariff.

'A heated clothes airer is generally very economical to run,' says Mary. 'Most heated airers cost approximately 5p-15p per hour to operate, making them a lower-energy alternative to a tumble dryer.'

Lakeland puts the running cost of its Dry:Soon Deluxe at around 8p per hour, compared to approximately 65p for a standard tumble dryer. These figures are based on an average electricity unit cost of 26.11p per kWh as of July 2026, so actual costs will vary according to tariff and usage.

Don't judge efficiency on hourly running costs alone, though. It's also worth considering how quickly the airer dries clothes. A higher-powered model that finishes the job faster could prove more practical than a lower-powered airer that needs to run all day.

6. Features that make drying easier

Heat isn't the only thing that dries clothes quickly – airflow and how you arrange your washing are just as important.

Look for good spacing between rails, multiple heated tiers and enough drying room to avoid bunching garments together. Adjustable tiers are also useful for accommodating longer items.

'Give garments a good spin in the washing machine first, spread them evenly across the airer and leave gaps between items,' recommends Mary. 'Avoid overloading, as airflow is just as important as heat for achieving faster drying.'

A timer is another feature I find useful, particularly if you're likely to leave the airer running for several hours.

Also consider the accessories available for the airer you're buying. Mesh shelves can be useful for drying delicates or items that need to lie flat, while dedicated hangers can make better use of the available space.

7. Ventilation and humidity

A heated airer gets water out of your clothes, but that moisture has to go somewhere. Drying laundry indoors can increase the humidity in a room, so ventilation is an important consideration.

Catrin recommends leaving 'a small space around the airer for ventilation,' adding that heated airers can also make the room feel warmer. Depending on humidity levels, she suggests leaving a window on the latch to allow moisture to escape.

Mary similarly recommends using a heated airer in a well-ventilated space and opening a window or using an extractor fan or dehumidifier where appropriate.

Pairing a heated airer with a dehumidifier is actually one of my favourite ways to dry clothes indoors during autumn and winter. And it's a combination that both experts recommended.

As Catrin explains, 'The airer warms the fabric and the dehumidifier pulls the moisture from the surrounding air, which speeds up drying even more and prevents damp.'

Shop our favourite heated clothes airers

Ultimately, these are all the things I wish I'd known before buying my first heated clothes airer. Get them right, and you'll avoid any buying mistakes and own a model that suits your space, laundry loads and drying routine.

I am sure we can all agree that the right laundry basket can make washing and sorting clothes, sheets and towels easier. But if there’s one thing I’ve noticed this summer is that laundry baskets can be as pretty as they are functional - all rise for the pretty laundry basket.

In 2026, a laundry basket means more than an organised utility room, bathroom or bedroom. While for a long time, we at Ideal Home hailed the Joseph Joespeh Tota Laundry Basket as one of the best you could buy due to its sleek look and clever design, this year has proved we’re all craving a bit of colour.

Next recently dropped a statement bow-shaped laundry basket, and ever since, I’ve been seeing pretty baskets everywhere. Here are 12 of my favourites.

From the bold and colourful to natural and sophisticated baskets, my top picks prove that laundry baskets can be far from boring. If you crave order more than anything, opting for something like the Joseph Joseph Tota Laundry Basket is best suited to you, as it is genuinely effective at making sorting laundry faster and easier.

But if you want a basket that you'll be proud to show off in your home, why not opt for one of these bolder styles instead.

I can't say I’ve ever paid much attention to the aesthetics of a laundry basket until I spotted Next’s Natural Bow Laundry Sorter (£90). Its pretty design is proof that functional items can and should be beautiful.

When it comes to laundry, most will choose functionality over looks, but what if you could have both? Next’s stylish new laundry basket is not only perfect for sorting and separating laundry, but will make your utility room, bathroom or bedroom look better, too.

If you’re looking for small upgrades that will make your home look effortlessly cool, a statement laundry basket is a good place to start. But given that Next’s pretty storage solutions tend to sell out fast, get a wriggle on if you like what you see.

I’ve been burned by pretty Next products selling out fast before. When the Pink Stripe Frill Storage Drawers (£36) first dropped, they sold out faster than I could get my hands on them, and I’m not making that mistake again.

If you’re a fan of the bow trend that has been a huge home decor trend for a few years now, you’ll love this laundry basket. Its large, statement woven bow is what makes this basket a star. If you’re looking to add more characterful pieces to your home, a statement laundry basket like this will make your home look that little bit more whimsical.

While bows are trendy, let’s be honest, a little oversaturated now, I do think this laundry basket is a fun update on the look. Instead of adding pretty pink bows to candlestick holders, glasses, cushions or crockery, which is starting to feel a little tired, the oversized woven laundry basket bow is different. I’ve not seen it before. It’s a refreshing take on an existing trend.

And while it is very pretty, I also rate the Next Natural Bow Laundry Sorter due to the fact it is both space-saving and will make laundry easier. I immediately noticed how narrow in width the basket is, making it ideal for small households or homes that lack space.

The basket has two-sided sorting compartments - like the Joseph Joseph Tota Laundry Basket (£95) - which makes it a breeze to separate your washing. I also like how the basket is 100% paper and not plastic, which can make woven designs look quite cheap.

Right now, Next has loads of stunning laundry baskets on offer. Here are a few more of my favourites.

Now I know pretty laundry baskets are a possibility, you best believe I’m investing in one as part of a mission to make my home look more fun.

If there's one cleaning and laundry recommendation Stacey Solomon's Instagram followers always pay attention to, it's the products she uses herself. And according to Stacey, there's one appliance that's become so indispensable she has practically ditched her iron altogether.

Sharing the Sundu Portable 2-in-2 travel steamer iron from Amazon, on her Instagram, Stacey described it as 'THE best steamer ever,' adding that: 'I never use my iron anymore and take it EVERYWHERE with me.' So, if you've been searching for the best steam iron alternative for tackling quick creases, this compact gadget could be it.

Even better, the celebrity organiser spotted the handheld steamer with a hefty 40% discount on Amazon, making it a bargain at £29.98. 'I just went to find the link for all of you asking, and it's 40% off. I don't know how long it'll last as it sells out EVERY time I share it, but OMG 40% off is INSANE,' she told followers.

