Drying Racks in the Bathroom

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...

A few sources for bathroom drying racks:
• Cartwright Wall Drying Rack from Restoration Hardware, on sale for $115 (reg. $229)
• Bathtub Laundry Drying Rack from Stacks and Stacks, $33.99
• Accordion Drying Rack from the Container Store, $29.99
• Amish-Made Wall-Mounted Dryers from Lehmans, $22 - $33
• Space-Saving Laundry Airer from Lehmans, $75

Photo: Cartwright Wall Drying Rack from Restoration Hardware

Comments (14)

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.

"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...

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.

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.

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...

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

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.

"Retractable clothes lines have been around forever. "

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

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).

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.)

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.

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.

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