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Using a dehumidifier to dry washing indoors is one of the best money-savers in a British winter. It dries clothes faster than an airer on its own and stops all that water ending up on your walls.
Short answer: with a compressor dehumidifier on laundry mode next to an ordinary airer in a small closed room, most loads are dry in around 4 to 8 hours for about 20p to 50p. Add a heated airer and it is quicker still.
The best setup
- Spin the wash on the highest speed the fabrics allow.
- Hang clothes on an airer with gaps between items.
- Put the airer and dehumidifier in the smallest room you can, such as a box room or bathroom (if the dehumidifier is suitable for that space).
- Close the door and windows.
- Point the dehumidifier's air outlet towards the clothes if possible and use laundry mode.
Cost per load
We use 25p per kWh, close to the current UK price cap.
| Method | Cost per load | Moisture in your home? |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor dehumidifier + airer (200 to 250 W, 4 to 8 h) | 20p to 50p | No, it collects it |
| Heated airer alone | 25p to 40p | Yes |
| Vented or condenser tumble dryer | £1 to £1.25 | No |
| Heat pump tumble dryer | 25p to 40p | No |
More detail on airers in our heated airer cost guide.
Compressor or desiccant for laundry?
In a heated home a compressor model is usually the better and cheaper choice for laundry. In a cold room (below about 15°C) a desiccant model will dry clothes faster and warm the room slightly at the same time. See which type to choose.
Where to buy (prices change often, so check the current price):
Common mistakes
- Leaving the door open, so it dries the whole house instead of your clothes.
- Packing clothes tightly together.
- Putting the airer on top of a radiator, which pushes moisture around the house.
- Forgetting to empty the tank: a full tank stops the machine.