Stacey Solomon is no stranger to handy home gadgets and hacks, including her genius wardrobe storage ideas and laundry room essentials. But yesterday was the first time she shared her latest steamer obsession.

And it's easy to see why the compact gadget has become a staple in Stacey's household. As a busy parent juggling school runs and busy morning routines, I'm always looking for products that tackle inevitable last-minute clothing emergencies.

Whether it's smoothing out last-minute uniform creases without having to wrestle a full-sized ironing board out of storage, or tackling lightweight summer fabrics like linen, cotton and silks now firmly back in rotation, a quick blast can help freshen up crumpled outfits in seconds.

The Sundu combines both a clothes steamer and a travel iron in one compact appliance, allowing you to steam garments vertically or use it horizontally for more stubborn creases. It heats up in 15 seconds and offers four different modes, including a dry ironing setting and three steam levels. And the ceramic soleplate is designed to be suitable for a wide range of fabrics, including silk, cotton, linen and wool.

While full-sized steam irons certainly have their place, it's the portability of this handheld model that caught my attention. Weighing less than a kilogram and designed to fit neatly into luggage, it's a grab-and-go appliance that is great for taking on holiday, for tackling creases in your summer wardrobe, whether it's a crinkled dress straight from a packing cube or refreshing a shirt.

The 100 ml water tank offers up to 20 minutes of continuous steaming, which should be plenty for holiday outfits and quick touch-ups. And unlike other travel steamers that arrive with little more than the appliance itself, this one comes with a handy anti-scald glove, an insulated base if you're using it as a travel iron, measuring cup and storage bag, making it a really practical option for home and away.

One of the things I think everyone should know before buying a clothes steamer is that it's not designed to replace a full-size iron if you're tackling an entire family's laundry pile. But for quick outfit fixes, school uniforms, holiday packing and refreshing summer clothes in a hurry, Stacey's go-to steamer looks like a really useful addition to your utility cupboard.

At 40% off, it's also a deal that feels too good to miss. But do hurry, as Stacey has already said that some of the colourways have sold out already!

Of course, if your budget stretches a little further, I've tested several brilliant clothes steamers in my own home that are worth considering too, especially if you steam clothes regularly. Cue my top three.

Alternative clothes steamers I rate

If you haven't bought a clothes steamer for your home yet, I'd seriously recommend one. And maybe Stacey Solomon's favourite could be yours too!

Who else here hates doing laundry? I’ll raise my hand. Unfortunately, doing laundry is about as certain as death and taxes, which is why we’re always on the lookout for laundry solutions that make the job easier. And I’ve just spotted a good one - Dunelm’s Collapsible Wall Large Laundry Basket (£8).

An organised utility room is a key ingredient in making your laundry routine run smoothly. Dunelm’s latest space-saving solution allows you to organise and sort laundry loads, no matter how much or little space you have.

Utilising your home’s vertical space, I think this collapsible laundry basket is a clever design that will make laundry easy. If you’re short on space and time, here’s why I think it could be a game-changer for you.

The main thing I don’t like about doing laundry is how much space it takes up. I have a small flat, and sometimes sorting, folding and separating clothes can feel like it takes up so much space. While the best heated airers or best dehumidifiers are excellent at speeding up the drying process, I’m also keen to find something that makes organising laundry easier.

Of course, the cult Joseph Joseph Laundry Basket (was £110, now £77 at Argos), which is a favourite amongst the Ideal Home team, allows you to separate your clothes. It has a huge capacity of 90 litres to allow you to sort large amounts of laundry, without losing floor space.

The Dunelm Collapsible Wall Laundry Basket takes this one step further. Perfect for tiny spaces, it doesn’t take up any floor space and folds flat against the wall when not in use. It is 34cm L x 25cm W x 48cm D, making it a suitable size to hold a large load of laundry.

At £8, it’s also a fantastic price, and vastly cheaper than the Joseph Joseph model. The laundry basket fixes onto your wall with its built-in hanging hole. You could also use adhesives such as Command Strips if you’re renting.

The basket is a great choice for busy households. Why not invest in a few to keep around your house? For example, in the bathroom it can be used to collect dirty towels, while in the kitchen it can collect cleaning clothes and tea towels. Reviews also mention that it makes separating different clothes and items easier.

‘This has been a great addition to our kitchen. We’ve attached it to the side of a cupboard and use it to keep our whites separate before washing. It’s really sturdy, and the adhesive hooks are proving strong at the moment,’ said one.

If, like me, you’ve been left impressed by the clever design of this basket, you should check out these similar designs.

If you want to make your laundry routine easier, a space-saving solution like this one can save you both time and effort. It’s a win-win.

Laundry is not on anyone’s list of favourite household chores. I feel confident to bet money that not many of us enjoy completing this never-ending task. So, while on the hunt to make this essential cleaning job more bearable, I came across Dunelm’s Collapsible Wheeled Laundry Basket with Handles (£14), and I think it is a laundry game-changer.

Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s just a laundry basket, but anyone with an organised utility room will recognise the merits of Dunelm’s latest special buy.

With wheels for ease of use and a collapsible frame to make storage even easier, I think this affordable laundry basket could revolutionise your laundry routine. Here’s why.

Because doing laundry can be so unbearable, there are plenty of nifty products and ideas that make the process easier. From investing in one of the best heated airers to help loads dry fast, to following the 30-minute laundry rule to ensure clothes smell fresh, I love stumbling across a new way to make the job easier.

It’s also no secret that plenty of Ideal Home Editors love the cult Joseph Joseph Laundry Basket due to how easy it is to sort clothes. Now I think Dunelm’s collapsible laundry basket with wheels should join this hall of fame for handy laundry buys. The first feature to really catch my attention was its handy wheels. I don’t know about you, but lugging heavy loads of washing around the house always feels like a trip hazard - especially when you can see over the mountain of clothes in front of you.

