Green (Living) Review: Kusha Corporation

Review of Aisen foldable hangers

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Japanese sure know a thing or two about living in small spaces and also in keeping spaces somewhat uncluttered, a little like the Shakers, and have designed the appropriate products for this too.

Aisen, a company from Japan whose products are designed in Nippon, though made in China, represented in the UK through Kusha Corporation, has some great products in this field and I have already reviewed already, which were two of the laundry airers that they make.

Many of us, even if our homes are not all that small probably find that we have way too many shirts and such to actually fit on hangers in our wardrobes and closets. I certainly fall into that category.

The two Aisen products I shall be looking at here are great aids to combat the claustrophobia in the closet. They can be used in many ways and one comes with rather ingenious foldable hangers that are built-in to boot.

I must say that it took me a while to discover that fact but found it to be rather brilliant. Shirts can be taken off and put on without much ado and with the greatest of ease.

The other one requires the use of your own hangers but is equally useful and seeing that you can use any kind of coat hangers on that one can also hold jackets and trousers.

I find both foldable hangers absolutely indispensable by now as I do have a variety of location where I do like to have certain garments handy. Those areas, however, do not have the amount of hanging space for the traditional hangers and thus the two Aisen products I was allowed to review fulfill a great services here.

The LK471, Foldable 6-tier Shirt Hanger, has got two hooks and can thus also be hung on a clothes rail, such as in a closet, though can also, by use of just one hook, hung over a door or on a coat hook.

It has also a rather ingenious metal brace that can be used to, even by just using one hook, to keep the bar in a variety of positions, including horizontally. I do, however, prefer to drop it down as it, in that way, takes up little space.

The LK431, Foldable 5-Hook Indoor Laundry Hanger, has only got one hook and either hangs over a door or over a coat peg or such. It has also a locking device that can keep the bar in a number of positions but, again, I rather have it dropped down to save space.

The former, the LK471, has built-in foldable hangers, while for the latter, the LK431, you can use your own coat hangers.

Those Aisen products are absolute ingenious devices that also would be, I am sure, appreciated by anyone caravaning or boating.

Oh, did I say that I love those products. If not, the case is that I do.

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

This 10 peg suction airer from Aisen in Japan is another product that helps you dry your laundry, in this case small items such as socks, etc., in an environmentally friendly way when the weather is not the best and you can't use the outside line without having to resort the expensive to use dryer.

The suction attachment for this dryer works great but I would suggest to use it on window glass, or (bathroom) mirror and maybe good clean tiles only. I have tried using the airer on a smooth shiny door but without real success as the suction releases on such surfaces over a while.

On the other hand glass, such as window or mirror, while drying a load of small items of laundry for 24 hours it held on very firm indeed and needed some gentle persuasion to actually release again.

The product is, like all of the Aisen ones that I have had the pleasure to handle, designed in Japan and made in China (but what is not made in China nowadays?) and the Japanese do seem to know really something about products for small living spaces.

I found both this airer and the previously reviewed Foldable 30 Peg Indoor And Outdoor Airer invaluable during the month of April 2012 in my area as it rained almost daily and thus using the washing line outdoors just was not a possibility.

The Asien Airers I would also suggest to anyone caravaning as they take up very little space, as they fold down well.

Well made and well designed products and the 30 Peg Airer was also meanwhile tried with drying pairs or trousers and did work fine as well. Hanging them up by their legs, though, I would suggest not putting more than two pair on, one on each end, to ensure balance. This still leaves space for other things and it worked well.

Oh, and did I mention that I love their products? I do. And that a lot.

Aisen products are available from the Kusha Corporation.