A convenient and practical clothes dryer for the balcony is the dream of any housewife. This is especially true if there are children at home, because in this case the amount of washing increases several times. Of course, you can dry it at home, for example, in a bath or room, but in this case the air humidity in the apartment may increase significantly.
Drying clothes in an apartment can cause the wallpaper to peel off, the room or bathroom immediately takes on an untidy appearance, and the space is “eaten up.” Therefore, if your home has a balcony, it is best to install the dryer there. Modern stores have a huge selection of devices for every taste, from large and stable, but taking up a lot of space, to compact and small. When choosing, it is recommended to focus on top ratings compiled by experts and reviews from owners.
Criteria for choosing a clothes dryer for a balcony
When choosing a product in a store, you should consider several important parameters:
- appearance;
- material;
- dimensions;
- price.
First of all, the dryer should harmonize well with the interior, especially if the balcony in the house is a separate room, and not a warehouse for unnecessary things. If there are children at home, the design should not have sharp corners so that a child who accidentally touches the dryer does not get injured.
Currently, devices designed for drying clothes on the balcony are made from different materials. The cost of the product largely depends on the material. The most popular designs are made of plastic. The advantages of plastic dryers are lightness and compactness, convenient shape, interesting appearance and the ability to choose a product of absolutely any color. But it is better to give preference to a metal structure, because they are more durable and stable.
If you purchase a product without first measuring the area of the balcony, an unpleasant surprise may occur: the dryer simply will not fit into the free space. Therefore, one of the main selection criteria is suitable dimensions. Before purchasing equipment, you should arm yourself with a tape measure and take all the necessary measurements, only after that you can go to the store. The standard dimensions of the dryer are indicated in its technical data sheet.
Another important factor to consider when purchasing equipment is cost. A good dryer cannot cost less than 2-3 thousand rubles, because this price includes a warranty, instruction manual and all the components necessary for self-assembly of the product (for example, mounting hardware). It is recommended to purchase products from well-known brands, because such companies value their customers and, as a rule, offer really high-quality items. A cheap thing will break very quickly.
Also, before purchasing equipment, you should decide on the amount of laundry to be dried at one time. Each dryer has a maximum load limit; if you exceed it, the structure will not withstand it and may break, then all the clothes will fall. Models with different load limits designed for drying are available for sale:
- underwear or children's clothing (light weight);
- bed linen;
- warm outerwear.
It is also necessary to take into account such an important factor as saving space. For drying underwear and children's clothes, it is recommended to choose compact models that do not “eat up” a lot of space.
If the family plans to keep the dryer either on the balcony or in the room, transport it or take it with them to the dacha, it is better to choose a folding model that easily fits in the washing mashine.
Dryers can be external or internal. The internal ones are located within the balcony, the external ones are fixed metal rods with ropes stretched between them, which extend beyond the balcony. Thus, in the second case, the laundry is dried in the fresh air, and not in a confined space.
The main advantage of external dryers is that the equipment does not “eat up” the space on the balcony. However, there are also significant disadvantages:
- linen can absorb extraneous odors from the street (for example, if neighbors smoke, it can become saturated with tobacco);
- neighbors above can damage things by accidentally spilling or throwing something from the balcony;
- If the laundry is poorly wrung out, drops of water can fall onto the balcony of those living below.
If the maximum load limit is exceeded, the structure may collapse.In this case, both metal bars and laundry with broken ropes will fall onto the street, causing damage to the neighbors below. The walls of the balcony on which the dryer was mounted may also be damaged.
To dry baby clothes with a small load, it is better to give preference to an external dryer. When clothes are dried in the fresh air, and not inside a confined space, they acquire a pleasant aroma, and all allergens and detergent residues are also removed in the fresh air. However, to dry large items (outerwear, bed linen), you should purchase only an internal dryer. It can be floor-mounted (if the balcony slabs are in good condition) or wall-mounted.
What material are clothes dryers made of?
Clothes dryers are available in different materials:
- wood, chipboard, fiberboard;
- metal (stainless steel);
- plastic.
You can make the simplest wooden dryer with your own hands. The main advantages of wood are that it is an environmentally friendly material that does not cause allergies and, unlike plastic, is hard and resistant to external influences. However, wood also has significant disadvantages.