With 360° rotating wheels, you’re less worried about where you’re putting your feet, making the task smoother and easier, and alot lighter than carrying the basket. It’s also a great feature for those of us with more limited mobility.

Secondly, its collapsible frame makes it a great clutter buster for small home dwellers. As someone who lives in a small flat, when my laundry basket is out, it feels like it takes up a ridiculous amount of space. By having a basket that can be folded and stashed away, you can help reduce the amount of visual clutter on show.

The laundry basket was designed with convenience in mind, and I’d say it nails the brief. However, it is a special buy, so we can assume that when it’s gone, it’s gone. So, I’ve tracked down a few more similar models.

If you’re someone who hates doing laundry or struggles lugging large loads around, a basket like this can be incredibly helpful.

It might be a tad chilly outside, but the minute we get a brighter spring day, I'm straight out to the washing line. After months of drying clothes over radiators and airers, even a cold-but-crisp afternoon is a great moment to get laundry outside.

But while I'm always keen to get the air around my laundry, save money on the running costs of my heated clothes airer and dry my washing fast without my tumble dryer, I've noticed that there's one small mistake that could be ruining my clothes, and probably yours too.

You might have noticed that if you peg your clothes in the wrong place, the pegs can create marks, stretch seams, make grubby marks and leave faded patches. Those little shoulder horns or shiny dents where the peg was holding the clothing tight are really annoying, so I wanted to see if there are any ways to avoid this from happening.

So I asked the experts why it happens and what you can do differently so your clothes remain unscathed.

Why peg marks are more damaging than you think

While wooden and plastic pegs are brilliant for keeping laundry secure, especially in the UK, where a sudden gust of wind can send your clothes flying.

'While a laundry staple, clothes pegs can sometimes leave pressure marks or small creases on clothing, especially when they are clipped too tightly or left on the line for too long,' explains Lauren Roelofs, Laundry Expert at Brabantia. 'This can be particularly frustrating when you want to wear something straight from the line.'

And because they grip tightly in one spot, there's a lot of pressure on a concentrated section of fabric, which can lead to permanent creases or dents, shiny marks, stretched shoulders and necklines (my personal pet peeve) and fading.

However, Laura Marsden, Vileda's laundry expert, says they are one of the easiest problems to fix. 'Making some small tweaks to your routine can unlock better results,' she adds.

The experts have shared the various ways you can minimise these annoying peg marks and fix the problem too.

How to avoid peg marks on clothing

1. Dry clothes inside out

One of the easiest ways to prevent peg marks is to turn garments inside out before hanging them, explains Laura.

'This not only reduces visible marks, but also helps prevent fading from sun exposure, which is particularly important for darker colours.'

2. Use hangers for shirts and delicate items

For shirts, blouses and anything more delicate, experts recommend hanging them on a hanger instead of pegging them up to avoid both peg marks and crease lines forming along the fold.

'For delicate fabrics, skip the pegs altogether,' explains Laura. 'Hanging items on clothes hangers prevents peg marks and helps garments to hold their shape.'

She recommends using a rotary dryer with hanger hooks to stop the hanger from slipping off the line. 'A great option is the Vileda Sun-Lift Rotary Dryer, £75 from Argos,' suggests Laura.

It features special hooks for hangers, to give additional drying space, but also offers 40 metres of line space (holding up to 3 wash loads). 'Plus, the patented line tensioning system allows you to keep lines perfectly tight,' she adds.

You can also buy a range of hanger hooks to add to your existing washing line.

Shop hanger hooks for washing lines

3. Hang items by their hems or seams

Lauren advises hanging garments from stronger seams, hems, or waistbands where possible, to avoid marks. 'Hanging at these points helps ensure any indentations are less noticeable than if pegs are placed across the chest or shoulders,' she explains.

Any tiny peg impression is far less noticeable at the bottom edge, and hanging tops this way, for example, will help them dry more smoothly.

Lauren adds that if you're drying t-shirts, you should turn them upside down to avoid shoulder bumps, and peg trousers by the waistband.

And Laura agrees, 'to minimise both creases and peg marks, fold trousers and jeans over the clothes line at the waistband.'

And if it's windy, you can secure them, peg at the hems instead. 'Any marks are far less noticeable at the bottom of the leg,' she explains.

4. Drape jumpers and dresses over the line

Heavier garments like knitwear and dresses are better draped over the line rather than clipped. Folding them over spreads the weight evenly and prevents the fabric from stretching under a single peg point, explains Laura.

'Fold the dress in half lengthwise and drape it over the line,' she suggests.

And the same goes for jumpers. 'Never hang sweaters by the shoulders, as this can cause stretching and misshaping. Instead, fold the sweater lengthwise and drape it evenly over the line. This distributes weight and reduces pressure from pegs.'

5. Use soft grip pegs to minimise marks

If you do need to peg garments directly to the line, switching to soft-grip or padded pegs can help reduce pressure on fabrics.

Heather Nixon, NPD and regulatory manager at eco-friendly cleaning brand Bio-D, says, 'There are also clothes pegs that have been created specifically to reduce marking - look for options with soft grips.'

These wider clips distribute the grip more evenly, which lowers the chance of dents, shiny patches or deep creases forming.

A good option is Brabantia's smart grips, £8.58 at Amazon or Minky Sure Grip Pegs, £6.39 at Amazon, which Minky's Laundry Accessories Product Manager, Olivia Coulthard, says have been specially designed with 'a unique soft grip pad that holds laundry securely in place on the line without leaving marks or damaging clothes.'

6. Use a drying rack outside instead of pegging clothes

Another expert trick is using a portable drying rack outside rather than attaching everything to the washing line.

This lets you lay delicate items flat or drape them gently over rails, avoiding the need for pegs altogether, while still benefiting from fresh air and the breeze.

'Some drying racks have a drying platform (flat-dry areas) to dry your delicate pieces,' says Lauren. Brabantia's Hangon drying rack is compact yet features flat-dry areas, RRP £70, at Amazon.

Olivia adds that if you have delicate items like socks and smalls, the Minky No Peg Airer, £11.99 at Amazon 'has twisted lines that grip items and keep them in place whilst drying either indoors or outdoors, making peg imprints a thing of the past!’

