The Dry:Soon Drying Pod costs around 30p per hour to run (or 29p according to our smart meter). It’s more expensive to operate than a winged or tiered airer which typically costs between 6p to 10p per hour. But it’s cheaper to run than a tumble dryer (around £1.50-£1.70 per cycle).
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Does the Dry:Soon Drying Pod offer value for money?
At £100, it’s cheaper than many of the popular large tiered airers we've reviewed like the Dry:Soon 3 Tier Heated Airer and the Black + Decker 3-Tier Heated Airer, but it’s more expensive than winged designs including the Minky 12M Electric Heated Airer and the Dunelm Heated Airer With Wings.
While it’s obviously cheaper than investing in a tumble dryer, it can't really serve as a full replacement as you’re limited in terms of what you can hang on it and how many items you can dry at a time.
It comes with Lakeland’s impressive 3-year guarantee though so if it’s faulty or you’re not completely sure about it, you can return it for a replacement or a refund.
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How easy is it to move around and store?
We don’t have a utility room or space to keep the drying pod up permanently so I found it a little cumbersome to assemble and take apart each time. It doesn’t fold flat so can’t be stashed like a traditional airer. It’s definitely worth holding onto the original box to keep the parts in.
Once set up though, I found it much easier to place in our house than a winged airer which can take up a lot of space. Due to its upright design, it sits neatly in the corner of a room without blocking routes around it.
It feels tricky to move around once set up. It’s best to build it exactly where you’re going to plug it in. And you definitely don’t want to attempt to move it once items are in the pod and the cover is around it - it’s nigh on impossible.
Note that you’ll need to let it cool down before removing the base legs as the fan heats up to around 70°C.
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How we tested
Reviewer Rachel Erdos lives in south London with her husband and two kids, aged six and three.
The Dry:Soon Drying Pod was put through its paces thanks to the family's never-ending laundry pile and it was used to dry a variety of items made from fabrics including cotton, polyester, wool and denim. With a footy-mad schoolboy and active toddler at home, the drying pod has been in constant use, particularly on rainy days.
It was tested on its ability to dry clothes quickly. It was also assessed in terms of its energy efficiency, how easy it was to use, take apart and store.
About the author
Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on product reviews, homeware roundups and family travel.
She’s written buyer’s guides for publications including Expert Reviews and Coach as well as reviews and features for the Guardian, TripSavvy and Visit London.
As a mum of two, she’s always on the lookout for products that make life easier at home and loves putting appliances and gadgets to the test to highlight best buys for families.
About Mumsnet Reviews
All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.