Firstly, wood easily absorbs foreign odors, such as detergents and powders. Secondly, with constant contact with wet laundry, wood that is not properly treated is gradually affected by fungus. This may cause mildew stains to appear on your laundry.
Plastic dryers are convenient in all respects. They are good to use for small amounts of laundry. However, if you systematically exceed the permissible load limit on the product, soon the plastic structure will begin to sag.When purchasing a plastic product, you should sniff the dryer: an artificial “chemical” smell indicates that the structure is made of a cheap, flammable and allergy-causing material. If people smoke on the balcony, such a dryer can easily catch fire.
It is best to choose metal structures. Metal has many advantages, for example:
- strength;
- long service life;
- spectacular appearance.
Typically, structures used for drying are made of stainless steel, but other options are possible. In this case, before purchasing, you need to make sure that all metal parts are protected with an anti-corrosion coating.
For outdoor balcony dryers, from which clothes are hung with clothespins, the ropes should be made of durable synthetic material. Before purchasing, you should pull the ropes firmly to check whether they can withstand heavy loads. In some cases, the rope is replaced with fishing line. This option is more reliable and convenient. Sometimes the cord is made from natural materials (cotton), but such a rope quickly becomes dirty, becomes thinner and breaks. Cotton cords are usually found in budget economy class models. In any case, if desired, you can replace the cord with a new one, if the design of the dryer allows this.
For some models, the body is made of metal, and the accompanying parts are made of plastic. Such products look original and fit well into any interior, and due to the reduction in the proportion of metal, the design weighs less and is more compact.
It must be borne in mind that all-metal models are not only the heaviest in weight, but also the most expensive. Wood costs a little less, and plastic is affordable for almost everyone.Also, when purchasing, you should pay attention to the material from which the components intended for installation are made. Metal fittings are preferable to plastic ones, as they are more reliable and can withstand greater loads.
Outdoor clothes dryers
In Soviet times, this type of dryer was traditionally used in almost all small apartments. The most primitive outdoor clothes dryer installed on a balcony consists of two metal pipes, which are located parallel to each other and are mounted on two opposite walls of the balcony, facing outside. Ropes are fixed and stretched between these pipes, onto which the housewife attaches the washed laundry using clothespins. Currently, despite the emergence of a large number of new, more convenient models, outdoor dryers have not lost their relevance at all. However, their appearance has changed slightly. Compact mini-models began to be produced that do not take up much space and do not spoil the appearance of the facade of a multi-story building.
It is necessary to note the following disadvantages of external devices for drying clothes:
- not suitable for hanging bed linen and large items (for example, outerwear);
- washed items must be secured with clothespins, and during this painstaking work there is a high risk of dropping the clothespin down;
- clothes that are dried outside may become soiled by bird droppings (on upper floors) or pick up the smell of exhaust fumes from passing washing mashines (on lower floors);
- if things are poorly wrung out, water will drip down, which may cause discontent among neighbors;
- Over time, the ropes sag, the tension becomes worse, and the laundry sags.
Also, if there is a cat at home, the animal, attracted by the swaying of empty ropes in the wind, may perceive the cord as a toy and pull it down, reaching for it. Such cases occur quite often.
However, progress does not stand still, and modern outdoor dryers are much more convenient than twenty years ago. The main advantages of this design:
- new models are painted in the color of the facades of multi-storey buildings, so they do not spoil the appearance and do not offend the aesthetic feelings of others;
- for most models, the cord can be removed if the product is not used for its intended purpose, so the rope does not have to be washed and cleaned;
- Outdoor models tend to be cheaper than indoor ones.
This option is ideal for those who live on the upper floors and are afraid to purchase floor equipment for drying clothes. Because the balcony slab is not in the best condition. The load is created only on the walls.
When using an outdoor balcony dryer, it is necessary to distribute the laundry evenly. It is necessary to start hanging by filling the ropes one at a time. First, the laundry is hung on the first rope, which is closest to the balcony, then on the third, then on the fifth, and so on. When half the ropes are filled in this way, you can hang things on the remaining cords. Avoid accumulation of clothing on one of the ropes to prevent the cord from sagging under heavy load.
For those who live in rainy climates with unpredictable weather, it is better to purchase models with a detachable cord. In case of any precipitation (rain, snow, fog), the cord should be carefully removed. This is especially important to do if the rope is made of natural material (cotton).When moisture gets on the fabric, a cord made of natural fabric becomes especially fragile, it begins to curl and deform, which leads to premature expiration of the clothesline's shelf life.