Shop top-rated clothes airers

How to get rid of peg marks on clothes

If you've already taken laundry off the line and spotted those peg dents, don't panic, as they can usually be fixed.

'If peg marks do appear, they can be easily removed with a quick iron or steaming,' suggests Lauren.

'If you don’t want to set up an ironing board, opt for a handheld steamer, and a steam board instead, like Brabantia's foldable steam board, £35.95 at Amazon. It’s a convenient way to refresh and smooth out your clothes with minimal effort.'

For lighter marks, you try spritzing the fabric with water, advises Heather, before ironing. Alternatively, smooth it with your hands before letting the item air dry.

Heather also recommends an ice cube to soften and release the fibres.

So there you have it! Making these small tweaks to how you hang your laundry can help your clothes keep their shape and last much longer.

However, do have a look at the laundry items you should never dry on a washing line before you set up your outdoor drying setup this year.

Laundry experts have issued a 30-minute rule to ensure your washing remains fresh and clean-smelling throughout winter, avoiding damp and mould in the process.

There’s nothing worse than doing a load of washing, only for it to end up smelling damp and musty at the end. While the best heated airers can help dry washing quickly in winter, without the use of an energy-guzzling tumble dryer, there are still precautions we must take to eliminate that horrible, musty scent.

This is where the 30-minute laundry rule comes into play. Removing clothes from your washing machine within 30 minutes of the cycle finishing is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to prevent your clothes from smelling musty. Here’s why.

What is the 30-minute laundry rule?

Drying laundry in winter is never an enjoyable task. While there are some instances where you can dry your clothes outside in winter, for the most part, we rely on airers and the best dehumidifiers to help dry our clothes fast. But if you’re finding your clothes don’t exactly smell fresh, you are likely leaving them in your washing machine for too long.

‘If your laundry smells musty after washing, it’s likely due to moisture being trapped rather than the clothes not being cleaned properly. Once a cycle finishes, the drum is still warm and damp, which creates an ideal environment for bacteria to develop if washing is left sitting inside,’ says Gwil Snook, Laundry Appliance Expert at AO.com.

‘Removing clothes within 30 minutes (or even sooner) is a good habit to get into, as it helps prevent that stale odour from forming. Leaving damp laundry in the machine for several hours can undo lots of the freshness you’ve just achieved with detergent and fabric softener, meaning you may need to rewash the load.’

Plus, leaving your washing in the machine for an extended period of time can also mean extra work when the time comes to whip your best iron out.

‘Leaving clothes in the drum after the cycle has finished can also cause them to crease and may require more ironing. If you have an integrated washer dryer, it’s worth switching the settings for this reason too,’ says Michael Forbes, lead product trainer at AEG.

If you are particularly worried about bad smells, bicarbonate of soda can also be used to neutralise odours.

‘Bicarbonate of soda can help neutralise odours, but it works best when used correctly. Adding a small amount alongside detergent during the wash can help tackle smells, particularly in hard-water areas, so it's worth checking if you live in one. But sprinkling it onto already damp clothes won’t fix laundry that has been left too long – in that case, a proper rewash is the better avenue to go down,’ says Gwil.

Make your laundry smell fresh all year round

It’s good to get into the habit of removing clothes from a washing machine as soon as the cycle has finished. This way, you can enjoy fresh-smelling laundry all year round.

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it’s a bit wet outside, and the constant rain makes drying bedding a nightmare - especially if you don’t have a tumble dryer. But as Stacey Solomon is the queen of finding gadgets we didn’t know we needed, I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s found the perfect solution: a spiral sheet hanger (£20.88 at Amazon).

Now, I’ve tried multiple ways to dry bedding indoors in winter, and most of the time I’m a sling-it-over-a-door-frame-and-hope-for-the-best kind of girl, as I don’t have a huge amount of space in my tiny home to do much else. But there’s no denying that Stacey’s new discovery has me intrigued.

With the spiral sheet hanger in tow, she managed to dry a king-size duvet cover without it taking over Pickle Cottage. And it can even be used on a washing line outside when the sun finally returns! That’s why I’m adding some to my basket immediately…

Stacey shared the new addition to her laundry routine on her Instagram stories, explaining why she chooses to dry her laundry without a tumble dryer - even though she has one in her spacious (and oh-so-stylish) utility room.

She wrote, ‘I’m actually so happy with this. I hate tumble drying my bedding because I feel like you lose that freshly washed smell, and it’s expensive. But when I hang it, it takes up the whole line, so this is a game-changer.’

After seeing it in action (this TikTok video shows you how it works), I do have to agree that it seems like a game-changer for those who struggle to dry large bedding items. The spiral gadget is just 15x15x5.5 inches in size, and it’s been designed to hang duvet covers, bed sheets, towels and even blankets - all while keeping creases and wind disturbance at bay.

Of course, the cynical part of me also wonders whether it’s a gimmick. So, I’d love to know what you think. But for just £20, I’m not sure I really care if it’s a gimmick or not.

Plus, Stacey seems to love it, and I’m certainly interested in trying it out for myself. But it’s worth noting that those who want to use it as a permanent fixture will need to drill a hook into their ceilings - and you can use these 16PCS Metal Ceiling Hooks (£3.95 at Amazon) to do that.

If you’re a renter or just a bit sceptical as to whether a spiral sheet hanger will form part of your permanent laundry routine, I have found these Self-Adhesive Heavy-Duty Large Hooks for Hanging (£13.99 at Amazon) that will simply stick to your ceiling - no drilling required - for a more temporary solution.

But whatever option you choose, a major perk of this spiral sheet hanger is that it can also be hooked onto your outdoor washing line in the summer or even in the winter when the temperatures allow - and it stops raining. So, you can free up more space to dry other items and dry multiple loads on one line.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you to heed some warnings, though. That’s because drying laundry indoors can lead to mould, and adding more moisture to an already-damp home caused by the cold and wet weather is a recipe for disaster. One of the best dehumidifiers can help with this, though.

