Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated airer review: the heated clothes airer that’s bigger and better

When it comes to drying their washing, Mumsnet users agree that a heated clothes airer makes a huge difference - particularly throughout winter. In fact, the Dry:Soon brand is one that often crops up on our Talk boards, resulting in the original Dry:Soon 3-Tier Heated Airer winning our best overall heated clothes airer. 

But while the original is one of Lakeland’s best-selling products - gaining a superb 4.5/5 rating overall from our team at MNHQ - for larger families, it might not be the best choice.

The brand’s larger, deluxe version, however, might be just the thing you need to easily dry your clothes straight out of the washing machine throughout the colder months. And yes, while it might be more expensive than the original, for its size, lightweight design, and drying space, it’s a great option for families of four and above. MNHQ editor and mum-of-two, Rebecca, has been thoroughly testing one to see if the Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated airer is worth the higher price tag. 

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The Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated clothes airer is big enough for our family

One of its key advantages is that, despite its larger size, it’s still lightweight, and can be effortlessly folded away to just eight centimetres in depth. The Dry:Soon Deluxe features an integrated carry handle and storage clips, too, which help to simplify the task of moving it around and storing it in your home. But that’s not all - this upgraded version also boasts an eye-level, built-in timer, allowing you to customise the heating duration and time to suit your needs without breaking your back. 

Now, for the price. At £225, it may not be the most budget-friendly clothes airer on the market, especially when considering that the cover and detachable castors are sold separately. However, with that said, its efficiency and cost-effectiveness certainly makes it easier to swallow the upfront cost. Running at just 10p an hour, the Dry:Soon Deluxe proves to be a wise investment in the long run, making it an excellent choice for larger families who appreciate the additional drying space. 

The Deluxe version of Dry:Soon's popular clothes airer offers plenty of space for large loads

Final verdict: Costing just pennies to run, the Dry:Soon Deluxe heated clothes airer is a welcome addition to our home at a time when the tumble dryer is just far too expensive. It has honestly made washing and drying our laundry so much easier throughout the week (without having to use our expensive to run washer-dryer), and I’ve been able to keep on top of the piles of washing that our two DC generates. I also love the fact it dries my bedding in just four hours! 

Dry:Soon Deluxe heated clothes airer: how we tested 

• Used daily for three weeks 

• Placed in our open-plan living/dining/kitchen

• Normal washing loads, as well as bedding and towels

• Set to one, three, and five hour drying times

• Set a delayed timer to start through the night

Having lived in the Middle East for the majority of my 20s, drying clothes was never a huge issue for my DH and I. However, since returning to the UK post-pandemic, as well as the arrival of two DC who are just 15 months apart - lets just say, drying our laundry in a cost-effective and efficient way has been, well, difficult. 

Alongside the increase in items to be washed, the cost of living has tripled our utility bills. Electricity and oil (we live on a farm) have both increased in price compared to 2020. So, gone are the days of simply sticking our airer out in the sun. 

Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-tier heated clothes airer: how easy is it to set up? 

Surprisingly, it’s very easy to set up. Despite its larger size, the airer is lightweight and nifty latches that swing in place make opening up each rack a breeze. 

Unlike the original airer, which is X shaped, the deluxe version is H shaped, making it sturdier and great for heavier loads of washing. It also means that you can set up half of the clothes airer for smaller loads, like a C shape, if you don’t want to take up too much space. 

The Dry:Soon 3-Tier Deluxe Heated clothes airer set-up in it's more condense, C-shaped position

Following customer feedback about the original Dry:Soon design, the deluxe version has an eye-level control panel, which my back very much appreciates. Plus, there’s a plug holder attached where you can safely stash your plug head in when not in use. So, when it’s set up and all racks are secure, all you have to do is plug it in and select your desired mode and time. 

The easy to reach control panel is central, next to the plug holder that's handy

What is the Dry:Soon Deluxe heated airer like to use day-today?