When purchasing an outdoor dryer, you should not forget about clothespins. The ideal option is plastic, they weigh little, are easy to use and do not take up much space when stored. If you use wooden or metal clothespins, they may stain wet laundry. Store clothespins and the cord removed from the dryer in one place, so that as soon as it comes to drying clothes, everything you need is at hand.
Indoor clothes dryers
For those who have a spacious balcony or loggia, internal clothes dryers are suitable. They are available in different models and configurations. The following models are deservedly the most popular:
- wall;
- ceiling;
- floor;
- so-called "lianas".
Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages. Wall and ceiling models are the most expensive, because in this case the kit includes additional fittings necessary for installing the structure on the balcony. The most budget option is a compact folding floor dryer, which, if necessary, can be placed not only on the balcony, but also in the room. It is convenient because no components are required for installation, and when not in use, the dryer can simply be folded and placed in a corner.
Ceiling models are inconvenient because water from wet clothes can drip onto the balcony floor, thus contributing to the appearance of mold and mildew.
Wall model
A wall-mounted dryer can be either folding or stationary.In the first case, the metal rods on which clothes are dried are located in a horizontal plane parallel to each other, and the structure is attached to two opposite walls using brackets. This model looks very similar to an outdoor drying rack, but instead of ropes, it has iron rods on which to hang things, so there is no need for clothespins. This dryer can be folded in different directions, horizontally or vertically, which is very convenient if there is little space on the balcony. The wall model is perfect for small items.
The stationary wall-mounted dryer is vertically oriented and its design resembles a gymnastic ladder. It is also mounted on the wall using brackets. A stationary dryer can be used for outerwear and bed linen. The only drawback is that it takes up quite a lot of space.
The most expensive and high-quality models have fastenings made of stainless steel. Since the entire structure is made entirely of metal, the product will last a long time, despite constant use in conditions of high humidity and contact with wet laundry.
Ceiling model
The design, which is attached to the ceiling, is also very popular. However, it is not very convenient to use for those who are short because you may have to stand on a chair or stool to hang the laundry.
The ceiling structure consists of two crossbars to which metal rods for linen are attached. They are parallel to the ceiling. The reliability of the fastening allows the use of such models for drying large items and bed linen.One of the main advantages of the product is that the clothes are constantly blown with fresh air, acquiring a pleasant aroma. Ceiling dryers are more expensive than other models.
The ceiling dryer can be removable or stationary. In the second case, it is possible to adjust the height of its placement. When there is no laundry on the metal bars, the product takes up virtually no space, which is a big advantage.
You should periodically check the strength of the ceiling dryer, because over time the fittings may weaken and perform their functions worse, which can lead to the collapse of the structure.
Floor model
Of the floor-standing models, it is best to choose a folding one. For small items, you can choose a plastic model in the shape of a circle, which folds like an accordion. This option is suitable for drying small things such as:
- kitchen towels;
- underwear;
- socks;
- Kids' things;
- small home textiles.
You can also install a rectangular sliding structure on the balcony, reminiscent of a folding ironing board. When the product is folded, it is easy to put it in a corner. When unfolded, such a dryer is a horizontal plane with metal rods, placed on two crossed support legs. On the left and right there are two additional “wings” that are used for drying small items, while the main area of the dryer can be used to hang bed linen and outerwear.
When using this model, it is necessary to ensure an even load on the additional parts on the left and right. If the load is not distributed evenly, the structure may tilt and fall.
The main disadvantage of this model is that, in case of overload, the dryer begins to lose stability. It also takes up quite a lot of space and is not suitable for narrow balconies or loggias.
Model "Liana"
This model gets its name because the ropes resemble a hanging vine when the dryer is not loaded with laundry. The design is very simple and consists of a metal profile fixed to the ceiling on brackets. A rope passes through the plastic crossbar, which, using a roller, can go down (to hang laundry) and go up (if the dryer is no longer needed).
If this model is used for drying large items and bed linen, during installation it is necessary to accurately and correctly determine the mounting height of the product. The vine should be mounted at such a height that large laundry does not reach the floor after drying, otherwise things will get dirty as a result of constant contact with dirt.