Simply pop one of these bad boys next to your spiral sheet hanger, and you can speed up the drying process while also keeping damp and mould at bay. Just make sure you choose one with a ‘Laundry’ mode, and I’ve popped my favourites below.

Of course, if Stacey's latest find doesn't quite suit your laundry needs, it could be worth trying out one of the best heated airers instead.

If you're still struggling to catch up on the backlog of Christmas washing, then you need to get down to Aldi this weekend. Aldi has bought back its sellout heated airers and is also selling a dehumidifier, which will dry clothes in record time, despite the freezing temperatures outside.

A combination of the best heated clothes airer and the best dehumidifier can halve clothes drying times; however, most tiered heated clothes airers and good-sized dehumidifiers will easily cost over £100 each. That is where Aldi comes in. You can pick up the upright heated airer for £69.99 and the midi dehumidifier for £89.99, in-store from 11th January.

Aldi heated clothes airer

Aldi's upright heated airer sells out most winters when it's back in stock. While they are also selling a winged heated airer for £34.99, I think the upright heated airer is the best deal, despite it being more expensive.

You can find winged heated airers at Robert Dyas and Amazon for under £30, but with the upright heated airer, Aldi is the cheapest I've come across. The only exception I've found so far is at Argos, where the Argos Home 3-tier heated airer is on sale for £69.99, reduced from £105.

But it isn't just the deal aspect; I also personally find the upright, tiered heated airers more practical. The winged heated airers take up alot of space for the amount they dry. In contrast, the Aldi upright heated airer uses three tiers to dry more clothes with a smaller footprint.

If you do invest in one of the heated airers, my top tip would be to buy a cover to go over it to speed up drying times further. You can pick one up at Dunelm for £16 that will cover a 3-tier heated airer, but check the dimensions first.

Aldi dehumidifier

In the debate over whether a dehumidifier or a heated airer is best for drying clothes, the overall consensus is that they work best as a team because the dehumidifier sucks the moisture out of the air, which in turn helps to speed up drying time.

We haven't tested the Aldi dehumidifier, but from the specs, it looks to be a great value buy for the size at less than £90. Especially if you're on a budget and want to dry clothes faster and battle condensation at home.

The Aldi Midi dehumidifier is £60 cheaper than the best value dehumidifier we've tested at Ideal Home, the Dryzone Dehumidifier, which is £149 at Amazon. Both dehumidifiers have a similar extraction rate and water tank capacity. However, the Dryzone has a dedicated laundry drying mode and doubles as an air purifier, two features the Aldi version doesn't have.

Both the heated airer and dehumidifier are only available to purchase in-store; however, if you can't get in-store, here are a couple of other smart budget buys that will dry clothes faster.

Alternatives to speed up drying clothess

Don't forget to mark 11th January in your diary if you want to snap up Aldi's bargain heated airer and dehumidifier.

When we were thinking of remodelling our utility room, I was determined that it wouldn't just look better, but it had to work properly for us as a family of four.

Our utility room is quite possibly one of the hardest-working rooms in our house, and for a long time, it was a bit of an afterthought, so we planned every addition around how we actually do laundry as a family, not how the utility room idea looks (although that was important too).

Living with it now, over the past few months, I can safely say these are the choices that make me feel quietly smug every single day, from utility room storage ideas for essentials like the iron and ironing board, to a lovely little brass retractable washing line that neatly tucks away unnoticed.

1. A pull-out shelf between the washing machine and dryer

I'll start with the addition I didn't realise we'd use constantly: a pull-out shelf between the washing machine and the dryer. It slides out when needed and disappears again afterwards, which is ideal in a compact space.

It's become the perfect spot for sorting wet laundry, parking baskets mid-load, and folding small items straight from the dryer and also for housing the HoldAll collapsible laundry basket, £35, from Joseph Joseph, which folds completely flat when the shelf isn't in use.

2. Pull out laundry baskets for each family member

Instead of multiple laundry baskets sitting out on surfaces, we built individual pull-out shelves with these baskets, £14.69 from URBNLIVING at Amazon, that can be lifted off easily for each family member, which tuck away neatly in a cupboard. Clean washing is now sorted as it goes in, which makes wash days quicker and far less chaotic.

It's also made clothes easier to put away as everyone has their own basket, so clean washing makes it back to the right rooms. It's a small tweak, but it's paid off hugely.

3. A large sorting laundry basket

Alongside the built-in storage, we added the large Tota Trio 90L laundry separation basket, £200, which has become one of the most-used items in the room. It's brilliant for quick sorting dirty laundry into lights, darks and colours and carrying laundry down from upstairs with the inner fabric baskets which come with handles. We love the Tota so much, we wrote an article on it.

It's sturdy, well-designed and actually nice to look at, which is exactly what you want from something on show.

4. A pull-out cupboard for washing products

All detergents, stain removers and laundry extras now live in a pull-out cupboard right beside the washing machine rather than scattered across shelves or tucked behind doors.

Everything is visible at a glance, easy to reach and store upright, so there's no more knocking bottles over or accidentally buying duplicates. It's a seriously practical upgrade that makes day-to-day laundry faff feel smoother.

You can fake this in your own cupboards by buying pull-out organisers like these two-tier pull-outs, £20.99 from Amazon.

5. A retractable washing line for indoor drying

To keep drying contained to one space, we added a stylish little brass retractable washing line, £14.99 at Amazon, that tucks neatly away when not in use. It's ideal for delicates, school uniforms and anything that isn't suitable for the inside of the tumble dryer.

Because it pulls out only when needed, the room never feels cluttered, and I no longer have laundry draped over radiators everywhere else in the house. It's also set up in a good spot to place one of the best dehumidifiers to help speed up the drying process.

6. A laundry chute

Yes, added a laundry chute, and no, I haven't stopped enjoying it. Dirty clothes from the bathroom go straight from upstairs into the utility room, which means no endless piles to carry down.

It feels like a luxury, but in practice, it's just so practical. If you are doing even a small utility room remodel and have the chance to include one, I'd definitely recommend it.

7. One floor-to-ceiling cupboard for all the awkward essentials

My last but by no means least practical addition is a single tall cupboard dedicated to all the bulky, awkward bits, like our heated clothes airer, ironing board, iron and steamers, vacuum and mop.