Much to my DH’s resistance, the clothes airer has become a permanent fixture in our living area. Admittedly, we’ve only one other place in the house where it would fit, so for testing purposes it has been, quite literally, part of the furniture. 

As I’ve said, the Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier heated clothes airer has been a welcome addition to our home. It’s made tackling our mountains of dirty laundry much easier and less of a chore. I no longer have to find places around our home to place wet clothing, and I certainly don’t have to worry about drying washed bedding anymore. Gone are the days of precariously hanging our fitted sheet over the dining chair backs to avoid using the tumble dryer. 

We don’t put a load in the washing machine every day, though we do have the heated airer out all of the time most of the time. In our home, I try to get a wash done every other day, in the morning bright and early, so it’s on the drying rack before 10am. Doing so means any load I place on the Dry:Soon will be fully dried before bedtime. 

What are the drying times of the Dry:Soon Deluxe heated clothes airer?

For a load less than 5kg (like light tshirts and underwear), I’ve found that setting the Dry:Soon Deluxe to heat for two hours really helps speed up the drying time overall. Plus, for smaller loads, I only need to set up half of the clothes airer, so it’s more compact.

For larger loads, I will admit, I was a little disappointed to find just the strip of clothing that was placed on the rack dry, and the rest of the item not after two hours. After playing around with timings, I’ve found that setting the heat for five hours can fully dry two standard laundry loads (including jeans, jumpers, and thicker items of clothing). 

So, in summary, I’ve found the drying times to be as follows: 

• Small load (5kg or less), approximately two to three hours

• Standard load (8kg), around three to four hours

• Two standard loads (16kg), five hours or more to dry*

*Our washing machine at home takes 8kg loads for washing, and so two cycles is roughly 16kg. Although this is 1kg heavier than the advised weight for the Dry:Soon Deluxe, I’ve found no issues with it holding everything and it's still sturdy when in use.

It’s worth noting at this stage that there is a Dry:Soon Deluxe cover available to buy separately for an extra £45, which I imagine makes the drying time even shorter as it retains the heat. So, note to self: buy the cover!

How easy is it to move around and store the Dry:Soon Deluxe? 

I wouldn’t recommend trying to move it too far when it’s in use, as it can be tricky due to its larger size. However, when folded, the handle and plug holder make it very easy to transport up and down the stairs and around the house. 

You can buy detachable castors separately to make it easier to move around, but these are an additional £10 on top of the airer’s £200 price tag. My advice would be, if you’re planning to buy the deluxe version, find an area in your home where you’re happy for it to be placed when in use to avoid having to move it around the place. 

The bars get hot, but not too hot that they're a risk to children and pets

The airer has a handle that makes it easy to carry and move around your home

When not in use, the airer can fold flat and stored neatly

Is the Dry:Soon Deluxe clothes airer safe to use around children? 

While the bars heat up very quickly once turned out, they don’t get so hot that you can’t touch them. In fact, I can wrap my hand around one without discomfort. My DC decided to do the same. So, I can confidently say that you needn’t worry about any children in your home burning their fingers accidentally. Your dog or cat won’t be harmed, either!

When it’s both half or fully set up, the frame is sturdier than the original. Both my DC have tried to pull it over during testing, and both have failed. However, I wouldn’t recommend leaving your DC alone in a room with it! 

Dry:Soon Deluxe: does it offer value for money? 

I think so. Granted, it’s quite a lot of money upfront. But given that the original Dry:Soon has served a fellow tester for a whopping seven years without issue, I imagine the deluxe version would offer the same longevity, if not longer. 

The Dry:Soon Deluxe costs pennies to run - approximately 10p per hour, in fact. Which in our home, is far more affordable than running the tumble dryer every other day when it’s too cold to get the washing on the line. 

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert hailing from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she commissions, writes, and edits to bring parents content designed to make life easier. Having birthed two DC just 15 months apart, she knows all too well how stressful it can be to keep on top of your laundry when you’re managing a busy household. So, she’s fully invested in finding the best products for families. 

Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog.

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