Do dehumidifiers save you money?
Yes and no - the rise in popularity of dehumidifiers in recent years comes mainly from the hike in energy prices meaning people are using their central heating more frugally. Combined with drying washing indoors over the winter months makes for a damper home: enter the dehumidifier.
Dehumidifiers help ameliorate the effects of having the central heating on less, and many models are designed to be much cheaper to run than a central heating system - from around 4p per hour. So in the long run, it's worth paying a little more for a dehumidifier with a low hourly cost, as it'll save your home from getting mouldy while costing less over the years to use.
Why do I need a dehumidifier?
Dark patches on your walls, condensation on your windows and patches of black mould or mildew are all signs your house is suffering from damp - this happens when the humidity level regularly goes above 60%.
A lack of ventilation, leaky pipes or poor insulation can cause damp, but daily life does have an impact, too – for instance, cooking, showers and drying washing indoors all add excess moisture to the air. And some houses, built before the advent of central heating and decent extractor fans, just aren’t up to coping with modern life.
So, how does that affect you? Living in a mouldy and damp home can cause serious health issues, particularly for allergy and asthma sufferers, which include an increased risk of respiratory illness and infections. Additionally, damp can make your home look unattractive and give it a musty smell, with the excess moisture causing damage to your walls, carpet, ceiling and furniture.
What does a dehumidifier do?
A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air to dry out the room, depositing it safely inside its water tank until you are ready to pour it away. Its job is to help you reach the optimum humidity level, and some even act as an air purifier, removing allergens and dust through their filter.
They can range in price from £30 to £450. Cheaper units tend to have a smaller capacity. They won’t always have extra features such as wheels, variable humidity levels or a laundry mode, but that may be enough for a small space or to treat a mild damp problem. The more expensive models tend to be more energy-efficient in larger rooms or households, but that doesn’t always mean they are the most effective.
Dehumidifiers do not kill mould, but they help make it inert and stop it from spreading (the spores love humid air!). You need a dehumidifier to treat the underlying cause and a good mould killer to eliminate it completely. Here’s our guide to the best mould removers so you can clean it off any surface and stop it from regrowing.
When is Black Friday 2024?
Black Friday this year is on Friday, November 29 2024. That's the official date, but many retailers will hold sales and discounts throughout November, so if you're shopping for Christmas presents, you don't have to wait until the offical Black Friday day to bag a bargain. Cyber Monday 2024 is Monday, December 2nd.
What's the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Traditionally, Black Friday is an in-store event where shoppers could expect big discounts on items earmarked for Christmas shopping. Cyber Monday is the same but online. However, now that more and more people do their Christmas shopping online, there is less of a distinction between the two and many retailers roll the sales period into one. Either way, you can expect some big discounts over this crucial shopping weekend, particularly on tech products such as e-readers.
What’s the best way to get a Black Friday 2024 deal?
From Mumsnet users' favourite brands to the products we know you'll love, we'll be on the hunt throughout November for the biggest savings around.
Best John Lewis Black Friday deals: find savings on tech, beauty and more for 2024
Best Black Friday air fryer deals: including Ninja, Instant Pot and Tefal - enjoy savings on these popular, and very useful kitchen gadget
Best tablet deals Black Friday: whether you're searching for a big present for your child or are wanting to upgrade your own kit, these are are the best offers this year
Best Black Friday toy deals: tips for shopping the sales, plus our pick of the top savings on children's toys in 2024
Best Black Friday LEGO deals: from DUPLO to Harry Potter to Frozen, we'll be seeking out the LEGO offers you don't want to miss
Best Black Friday baby product deals: save big money on popular brands like Bugaboo, Silver Cross and Babyzen
Black Friday vacuum cleaner deals: step up your cleaning routine with these robot, cordless and standard vacuum cleaners
Best Black Friday washing machine deals: Black Friday is the ideal time to get a discount on expensive appliances – here are our top picks
Best Black Friday beauty deals: our team will be finding the best beauty bargains in 2024 – including on popular brands like Charlotte Tilbury, NIP+FAB and Urban Decay
Best Boden Black Friday deals: we love Boden's quality knitwear and dresses (with pockets!). We'll be bringing you their offers on this page
Best Black Friday tumble dryer deals: save on brands like Bosch, Sharp and LG
Best Amazon Black Friday deals: a round-up of all the best bargains on Amazon during the Prime Big Deal day and Black Friday sales
Best Barbie deals: huge deals on Barbie favourites including the popular Dreamhouse
Best Black Friday mattress deals: massive bargains to be snapped up from big-name mattress brands
About the author
Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.
With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.