Having these stored neatly in one place has made the whole space feel more organised, rather than like a dumping ground for whatever doesn't fit elsewhere. Just throw them all in and shut the door. Job done.

If you're not as lucky as we are to have a cupboard for your ironing board, a good trick is to invest in the Joseph Joseph IronHub storage caddy, £25 is a clever piece of kit to mount on a wall.

None of these small utility room ideas are overly flashy (well, bar the laundry chute), but together they've completely changed how our utility functions. Everything has a place, nothing feels forgotten, and doing laundry definitely feels far less of a chore (well, sort of!)

What do you think of my laundry room additions?

It’s this time of year when a heated airer really comes into its own, drying clothes quickly and efficiently, while it is too cold to dry them outside. And if you’re looking for an affordable option, George Home’s Silver Heated Winged Clothes Airer is currently £25, down from £40.

A heated airer is a handy bit of kit, but with a wide variety of models ranging in quality and price, it can be tricky to find the best deal. Aside from checking to see if any of the best heated airers are on sale, I also scour the middle aisles of Lidl and Aldi to hunt down a bargain.

Lidl is currently selling a heated airer for £29.99, and normally I’d argue you won’t find a better deal - that is, until I spotted George Home’s airer, which also has received some pretty good reviews.

If you’re wondering how long a heated airer takes to dry clothes, essentially whether they are worth it or not, the answer is just four to eight hours on average. Anyone who’s dealt with laundry taking closer to four days to dry on a standard airer in winter will know this is a great time.

Considering an energy-hungry tumble dryer can still take over an hour to dry clothes, a heated airer is a good investment to make. While it takes longer to dry clothes, heated airers are cheaper to run than a tumble dryer.

George Home’s Silver Heated Winged Airer is made from aluminium and weighs just 5kg, making it lightweight and easily transportable for your home. It also folds for easy storage.

Its foldable nature comes down to its large wings, which also expand the surface area for drying clothes when opened. When the wings are open, the airer is 54 x 147 x 94 cm in size, meaning it can happily handle a standard load of washing. Plus, it comes with a 100-day warranty.

By contrast, Lidl’s heated airer looks very similar. It has the same dimensions as George Home’s airer, so I can assume it holds a similar load size. While George Home has not shared information about how much weight their airer can hold, Lidl has. The Lidl airer has a drying space of 12m and can hold up to 15kg of laundry. As George Home’s airer is the same size, I predict it can hold a similar amount of washing.

Lidl’s heated airer also costs just 7p per hour (according to the October Ofgem price cap), meaning it won’t make too much of a dent in your energy bills to use. By contrast, George Home does not have this information available, but some reviews do comment that it is affordable to run.

‘Very practical, works efficiently, doesn't use much electricity, heats clothes dry quickly, very impressed, and use all year round. Amazing!’ said one.

‘Had this for several months, best thing ever, works best if you dry things flat and rotate often, but a saviour when the weather's wet and cold,’ said another.

If you can’t choose between the two, here are three recommended heated airers, tried and tested by the Ideal Home team.

While I’m normally pretty loyal to my local Lidl middle aisle, this time I will be heading to George Home. What about you?

If your laundry drying space is as compact as mine, you'll know the struggle. Enter a chic brass retractable clothes line, £14.99 from Amazon.

With too many damp clothes and not enough space to hang them, and one of the best heated clothes airers permanently hogging half the floor space, I knew I needed to find a space-saving solution fast.

So when I spotted this indoor retractable washing line, popping up on social media, hanging in some seriously stylish utility rooms and in a few novel spaces too, I immediately got the hype. Here's what I love about this clever little gadget.

It transforms a small utility without adding any extra clutter. The design is simple, too. It's a neat 9cm diameter box that fixes to the wall, with a slim wire line that pulls across the room, to click into a U-shaped buckle at any angle that suits your space.

Then it easily disappears back inside the box when you don't need it. And of course, there are lots of these on the market.

What's winning people over with this particular retractable clothes line, though, is the look of it. Unlike the plastic versions most of us grew up with, this one is actually stylish. The warm brass finish gives off pared-back boutique hotel laundry vibes and makes even the most hardworking room feel that bit more put-together.

It's also proving popular with TikTok organisers and Instagram interiors creators who love a dual-purpose space, including Chloe from Our Severn House, who set it up in her kitchen area.

Once you click the line into place, you firmly secure it using the lock switch. It can handle everything from school uniforms and delicates to towels and even quilts with its load-bearing wire that can handle up to approximately 15kg.

For small homes, renters or anyone who doesn't have room for permanent drying racks, it's easy to see why this one is becoming a favourite. And as someone who's constantly battling for drying space, this brass retractable line feels like the kind of small, affordable upgrade that genuinely makes everyday life easier.

It's no wonder this washing line is everywhere. It's stylish, discreet and endlessly useful. But get your hands on one, stat, as it keeps selling out!

Shop these alternative retractable washing lines

It's a tiny change, but it's already making my utility space function so much better.

If you're short on room or simply want a drying solution that doesn't look like an eyesore, this little brass line is the kind of smart, space-savvy upgrade that earns its keep.

Drying clothes in winter is my pet peeve and a household headache that I can never get used to, and sometimes we're left to wait a few days for our laundry to dry properly.

My knitwear is the worst culprit. It's thick, slow-drying and prone to that musty smell the longer it takes to dry. And one of the biggest winter annoyances is not just that the washing takes ages to dry, but that we panic about the cost if we switch on a tumble dryer or crank up the heating.

That's what made me want to try the budget-friendly Addis Heat Pod and Cover, £39.99 from Wilko that's quietly making waves online. It's a simple but surprisingly effective way to speed up drying without sending your energy bills soaring the process.

It promised fast drying without the bulk or energy use of a tumble dryer or one of the best heated clothes airers. And I have to say, I'm impressed.

It's a clever add-on that transforms an ordinary airer into a compact heated drying system. It's a small tweak to my setup, but one that quietly made a big difference to my energy bills and my sanity.

