Mumsnet users review the Ebac Dehumidifier for drying laundry indoors

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

This is the thread for the 10 Mumsnetters who tested out the Ebac Dehumidifier for air drying their laundry indoors.

You can read a summary of their feedback here.

Non testers in order to be entered into a prize draw, where one MNer will win a £200 voucher, please answer this question: Do you own a dehumidifier and use it for indoor laundry drying - perhaps you have tips for making your laundry dry quicker? Or maybe have tips on how to make your clothes feel softer?

Here is what Ebac have to say: “The UK's wet climate often leaves no other choice than to dry laundry indoors. If you don't have the space or budget for a tumble dryer then radiators and airers can be the only way to get laundry dry. This takes time, creates space problems and leads to a build up of additional condensation and dampness around the home. An Ebac dehumidifier efficiently dries laundry but unlike a tumble dryer also eliminates excess moisture by removing condensation and dampness caused day to day activities such as showering, cooking and poor ventilation. This not only prevents mould and unpleasant odours but also filters the air during use helping improve air quality throughout the home.”

Testers please answer the following feedback questions:

• How much water was collected/removed?
  
• What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
  
• Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
  
• How easy did you feel the product was to use?
  
• Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
  

All testers who post the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[AdamantEve]

• How much water was collected/removed?
  

A full load of washing filled the collection tank about a quarter full of water. I was amazed that this water is normally just floating round the house! The kids have been enjoying emptying the tank to see how much has been collected.

• What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
  

It’s never going to replace a tumble dryer but as I have no space for a dryer at the moment, the dehumidifier has pleasantly surprised me in the way it has reduced my clothes drying time. I give it its biggest challenge last night by leaving it on the laundry mode for 8 hours overnight with the heating off. Usually the washing would still be very damp in the morning after being hung up last thing at night but I was amazed that every single item was dry when I checked it. So this meant I was able to put another load in the washing machine this morning whereas I’d normally have to allow another day for my previously load to dry. My laundry basket is empty for the first time in months.

• Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
  

I noticed the air in the room where the dehumidifier was felt “drier”, you can definitely tell when it’s been on.

• How easy did you feel the product was to use?
  

So easy to use, literally just switch it on. The panel at the front has obvious symbols on it and you really can’t go wrong.

• Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
  

I am 100% going to continue using this product. It had never occurred to me to use a dehumidifier to help with drying laundry, I thought they were only for people with damp problems in their houses! I am converted. The only negative is that they are pricey to buy which would have put me off if I hadn’t known how useful it would be. They are cheap to run though.
It’s not a miracle worker, it won’t dry your washing in an hour or anything like that but it definitely cuts the time down and for people like me who can’t have a tumble drier and have too much rain to hang the laundry outside, it’s a reallt great way to speed up the drying time. I have told my family all about it so am definitely in the camp of recommending the product!

[lastnicknamefree]

• How much water was collected/removed?
  

After 3 days the bucket full light came on, and I emptied it. Very easy to our out the water, refill and replace

What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors? Honestly, not much. I was so excited to try this product having had a mould issue in the back past from drying laundry on the radiators all winter. I hung my load out in the kitchen, switched on the laundry mode, left overnight and it was still damp the next day. I’m not sure if it’s because the room I have it in is larger than recommended but not any better or quicker for me sadly.

Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain: I certainly enjoyed turning it up higher when I had a smokey room from cooking, or overpowering smells. It does feel like the air is fresher in that mode, no discernible difference in the energy mode

• How easy did you feel the product was to use? ; incredibly easy! Plug in, switch on and away you go. Brilliant to use, and easy to understand front panel
  

Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member? : absolutely yes. I hope it will keep the damp and condensation down to a minimum and put a stop to any mould issues. Also I look forward to trying in on a different mode when one of us has a cough/cold as I’m hopeful it will make a difference

[HermanCakeDestroyer]

• How much water was collected/removed?
  

I used the dehumidifier for 24 hours and during that time dried a load of washing. It was full after 24 hours! I couldn’t believe that that much moisture would normally be lurking in my house.

• What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
  

My usual method of drying laundary indoors is putting it in the airing cupboard or hanging it over radiators. The benefits I’ve found with using the dehumidifier was that there was much less condensation in the windows, the air felt drier and softer almost, the washing was dried a lot quicker than hanging it over the radiators and the room it was in felt a lot drier and warmer than it had before.

• Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
  

The air quality felt better. I’ve had a persistent cough for month and have noticed great improvements in that. The humidity of the house is greatly reduced and haven’t no had excessive condensation in the house it has significantly reduced and in some cases disappeared altogether.

