Martin Lewis recommends a dehumidifier to dry clothes – these are the models to try

These machines work by extracting moisture from your surroundings

The multipurpose machines are great for allergy sufferers, too (PA Wire/The Independent )

With households continuing to grapple with the cost of living crisis, many of us are looking for ways to keep costs down this winter – whether it’s investing in an air fryer, cosying up with an electric blanket or discovering innovative ways to dry clothes.

In an episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast last year, the MoneySavingExpert dubbed tumble dryers – which cost up to £1 per hour to run – a “demon appliance” and suggested using a dehumidifier instead.

Though, admittedly, an initial investment, these machines extract moisture and dampness from your surroundings and, in turn, potentially halve your laundry-drying times. Depending on the model’s extracting power and wattage, a dehumidifier can cost anything from just 10p to 30p an hour to run, making them cheaper to use, compared with a tumble drier.

“Many dehumidifiers have different wattages, the one I checked out was 200W,” Lewis explained on his podcast. “Once we know it’s 200W and we know a kilowatt is 1,000W, which is how electricity tends to be priced, we know this is a fifth of a kilowatt.

“And you pay roughly 34p per kilowatt per hour. A fifth is 7p, so you’re going to pay roughly 7p per hour to run a dehumidifier at 200W, assuming it uses full power the whole time. Which is generally far, far cheaper than putting the heating on,” he continued.

The multipurpose machines are great for allergy sufferers, tend to be noise-free and have the added benefit of neutralising harmful bacteria in your home. So, if you’ve noticed mould, condensation or a musty odour around your home, it may be time to invest in a dehumidifier for the colder months ahead.

In our review of the best dehumidifiers, two machines with a laundry mode stood out for their ability to dry a full range of items very quickly. If you’re looking to invest in an energy-efficient and cost-cutting dehumidifier for winter 2024, read on for the lowdown on this tried and tested machine.

EcoAir DD1 simple desiccant dehumidifier: £209.98, Amazon.co.uk

(EcoAir)

Described as a “simple dehumidifier that offers excellent performance”, EcoAir’s dehumidifier is complete with a laundry mode, 7.5l extraction amount and 2l water tank. “We like that it’s really easy to operate. It has manual controls – including a rotary dial and just one other button, which controls the fan speed, placing the machine in either economy mode or turbo mode,” our tester said. As for the special laundry mode, they added: “If you’re drying your clothes indoors all winter and don’t want to use the tumble dryer, it’s the perfect solution.”

They were also “impressed with the nano silver filter built into the design, which will help trap dust and allergens.” So, if you suffer from allergies or conditions such as asthma, the air will feel a lot fresher.

Read more: Best dehumidifiers to prevent and reduce mould

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De’Longhi DEX212F dehumidifier: £234.35, Amazon.co.uk

(DeLonghi )

De’Longhi’s mid-priced dehumidifier works well in small to medium-sized rooms, with our tester praising the model’s sleek, modern design that means you can put it in any room without it looking out of place. Coming with a range of simple controls, making it easy to operate, our tester’s favourite was the laundry mode, which adjusts the fan speed and power. “It did a great job of helping to speed up the amount of time it took for our clothes to dry, which is super handy in the winter months when the washing line is out of action,” they said. Plus, “it’s so quiet, you wouldn’t even know it was running” while double-filtration technology ensures the air feels cleaner when in use.

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