You attach the small heating unit to the base, zip the cover around your airer, and warm air circulates through the enclosed space, drying clothes evenly and efficiently.

It's designed to cut drying time, reduce creasing and prevent heavy, musty smells that often linger on laundry left hanging for days.

After a few weeks of use, I can safely say it's made drying clothes in my house much easier. The things that always take forever to dry, like my chunky knitwear and heavy jeans, are now ready in around half the time they usually take on an unheated airer.

Running costs are reasonable, too. The Heat Pod uses roughly 850W of power and costs roughly 25-30p per hour to run, putting it in the same energy-saving bracket as some of the best heated airers.

Addis says it's compatible with most three-tier airers, so you don't need to buy a whole new frame. It fits mine, so all I had to do was fit the heat pod and cover to the one I already had. Bonus.

AT £39.99, it feels like one of those practical winter buys that genuinely earns its keep.

It's compact, energy-conscious, and helps me stay on top of laundry without heating the whole house just to dry a few much-needed jumpers.

If you, like me, are fed up with damp clothes hanging about the house, this could be the upgrade that finally makes winter laundry manageable again.

If I haven't convinced you on this Addis model, here are three others that have great online reviews, too.

Shop these alternative heat pods

Simple, affordable and genuinely useful, the Addis Heat Pod has earned a permanent spot in my winter laundry routine. Now all you need is a winning dehumidifier to make drying even quicker.

When you're short on space, the laundry pile seems to take on a life of its own, which is a daily struggle in my house.

My tiny utility room just about fits a washing machine and a tumble dryer, an ironing board and some sorting space.

But after swapping a few everyday bits for some smart, space-saving laundry solutions from Joseph Joseph, my laundry zone finally feels streamlined, calm and dare I say, enjoyable to use.

Here are the five clever buys that genuinely make my utility room work harder for me.

1. The Hold-All collapsible laundry basket

The HoldAll collapsible laundry basket, £35, from Joseph Joseph is one of those products you don't realise you need until you have it. My old basket lived permanently on the worktop, taking up half the space.

It folds completely flat when not in use, so it can be tucked on the top of your washing machine and pops open in seconds when you need it. It's sturdy, easy to carry, has a large capacity and wipes clean.

2. The Glide compact ironing board

I've tested some of the best ironing boards around, and the Glide compact ironing board, £135 is a great small space buy if you still want a full-height board.

It's slim enough to slot behind a door or inside a tall cupboard, which I'm lucky to have installed, and it has a built-in hanging hook for easy storage. The legs also lock securely, so you can carry it with one hand. It's lightweight but feels sturdy.

3. The Tota Trio Luxe 90L Ecru Laundry Separation Basket

One big laundry basket never worked for us as it was always overflowing, and it felt unmanageable to have to sort the endless piles of tiny kids' clothing.

The Tota Trio 90L laundry separation basket, £200 has three removable fabric bags so I can instantly separate lights, darks and colours. Each bag has handles, so I just lift it straight to the machine. It's a game-changer for keeping everything in order.

4. The IronHub wall-mounted iron storage caddy

I can't tell you how much I genuinely love this simple but brilliant caddy. My iron and board used to float around awkwardly, never with a proper home.

The IronHub storage caddy, £25, fixes neatly to the wall, keeping the iron and its cable tucked away safely, and there's space to store the board underneath. I have it tucked in a cupboard, and it makes lifting the iron and board so much easier.

It'll make any utility space look more intentional and less cluttered to boot.

5. The Petal Quick-grip Ecru Drying Hanger

Pegging out smalls used to drive me mad (and sometimes still does). Socks, pants, and reusable cleaning cloths all slip off my clothes airer. The Petal quick grip hanger, £16 solves that in one go.

It opens like a flower, gripping items firmly without leaving any marks. You can hang it on a heated clothes airer or even over a washing line, and it folds neatly away again after everything's dry.

Tiny laundry spaces are a test of patience, but I can honestly say that with the right kit in the form of these Joseph Joseph buys, it's now a space that feels like it genuinely works for us as a family.

Will you be investing in any of these genius buys?

Drying laundry indoors presents a unique challenge: you're fighting against humidity, poor ventilation and often cooler temperatures. And while a regular dehumidifier will help by pulling moisture out of the air, not all are great at handling actively wet laundry.

What you really need is a model that can shift large volumes of moisture super efficiently, maintain airflow and run reliably while doing so. That's why, after comparing specifications from our best specifications, features and feedback, the ProBreeze 20L/Day model with laundry mode, RRP £199.99 on ProBreeze, is the one I'd pick.

It didn't quite make it into the top 6 in our best dehumidifiers buying guide, but it's still highly commended in our runners-up section. And here's what makes it stand out as one of the best for drying clothes indoors in winter.

The ProBreeze Premium 20L Dehumidifier with Special Laundry mode is designed to extract up to 20 litres of moisture from the air every day, which makes it ideal for busy households that dry a lot of clothes inside regularly.

There's a generous 5.5 litre water tank, which is large enough to cope with several loads of washing before needing to be emptied. And if, like me, you'd rather not keep checking on it, you can attach the continuous drainage hose so excess water runs away automatically.

However, what really sets this dehumidifier apart is its dedicated Laundry Mode, which our reviewer deemed excellent. This one-touch setting ramps up the fan speed and extraction rate to tackle damp laundry more efficiently.

Essentially, it tells the unit to work at full power until the surrounding air has dried out, so it's perfect for those evenings when you've got clothes hanging on an airer and need them ready for the school run.

So, if you regularly dry laundry indoors and want a dehumidifier that can genuinely make a difference, this is the one I'd choose. It's powerful, reliable and thoughtfully designed for family washing loads.

The Laundry Mode takes the guesswork out of drying – you simply switch it on, shut the door and let it get to work. It helps prevent that musty, lingering dampness that can build up in busy homes during autumn and winter.

It's not the cheapest on the market, but it's a solid long-term investment, and right now there's £30 off, so make sure you snap on up before the offer ends!!

Alternative dehumidifiers with laundry modes

Will you be getting your hands on a dehumidifier with a dedicated laundry mode? Let me know in the comments.