• How easy did you feel the product was to use?
  

Extreme easy to use. Clear to read instructions and clear symbols in the machine.

• Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
  

I absolutely love this dehumidifier. It had brought my family lots of benefits and I would and already have recommended this to friends and family.

Thank you so much Mumsnet and Ebac for giving me the chance to test this wonderful machine.

[Lariflete]

How much water was collected/removed?
I put it on for the advised 24 hours and then two laundry cycles and altogether it collected approximately 3/4 of a tank. I was pretty shocked tbh, as I imagined it would be around 1/2 a tank. It does explain why it is so hard to dry the laundry!

What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
I wanted to try the dehumidifier because we don't have room for a tumbledryer and I was delighted to try it. The benefits of using it were quicker drying than usual and what felt like better air quality in the surrounding area.

Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
The air quality felt better (and given the state of the filter, I definitely think that it has improved it) and there was a noticeable difference in the amount of condensation. The area that we used it in gets some terrible condensation during the winter and it has been dry as a bone since using the Ebac de-humidifier.

How easy did you feel the product was to use?
It couldn't have been simpler to use. You plug the de-humidifier in and off you go! You take the water tank out, then put it back in straight away before first use, which I didn't understand the reasoning behind but if it helps the performance then it was great!

Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
I will definitely continue using it. It helped with drying the laundry (but will probably be better in the summer when we don't have the heating on) but I was even more impressed with the drying it did for our condensed areas.

[CordeliaScott]

- How much water was collected/removed?
Whilst it was a little difficult at times to assess how much water was removed as DS (1) kept removing the water tray and tipping the water out when we left it on overnight drying the washing, the tray was half full the next day.

- What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
Normally I put the washing out at night and some of the clothes are still damp the following day. However, this time the clothes were dry the following day meaning I could put them away straight away before DC’s had an opportunity to get sticky handprints all over them!
I’m intended to decorate our bedroom and the kitchen shortly and hopefully this can also reduce paint/plaster drying times.

- Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
We don’t really have condensation in the house so did not notice any difference on that front. The air did seem cleaner when it was on. I think that it is likely to be of more use in summer when the weather is more humid or when DH’s hay fever is affecting him.

- How easy did you feel the product was to use?
This was very easy to use. You just switch it on and press the clothing button for laundry mode. If anything it may be a bit too easy to use as DS(1) soon discovered how to open the hatch and find the water tank which he invariably proceeded to tip over himself/the dried washing. Sigh… It is however, very easy to take apart and put back together, neither DS nor me needed to even look at the instructions.

- Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member
Yes I would. I wish I had this 5 years ago when the flat we were living in at the time was constantly full of condensation and mould. It would never have occurred to me to use one for drying laundry but it appears fairly effective. It will be interesting to see how well it dries clothes in the summer when the radiators are switched off.

[Ntinyn]

• How much water was collected/removed?
  

Anything between 0.5l and 2.1l. Amazing!!

• What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
  

I normally hang on airers by the bi fold doors or in the utility room. Both the windows nearby get a lot of condensation and we also have a damp / mould issue. We had always considered getting a dehumidifier due to condensation/mould but hadn't realised exactly how much water was in the laundry. I was so amazed at how little condensation was on the windows overnight when the dehumidifier was running near the laundry.

• Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
  

Yes definitely less/no condensation on those areas the dehumidifier was running. I really couldn't believe the difference.

• How easy did you feel the product was to use?
  

Very! Just plug in. Buttons self explanatory and tank very easy to change. For me personally it was too heavy to carry up/down stairs. I just about managed taking room to room on same floor. Castors as standard would be great at third price point.

• Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
  

Yes absolutely. I've already told other families who have similar houses with condensation/mould.
It's not a replacement for a tumble dryer but it's a great product if you don't have space for a tumble dryer.

[MrsFrTedCrilly]

Hi not a tester but just wondered which model of dehumidifier you all tested. Thanks

[Ntinyn]

It was the 3850e 21 Litre Dehumidifier

[MrsFrTedCrilly]

Ntinyn thanks so much, we are considering buying one. Given the very positive feedback this may be a contender.

[rydley]

I bought this model 3850e ebac about 3 months ago. my humidity levels have dropped from 60 to 50. my house is warmer and drier. there is no more condensation on the windows. the air is fresher and cleaner. would definitely recommend. even my children commented on the air quality.

[GinYummy]

• How much water was collected/removed?
  

Nearly a whole tank over a 24 hour period! I was really surprised, never thought it would be that much.

