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Doing the laundry during colder months can become somewhat of a challenging chore. While tumble drying offers rapid results, right now running costs are at an all-time high, leaving many asking whether a dehumidifier is good for drying clothes as a cost-effective alternative.
We’ve asked the experts and they explain just why investing in a dehumidifier is a practical and energy-efficient way to speed up the process of drying clothes this winter.
As we monitor our energy usage when running appliances and look for ways to keep homes warm without turning up the heating, knowing how to dry clothes indoors is probably more crucial this winter than ever before.
“Over the coming months, wet washing will take longer and longer to dry indoors,” explains Chris Michael, managing director of Meaco (opens in new tab), the leading air purification specialists. “We start to close our windows to keep precious heat in and the moisture content in the air increases from the clothes that we have been drying over time.”
The good news is a dehumidifier can be a practical investment as an economical way to extract excess moisture and aid when washing your sheets and clothing.
Is a dehumidifier good for drying clothes?
“Using a dehumidifier is an excellent tool to help dry clothes,” states Chloe King, brand manager at Duux (opens in new tab). “Because a dehumidifier extracts moisture from the air, and as the air becomes less humid this will speed up the evaporation process on your damp clothing.”
So in summary a dehumidifier is good for drying clothes as it will eradicate the increased moisture from wet laundry – because when drying damp clothes inside your home, especially on warm surfaces, the act will contribute to additional trapped moisture that then lingers in the air.
Not only is a dehumidifier good for drying clothes as a measure of saving energy and keeping costs down, but it also helps with improving the air quality in the home, preventing condensation on windows, and tackling and preventing black mold which is all more likely to occur as a result of the dampness caused while drying laundry indoors.
(Image credit: Quiet Mark UK / Meaco)
Explaining why it’s beneficial for drying clothes indoors Chris says: “The only way to fully remove moisture without opening windows and turning the heating right up is to use a dehumidifier.”
As mold and mildew can quickly build up due to excess moisture on walls and ceilings, a dehumidifier is the best way to prevent this from happening because an average-sized residential humidifier can collect up to 12 liters of water over a day – accommodating all sizeable washing loads.
Nothing noting that cleaning a dehumidifier properly will also ensure this must-have appliance is always working to its maximum potential.
(Image credit: iStock / Meaco)
Is it cheaper to run a dehumidifier or tumble dryer?
According to The Energy Saving Trust (opens in new tab), one load of washing in the tumble dryer (3KW) costs £1.02. This is calculated based on the October 2022 tariff of 0.34p per Kilowatt. A tumble dryer generally uses between 3 and 4.5 kilowatts per hour depending on the wattage of the model. How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier? Much less than a tumble dryer.
“Perhaps the most obvious benefit (of using a dehumidifier over a tumble dryer) is the reduced cost,” says Chris. “A dehumidifier can cost as little as 8p an hour to run. This means that with every load you choose to air dry instead of putting in the tumble dryer, you’re saving.”
“A dehumidifier that can extract up to 12 liters a day, with a wattage of 157w (0.157 kWh) would cost just over 8p an hour based on the October 2022 price of 52p per kWh per hour. A dehumidifier that can extract up to 20 liters a day, with a wattage of 480w would use 0.48 kWh, meaning that an hour’s usage would cost just under 25p.”
What is the laundry mode on a dehumidifier?
Some dehumidifiers work better at drying clothes than others. Look for a model with a ‘laundry mode’ or ‘clothes drying mode.’ With this setting, the dehumidifier will filter out moisture and blow it back into the room at a warmer temperature on a higher fan setting.
Although the machine is working harder it still costs considerably less to run than a tumble dryer.
Sarah Dempsey at Myjobquote explains: “The dehumidifier fan on laundry mode is key for helping your clothes dry quicker as it not only draws in the moist air, but it also pushes out air that is usually warmer than the room’s temperature. The high fan speed in addition to the warmer air that is expelled can help your clothes dry much quicker and more efficiently.”
“The increased airflow also means that your dehumidifier will pull more air in as well. This ensures that all the extra moisture created by your washing is sucked into the machine and safely removed from the air.”
How to utilize a dehumidifier when drying clothes indoors
To make the most of the benefit from using a dehumidifier when drying clothes indoors the experts share some top tips to maximise efficiency.
1. Give laundry loads an extra spin
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Help your dehumidifier do its job quicker by removing as much moisture as possible before attempting to hang your clothes out to dry indoors.
It’s worth giving your clothes an extra rinse spin in the washing machine to remove excess water to encourage the fabrics to dry a bit faster.
Rebecca Bebbington, consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes (opens in new tab) says “Never put your laundry on a hot radiator, I get why people do this but it actually increases moisture in the air which isn’t good and makes your dehumidifier work harder. Instead, try putting the clothes on an extra spin, space them out on the airer and make use of any natural light coming in.”
2. Dry clothes in smaller rooms
To make the most of the laundry mode on your humidifier try to dry your clothes on an airer in a compact space such as a utility room.
“Try and place your washing in a smaller room and shut the door so the air dries out quicker and therefore speeds up the clothes drying process,” advises Chloe.
3. Move away from the walls
To achieve the shortest drying time ensure there is plenty of space around drying clothes for air to circulate.
“You might be tempted to fit as much as possible onto your drying rack, but this can actually prevent your clothes from drying properly and could lead to a damp smell. Ensure your laundry is spread out and avoid any overlaps.” Adds Rebecca.
(Image credit: De’Longhi)
How long do dry clothes take to dry with a dehumidifier?
While it takes a considerably longer amount of time to dry clothes indoors with a dehumidifier than it would a tumble dryer a dehumidifier will make air drying time much faster and the air less clammy than it would without one.
It’s hard to say just how long it takes, because there are so many varying factors – how big is the pile of laundry in question, how warm is the room in which the clothes are drying? All of these will impact the drying time.
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