As much as I love the smell of freshly washed clothes, I know that drying them indoors can quickly create problems in the autumn/winter. When the weather turns cooler, it's tempting to keep laundry inside, hoping it will dry overnight, but turns out, what's really happening is that lots of water is being released into the air.

'Whilst air drying laundry in winter consumes little to no energy vs using a tumble dryer, it is a surefire way of contributing to excess moisture in the air as the water evaporates, especially when drying wet clothing over radiators,' explains Noel Fok, co-founder of EcoAir.

'Excess moisture in the air can lead to an array of issues, the main ones being a build-up of condensation, damp, or mould. These problems will then inevitably cause damage to home furnishings, décor or structural issues, which can be costly to fix, but at their worst, can make people living in the household unwell.'

And according to government data, up to 6.5 million homes in England alone are affected by damp and mould, putting families at risk of respiratory issues and allergies, a figure that spikes in autumn and winter when ventilation naturally drops.

So I got some top tips from Daily Poppins' laundry expert Nigel Bearman on how to dry laundry safely indoors.

How to dry laundry safely indoors

'People often think damp is just a cosmetic problem, a bit of black mould on the wall or condensation on the windows, but it can have real health consequences too, especially for children, the elderly or anyone with asthma or allergies,' says Nigel.

He then adds that 'if you're willing to invest, a good dehumidifier can also help remove excess moisture from the air, but following these simple cost-free tips should keep your home dry until the weather cools further.'

My top-rated dehumidifiers for drying laundry

1. Ventilate strategically

One of the most important things to do is to ventilate, and 'people often think they need to keep every window closed the second the temperature drops, but that's a mistake when you're drying laundry inside,' explains Nigel. Even in colder weather, opening a window slightly or keeping a trickle vent open can make a huge difference.

'You don't need to freeze yourself out, but even opening a window slightly for 10-15 minutes while your clothes are drying creates a cross-breeze that pushes that moist air out and pulls fresh air in. That little bit of airflow is huge for stopping condensation from building up on cold surfaces, which is where mould loves to start growing.'

2. Don't overload rooms

One of the many tips I've picked up from my mother-in-law is that it also helps to avoid overloading your airer. Giving clothes enough space between each item means air can circulate properly, helping them dry more evenly and quickly. Better still, invest in a large heated clothes airer like Dry:Soon's Deluxe 3-tier heated clothes airer, £199.99, Amazon, to make it easier and faster to dry.

However, Nigel also says that 'it's tempting to think 'one big wash and it's done,' but trying to dry a mountain of damp clothes in one small room is like walking into a sauna. All that water has to go somewhere, and if it's all concentrated in one space, the air just gets supersaturated with moisture.'

Instead, he says, 'if you can, just spread your laundry loads across the week. It's easier on your energy levels and, more importantly, it drastically reduces the moisture load in your home, making it much easier for that water to escape before it causes trouble.'

3. Use moisture-absorbing materials

Finally, use moisture-absorbing materials to give your home a helping hand. Simple actions like a moisture tray in corners, like UniBond's Aero 360 humidity absorber, £15 from Amazon, or a dessicant dehumidifier like this Lakeland small reusable dehumidifier, £24.99.

'For a more immediate, affordable and controlled solution, a dehumidifier can successfully restore and maintain the correct moisture levels in the home. A desiccant model will also eliminate any microorganisms that pass through the unit due to its internal heat, so it doubles up as an air purifier for added peace of mind,' explains Noel.

And Noel provides another nifty trick to dry your laundry quicker without a tumble dryer or dehumidifier: 'Clean, dry towels are naturally absorbent. If you place one right under or near your drying clothes, it acts like a sponge, drawing moisture out of the air and the clothes themselves. It’s essentially a cost-free, passive dehumidifier! Just remember to hang up the towel to dry or pop it in the wash afterwards so it doesn't get damp itself.'

Drying laundry indoors might feel like a convenient shortcut, but it can quickly lead to mould and poor air quality. A few small changes and a dehumidifier in the right place, if you can stretch to one, will keep your home dry and comfortable during these colder months.

Let me know if these top tips are helpful in the comments!

When the colder months roll in and getting washing dry becomes one of the hardest working bits of kit in my home. I've tested a few over the years, but the Lakeland Dry:Soon 3-tier heated airer and its cover, which is currently £85 off, is a model that has consistently appeared in our best heated clothes airer guide.

The bundle is currently £159.98 at Lakeland, right now from a combined £244.98, if you bought the airer (usually £199.99) and the cover (£44.99) separately. You're effectively getting the cover completely free, and a good whack of cash off the airer too. Plus, you've got free standard delivery and Lakeland's 3-year guarantee included, which is always a bonus.

Considering how quickly these sell out every autumn, I'd say it's well worth jumping on before stock runs low. Here's why we think this is a deal not to miss.

Lakeland's bestselling heated clothes airer is one of my favourites because it offers 21 metres of drying space, enough for around two full loads of washing. Plus, it's great for those who have limited storage space as it folds flat.

The running costs are also low in comparison to using a tumble dryer, at approximately 9p per hour, making it one of the most energy-efficient ways to dry laundry indoors in winter.

However, here's the reason why this deal is different to the rest: the cover. The heated bars warm up gently and evenly, which makes clothes dry faster. Teaming that with the fitted cover will make it even more effective as it'll help trap warm air inside.

The cover features mesh panels and sides to stop the heated airer from overheating, and these also allow moisture build-up to escape.

So, if you're tired of waiting days to dry your clothes, this bundle really is worth the investment.

For me, investing in a heated clothes airer has really paid for itself several times over in saved tumble dryer cycles alone. And now that there's a deal like this for both a best-selling airer and a cover, it's the best time to buy if you're still on the fence.

But hurry, this discount definitely won't stick around for long, so snap one of these up while stocks last.

Heated clothes airer deal alternatives

This is not the only heated clothes airer on offer at Lakeland for a limited time only. Here are our top picks to snap up quickly.

Will you be getting your hands on one of these Lakeland Dry:soon heated airers? Let us know in the comments.