Best quiet dehumidifiers for discreetly drying clothes and minimising damp

Tested by Mumsnet editor Poppy O’Neill: Read our full Meaco MeacoDry Arete One review

When users ask for the best dehumidifier in the Mumsnet forums, Meaco is a brand that is recommended time and time again, praised by Mumsnet users for its high quality, portable designs that offer low running volumes and impressive performance.

The Arete One is the easiest model here to recommend for a home with both damp and indoor washing. Poppy ran it in the middle of her three-bedroom house and found that it collected a useful amount of water without dominating the room. She could wheel it between spaces and liked the laundry mode, which stops when the target humidity is reached. Its 2.5-litre tank is practical for regular use, and the HEPA filter adds an air-purifying function.

It costs more than a mini dehumidifier, though, and its stated noise level varies across Mumsnet's current guides. The 38 dBA figure shown here should be checked against the exact 12L model and setting before publication. Poppy's first-hand verdict is that it was unobtrusive in daily use, not that it was silent. Households dealing with a single tiny damp spot can spend less; those drying clothes regularly will get more use from its capacity and laundry mode.

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Tested by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our full Russell Hobbs Mini Dehumidifier review

If you’re working with a smaller budget but want to remove dampness, humidity and moisture from smaller spaces such as utility rooms or home offices measuring up to 15m2, this budget-friendly mini dehumidifier from Russell Hobbs could be the ideal choice.

Laura found this little Russell Hobbs easy to fit into a small room and quiet enough to fade into the background. At under a kilogram, it's simple to move, and it shuts off when the 600ml tank fills. It's a sensible buy for a home office or utility room where space and cost matter more than speed.

Its stated extraction is only 300ml a day, so it isn't a cut-price substitute for a full-size machine when a room is persistently damp or washing is drying indoors. Laura also found that the small tank needed regular emptying. That's the trade-off behind its low price and compact size.

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Reviewed by Poppy O’Neill: Read our in-depth Meaco Arete Two review

The newer, upgraded version of the MeacoDry Arete One, the MeacoDry Arete Two adds app control and a clearer set of controls to a 12L machine that can handle wet washing as well as day-to-day humidity. Poppy found it straightforward to set up and use. Its humidity sensor stops the motor when the room reaches the chosen level, which is more useful than leaving a machine running continuously. The stated low-speed figure is 35 dBA, and Quiet Mark certification gives another useful point of reference.

This is the expensive choice for someone who wants a full-size dehumidifier with smart controls. Those features won't be worth paying for if a simple on/off model will do. The guide should also check that its warranty and running-cost figures match the exact Arete Two 12L listing before they appear in the comparison data.

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Tested by Mumsnet editor Poppy O’Neill: Read our full EcoAir Piccola review

If you're looking for a way of keeping on top of drying laundry or reducing moisture in a smallish room, but don't love the prospect of a great big white box in your home, this compact dehumidifier could be the solution. It even comes with a kit to mount it on the wall.

Poppy liked the Piccola because it did useful work without taking over a smaller room. Its desiccant design also sends out warm air, which she appreciated in colder weather. She found the tank easy to empty, although it is small, and continuous drainage is available for longer runs.

It's important to be precise about the noise: the lower setting is quiet, but the upper end doesn't belong in an “under 40 dB” promise. It's best for someone who needs a compact machine and can choose a quieter setting, not someone expecting the same sound level at every speed.

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Reviewed by Rebecca Roberts: Read our full Silentnight Airmax 300 Dehumidifier review

Once the temperature starts to drop, it’s quite common to experience some condensation on your bedroom windows, largely due to the amount of sweat and warm air we breathe out as we sleep (gross right?). While a dehumidifier can be helpful to remove excess moisture, some compressor models can be noisy. The Silentnight dehumidifier is a quiet alternative using energy-efficient Pelitier technology, it’s made specifically for a bedroom environment.

Rebecca tested this in a bedroom and described the sound as a gentle white noise that didn't disturb her sleep. The controls are simple and the unit switches off when its tank is full. At a stated 35 dB, it's a small-space option for someone who is more sensitive to a compressor's hum than to soft background noise.

The light was noticeable at night, and Rebecca found the controls harder to use in the dark. It can collect up to 300ml a day, so it's aimed at light condensation rather than a serious damp problem or a rack of wet laundry. Sleepers who need a completely dark room should factor that light into the decision.

The DD3 Classic's 11L stated extraction, 4.3-litre tank and laundry mode make more sense for a larger room than the mini machines in this guide. Its desiccant design releases warm air while it works, and the display shows the room's humidity. The guide lists its noise at 36 dB.

It's bulkier to move, with no wheels or convenient carry handle listed in the current guide. The published copy doesn't identify a named Mumsnet hands-on tester for this exact model, so this recommendation should be presented as a researched pick supported by specifications and Mumsnet user feedback until that evidence is confirmed. Don't describe its 36 dB figure as a Mumsnet measurement.

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Reviewed by Mumsnet editor Poppy O'Neill: Read our full Unibond Aero 360 Moisture Absorber review

While it's not technically a dehumidifier, this refillable moisture absorber is brilliant for damp corners and small spaces, where you might otherwise need to have a dehumidifier running 24/7 to keep on top of the problem.

Poppy has used the AERO 360 in a damp corner of her sitting room and found that it made a difference there. It uses no motor or electricity, so it makes no operational noise at all. That's useful for a cupboard, a problem window or a small patch of condensation.

It works slowly and isn't an electric dehumidifier. It won't dry a load of washing or control humidity across a large room. The refill tablets also create an ongoing cost. Its place in this guide is as the silent, small-area alternative, rather than a like-for-like competitor to the powered machines above.

Refills are available in multipacks, working out around £3 per refill, which is a pretty good price, especially as other moisture absorbers are single-use.