• What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
  

The washing dried much quicker and it didn't have any musty smells from drying inside over winter that sometimes happens. Also the clothes didn't feel 'crispy' where they had been hanging on the airer drying for a while.
The room that the laundry was drying in felt much warmer and the air smelled cleaner?

• Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
  

As above it was noticeably drier and smelled cleaner when you entered the room where the dehumidifier was running.

• How easy did you feel the product was to use?
  

The set up couldn't have been easier. Plugged it in, pushed a few buttons and that says it. The manual was also very helpful. It is also much quieter to run than I had thought.

• Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
  

I have been recommending it to everyone . It is honestly brilliant, I wouldn't be without one for laundry over winter now.

Thank you so much for including me in the product test, it has actually made my life a little easier!

[bagpuss]

How much water was collected/removed?

We placed the dehumidifier firstly in our bedroom, which for us is a problem area for moisture, and then just outside in the hallway, which is a more central location, and the tank was full every other day. I was quite surprised by this as although I knew we had some dampness in our house I didn’t expect it to be quite so bad.

• What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
  

It was a marginal improvement on some things (School uniform which is a bit thicker than most clothes) but on items like my husband’s work shirts, which have to be hung to dry, I found them dry within a couple of hours. I’m also marathon training at the moment so getting through a lot of sportswear and was delighted to find that I could wash and dry whole loads of this and it was ready to put away a few hours later, normally it would have to be left overnight. Our washing basket is looking fairly empty so it must have made a difference!

• Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
  

Yes, most definitely. With seven of us in the house there is loads of condensation on the windows in the winter but since the dehumidifier arrived I haven’t had to wipe the windows down at all. My husband remarked that the bedroom smelt less damp within the first day and even cooking smells seem reduced.

• How easy did you feel the product was to use?
  

Very easy to use. We just plugged it in and put it on the smart mode and let it do it’s thing. It is heavy so I have kept it upstairs and I think that some castors would make it perfect for ease of placing the dehumidifier near to where the laundry is drying and then returning it to the hall afterwards. We have also had to switch it off at night as we found it too noisy, although I have to say that I don’t find it that loud in the daytime - maybe it’s just my family being overly sensitive!

• Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
  

Yes, without a doubt. I think it will be a real asset when the heating goes off in the summer but it’s too wet to dry washing outside. Judging by the lack of condensation on the windows I’m hoping that using the dehumidifier will put an end to having to clean them with mould and mildew remover and repaint round the frames every six months. My mum was so impressed with our dehumidifier that she has already bought one herself. We are all big fans here! Thanks again for letting us test it out.

[elizaco]

• How much water was collected/removed
  

Over a 24 hour period with 2 large loads of washing hung above there was just over half a tank of water. I was quite astonished that this much was created.

• Benefits over your usual method of drying laundry indoors
  

I like the fact that washing is likely to dry much quicker. I would be more likely to hang clothes out late at night and expect them to be dry in the morning - great for work clothes/school uniform. I hang washing on both a ceiling pulley airer and a standing clothes air. They are situated close to a window, so there is usually a lot of condensation. This was definitely reduced which is great.

• Mention any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation
  

Definitely a reduction in condensation. Didn't really notice any difference to air quality/air humidity.

• How easy was the product to use and why
  

Very easy to follow instructions and use. And more compact in size than I expected. Quite easy to carry with the handles although quite heavy. As others have mentioned, castors would be great.

• How likely are you to continue using and/or recommend.
  

I will definitely continue using it. I love the fact that the windows are no longer full of condensation! We have some problems with damp/condensation in upstairs rooms so will see if it helps with that at all, and we are also planning to have a bedroom replastered soon - my husband is interested to know if if helps speed the drying out of that. I would definitely recommend if it is something you are looking for. Although compact, it does take up room if you are short of space so only really worthwhile purchasing if it something you really need.

Thank you so much for including me in the trial and letting me try it out :)

[GrumpyInsomniac]

• How much water was collected/removed?
  

I've been running my Ebac almost continuously since I finally got the new washing machine installed after our house move. It's been a long drawn-out process to get it all working, and I had mountains to get through.

I'd generally find this stressful as I don't have a drier and I'm in North Yorkshire, so the weather really doesn't lend itself to outdoor drying in February - if ever - and we have limited radiator space. I'd have just stuck it all on airers and hoped it all dried in a couple of days in time for the monster to start at his new school.

I've emptied about a bucket and a half so far, which really surprised me. The washing machine has a pretty efficient spin, but our new home has been left unheated for months by the landlord and felt very damp. Clearly the Ebac is doing double duty.