Creeper-type models are usually inexpensive because they are made from a combination of metal and plastic. If you are not satisfied with the rope that is already included in the kit, you can replace it with another one (for example, replace the cotton cord with a more durable synthetic one). Lianas are well suited for a small narrow rectangular loggia.
How to choose the right clothes dryer
In order to choose the right clothes dryer, you must first decide on the following questions:
- what kind of laundry you plan to dry - small or large;
- how often the owner of the dryer will use it;
- Is there enough space on the balcony or loggia to accommodate the equipment?
When purchasing models made of metal or wood, you should pay attention to how well the material is processed. A good wooden dryer should not have nicks or burrs. All welds on a metal product must be properly processed and cleaned. High-quality painting and the presence of anti-corrosion treatment are of great importance.
Any product, including folding floor models without additional components, must be accompanied by an instruction manual in Russian, which contains:
- Drawing of the dryer disassembled and assembled.
- List of all parts included in the kit.
- Installation or folding instructions (for folding models).
- Information about the class of material from which the equipment is made.
- Product service life.
Before installing the product yourself, you should carefully read the instructions.
How to install a clothes dryer
Installing a clothes dryer is an important and responsible task, because the service life of the product and ease of use depend on the correct installation. Before installation, you must:
- mark with a pencil or marker the places where the dryer will be mounted on the wall or ceiling;
- prepare consumables and accessories;
- Use a tape measure to measure all the necessary dimensions.
Next, you need to drill holes for attaching the dryer with a drill and, using the included fittings, secure the product properly, in accordance with the instructions. After installation, you should test the strength of the dryer by placing several large items on it. If the structure is wobbly, it should be secured more firmly and checked again.
Usually installation does not take much time, and even a novice craftsman can easily complete the job in an hour and a half. When installing an overhead dryer, you may need to stand on a chair or stool.
You must use only the accessories included in the kit. Other fasteners may not fit. If there are any small parts left after installation, they must be saved and removed. You may need them when your dryer breaks down.
Top 10 best models of laundry dryers for balconies
- Floor-standing clothes dryer Vileda,
3,000 rubles. The product is a stable circular structure, which is placed on the floor on a reliable support and is divided into 4 levels. There are additional brackets for drying dresses or shirts directly on hangers. The model does not “eat up” a lot of space and lasts a long time. - Wall-mounted dryer with plastic strings Leftheit.
The cost of the product is 2,800-3,200 rubles. It can be used not only on the balcony, but also in the bathroom. The main advantages are compactness with a relatively large optimal load, as well as inexpensive cost. - Artex ceiling structure,
costs from 4,000 rubles. The main advantage is the original design. The product is a sliding structure with adjustable height. The dryer is universal, but you should not hang too large items (for example, down jackets), otherwise the service life will be significantly reduced. - Gimi floor,
cost: 3,500 rubles. This is a classic version of a floor sliding dryer. Large items (for example, bed linen) can be placed in the central part, and small clothes can be placed along the edges.The product is stable, but due to its large size it may seem bulky if there is little space on the balcony. - Floor-standing four-level dryer Mie,
cost – 8,000 rubles. This product is convenient because it can be moved thanks to the presence of caster wheels. There are also special compartments for small items. Items placed at different levels of the dryer do not touch each other, so they dry very quickly. The only disadvantage of this model is the rather high price. - Gochu floor dryer,
cost – 7,500 rubles. Reminiscent of the previous model, but slightly smaller in size, additional hooks are provided for underwear. The product is made of stainless steel. - Floor Nika,
cost – 1,000 rubles. Compact budget option for a small balcony. Plastic supports do not scratch the floor, which sets this model apart from other similar dryers made entirely of metal. - “Red Cat” – floor model with electric heating,
cost – 3,000 rubles. This convenient electric dryer is made of stainless steel, has no sharp corners and fits well into the interior. It is universal and suitable for drying all types of laundry. - "Red cat" liana,
cost – 300-400 rubles. The cheapest and most compact model. The ropes are made of cotton; if desired, they can be replaced with synthetic ones. - Timo wall,
cost – 2,000 rubles. The main advantage is long service life and reliable fastening. The necessary accessories are included in the kit. Metal parts are coated with anti-corrosion protection.
Conclusion
Choosing a clothes dryer is not easy. When purchasing, you should focus on beauty, functionality and appropriate size.The shelf life is largely determined by correct operation.
