apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Drying Racks in the Bathroom

3-27-09dryingrack.jpg

We tend to use our shower curtain rod as a drying rack for hand-washed clothing. It's not the most attractive solution, but it works. For those who want a more organized system, there are several wall-mounted drying racks made specifically for the bathroom. Some of them even fold up into closed cabinets so that you don't have to air your dirty laundry when guests stop by...

 
 

Tags

Bathroom, green ideas

Related Links

Share

Comments (18)

I love this gadget. It is perfect for a small space like a studio apartment. I am going to be on the lookout for one of these. Thanks.

posted by dkzody on March 27th 2009 at 1:36pm
view dkzody's profile

Air dirty laundry? I thought the drying racks were for clean laundry to dry...

posted by bromelia on March 27th 2009 at 1:42pm
view bromelia's profile

"Some of them even fold up into closed cabinets so that you don't have to air your dirty laundry when guests stop by..."

Somehow I suspect that nobody's going to be able to leave their towels on this, then close up the cabinet...

posted by bepsf on March 27th 2009 at 1:43pm
view bepsf's profile

Here's a great idea that I saw (I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it).

In the bathtub or shower area (bathtub is better because it's usually 6' long) I saw this fixture on the wall. It looked as if it could have been a faucet handle but it was in fact a device which had a coiled nylon cord inside of it. You pull the cord and on the other end of the tub wall is a little hook to attach it--so you can hang your stuff to dry! I've been meaning to search for it online. I couldn't imagine it costing more than 50 bucks.

A shower curtain rod has been acting as a clothes line at my house because only the bath tub is being used, not the shower and there is no need for a shower curtain.

posted by art on March 27th 2009 at 1:44pm
view art's profile

Art, It's relatively cheap, I think 10-20 bucks at Bed, Bath and Beyond. First saw it in a hotel in Japan. Genius unless you have tiles..then difficult to install.

posted by lu2lin on March 27th 2009 at 1:47pm
view lu2lin's profile

Fabulous!

posted by Shalom's Cottage Home on March 27th 2009 at 1:52pm
view Shalom's Cottage Home's profile

Art,

I've been considering getting an indoor retractable clothesline as well. My wooden foldable rack isn't holding up so well...got it last summer.

The first retractable I saw was in a hotel a few years ago kinda like this one: http://www.organizeit.com/poclothesl.asp

I like the look of metal over the plastic ones though...

posted by heatherdolores on March 27th 2009 at 1:57pm
view heatherdolores's profile

Now that is great, I wish I had the space for one. Like the laundry room idea too.

posted by LoriSF on March 27th 2009 at 1:57pm
view LoriSF's profile

Having grown up in Europe, always having to avoid becoming entangled in the family unmentionables overhead whilst showering in a crouch with that awful snake dancing hose, the only thing I will ever allow to dry in my bathroom is a towel.

posted by bromelia on March 27th 2009 at 1:59pm
view bromelia's profile

Retractable clothes lines have been around forever. They used to be standard in all hotels, once upon a time. They are useful. Time for a comeback as more people are going green and air-drying.

posted by arroyo on March 27th 2009 at 2:15pm
view arroyo's profile

"Retractable clothes lines have been around forever. "

Indeed - Every single cruiseship stateroom has one in the bathroom.

posted by bepsf on March 27th 2009 at 2:19pm
view bepsf's profile

I'll be the first to admit that I may be slow to some things.

The retractable clothes line was indeed in a hotel room.

If I'm not mistaken there is a tip in the AT archives for drilling through tile (if that should be seen as a deterrent).

posted by art on March 27th 2009 at 2:22pm
view art's profile

Dry your clothes on the line outside - you get fresh smelling laundry. Dry it in the bathroom - you get mildew.

posted by bromelia on March 27th 2009 at 2:48pm
view bromelia's profile

I'm hopelessly in love with these stackable flat racks for drying heavy knits that will stretch out of shape when hung:
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=77008&PRODID=60112

I knit, so I'm always handwashing my sweaters, and they dry so much faster than on a towel on the floor. (not to mention that it looks a whole lot nicer, and I can move the racks while stuff's still wet.)

posted by lmk on March 27th 2009 at 3:03pm
view lmk's profile

Never been on a cruise ship nor do I care to but I understand having these in homes near the ocean. Grew up across the street from the beach and now live in an environment where moisture is a bad thing I just throw my towel after I shower into the dryer for a bit, I also hate hanging a wet towel hanging on the shower curtain rod.

posted by LoriSF on March 27th 2009 at 3:11pm
view LoriSF's profile

I have one of these hanging near my washer/dryer
http://www.organize.com/closetvalet.html

I use it to hang up things as they come out of the dryer, and also to hang hand washables on plastic hangers to dry.

posted by mrs yow on March 27th 2009 at 4:58pm
view mrs yow's profile

oh good one mrs yow I could use one of those and takes up no space.

posted by LoriSF on March 27th 2009 at 5:41pm
view LoriSF's profile

http://www.amazon.com/Castello-Dryer-Eack-Separately-White/dp/B0002IOKME/ref=sr_1_77?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1238197678&sr=1-77

I have one of these and never saw anything better - it folds flat, can be easily moved on wheels, you can unfold only half of it or only the top to dry shirts on hangers, it's great for drying flat sweaters...

posted by bromelia on March 27th 2009 at 6:50pm
view bromelia's profile

Feeds

RSS icon Chicago

+ City Feeds