• What did you feel were the benefits of using the dehumidifier over your usual method of drying laundry indoors?
  

It became quickly apparent that the Ebac is much more efficient than just leaving things to air dry. I'd have expected the laundry to take at least 24 hours to dry, but I came down this morning and found the lot dry already, despite being quite densely distributed over the airer. As a comparison, I took one of my son's shirts and hung it elsewhere in the house. It was still damp to the touch well after the other items were dry.

• Did you find there were any improvements in air quality/humidity/condensation? If so please explain
  

It's early days. I didn't switch it on until the washing machine was installed, so it's not had long to do its job, but I'm impressed with how it's made the room feel in which I set it up. The whole house has been feeling damp and cold while we try to warm it up. The Ebac is in the kitchen diner and it feels like a different room. It no longer feels cold, and it's actually a place I want to spend time now.

I saw in the manual that you can buy fragrance packs to use with the machine, and if I were the kind of person to use home fragrances, I'd probably investigate that further. As it is, the machine obviously makes some noise so I'd be unlikely to run it just to fragrance the air.

• How easy did you feel the product was to use?
  

I'm one of those who doesn't really read the instructions, so I basically skimmed them. Then got stuck in. It's actually pretty easy to work out with no manual, and the bucket gets bonus points for being enclosed so you're far less likely to spill any of the water collected. This is a big improvement over the last one I used.

• Would you continue to use this product and would you recommend it to a friend or family member?
  

I will absolutely continue to use it. Now that laundry duty is done, I'm going to move it to the first floor and get it working up there to help with the general dampness of the house, as recommended. It's funny. I've never considered a dehumidifier as one of those essential pieces of kit, and DH would have been more likely to head out and get the bag of absorbent thingummy in a trough variety as a cheap solution to the damp. After using this, which gets much faster results, I would be very unlikely to return to the old school method.

I would be happy to recommend this to friends and family, as it's already making our new home more habitable. The only quibble I have is that it's quite heavy and I have back problems, and they don't supply casters as standard. Obviously, I'll order them from the web site, but I think most people would want them from the off, even if it means paying a few quid extra. Having to go to an after sales site to buy them seems a bit of a faff for something that obvious.

[ColdCottage]

How much are they? Are they offering any discounts for MN members?

[SophieofShepherdsBush]

I already have an ebac dehumidifier and I love it. I really do. Also their after sales support/warranty is excellent! Just saying.

[rupert23]

Non tester
i do not own a dehumidifier but now having read the above i would really be interested in getting one. I have a tumble drier which i use daily in winter but would be looking at other options to dry my mountain of washing which seems to grow every day.

[MummyBtothree]

Non-Tester = No we don't currently own a dehumidifier but are considering getting one. I like to line dry all my laundry but in winter this isn't possible and don't like to put everything in the tumble dryer as alot of garments end up shrunken or mishaped so still resort to putting stuff on my clothes horse.

[ErinSophia]

Non Tester- yes I have a dehumidifier, my tip to make laundry dry quicker is to make sure you spread the laundry out so the full garment is exposed to the air don't squeeze more clothes on the rack than it can hold.

[ScreamingValenta]

Non tester. I don't have a dehumidifier but I would consider getting one. My indoor drying tip is to move the clothes about a couple of times as they dry - it speeds up drying and makes for fewer creases.

[MrsMarigold]

Non tester, I don't have a dehumidifier and my tumble drier packed in.a few months back. I am.aconvert to the Lakeland Dry Soon, heated clothes drier. But would consider a dehumidifier as I worry about damp and mould in the house. Clothes not dried in the tumble dryer seem to retain their colour better but feel stiff, its ok if you iron them to soften but I don't bother. So long as they smell clean and fresh that's my priority.

[Pikmin]

We have a meaco dehumidifier and it really makes a difference in our house, with washing and condensation. I chose it as it is a Which best buy but this one also sounds really good.

[TheKnackeredChef]

Non-tester here. We use my partner's dehumidifier occasionally if there's a bit of condensation build up on the windows. It had never occurred to me to use it when drying clothes indoors, but I will now!

[Caillou]

I do not own a dehumidifier but I think it would be an excellent addition to our household,
I currently dry the clothes in the tumble dryer as we leave in a flat and if the clothes are left to dry out then the condensation on the windows is massive.
The best way to dry the laundry is in the fresh air but that is only possible in the summer sadly.

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

We have a dehumidifier in the room where the washing goes to dry, it is switched on if there is any washing drying and it's amazing to see how much water it collects, makes you wonder where it all went before getting the humidifier and the damage it could have/did do