IN THIS STRESSFUL age, no one needs the annoyances that make household tasks more difficult than they have to be. Paperwork stacked on the hall table, washing taking up valuable space in the kitchen, kids’ toys tripping you up at every turn, it can all make your home a less peaceful place.

We’re here to help solve those household conundrums. First up, the washing.

In our home, two toddlers make finding a spot to hang washing a very tricky business. There’s nothing more satisfying to a two-year-old than taking every single item off a nearby clothes dryer and flinging it across the room. So we’ve had to get creative in getting the washing out of living spaces — at least while kids are awake!

Here are three options for drying your clothes without the clutter.

1. Go vertical above the bath 

For a small investment and a couple screws, you can take advantage of prime space that’s typically only used for a few minutes a day: the bath. Buy an over-bath hanging clothes dryer and get the satisfaction of hiding it away behind a shower curtain.

This inexpensive retractable dryer will give you private drying space that guests will probably never notice.

Sick of seeing this? Shutterstock / Gary Perkin Shutterstock / Gary Perkin / Gary Perkin

2. In small homes, make the most of your hallway space

If you’re still spreading your washing directly over the radiators in your living areas or bedrooms, it’s time to upgrade your drying situation. The damp drying laundry creates and the potential mould that wet washing can spread to the air isn’t the healthiest option.

Instead, get a rack that attaches to your radiator, so you don’t have to place clothes on the rads directly. And most importantly, set it up somewhere well ventilated like a hallway that isn’t being used as a living space. 

3. Use a bedroom that’s unoccupied during the day

Bedrooms often have enough space to put a stand-up hot air dryer like this one. Hot air dryers consume considerably less energy than a tumble dryer and can be moved around the house, depending on where you have an empty corner.

They’re also less visually busy than a rack where you can see the washing because everything is hidden behind a nice, blank cover. If you’re doing a load of kids’ laundry, pop the air dryer in their room while they’re at school. It won’t clutter up your kitchen and you won’t even have to trek their clothes across the house when it’s dry!