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Are heated clothes airers worth it?

86 replies

SecondClassReturnToDottinghamPlease · 25/09/2023 11:18

I'm thinking of getting one. There seem to be a lot for sale on FB marketplace and I'm wondering if that's because people don't use them or they aren't very good. Do you have one and is it worth the price to buy/run?


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OP posts:
JustAMinutePleass · 25/09/2023 12:38

SecondClassReturnToDottinghamPlease · 25/09/2023 12:31

Thanks, this is helpful. I live in a flat and don't have a tumble dryer as no space so am thinking of getting one. Added bonus if they warm the room too!

Consider a washer dryer first. In a small flat I’d be worried about the fire risk of the heated airer

PostOpOp · 25/09/2023 12:42

Yes, what do people mean by "good ventilation"?
Presumably that it creates dampness in the room? Where does the water evaporate to?

OP I have a regular non-heated dryer and a dehumidifier that has a laundry setting. That might be useful?

No idea about the electricity usage vs tumble drier though as I haven't checked.

OneHundredOtters · 25/09/2023 12:44

SecondClassReturnToDottinghamPlease · 25/09/2023 12:31

Thanks, this is helpful. I live in a flat and don't have a tumble dryer as no space so am thinking of getting one. Added bonus if they warm the room too!

This is exactly what they are perfect for. Especially if there is only one or two of you so not loads of washing.

In summer we don't tend to turn it on unless we need something in a hurry as it makes the flat a bit hot but we also don't really use the heating in winter.

We have a little digital thermometer which measures humidity and we don't have any issue, although we always have the windows open.

Smartstuffed · 25/09/2023 12:47

I use mine, a Lakeland old style one with a dehumidifier. No space for a tumble dryer in my house. I don't have a cover for it so improvise with a sheet. I have a standard folding airer so use that as well if I find I have a lot of washing.

Gettingbysomehow · 25/09/2023 12:52

I don't have room for a dryer and clothes take 2 days to dry if I hang them from the door frames so a heated dryer is essential.

morekidsthanhands · 25/09/2023 12:55

I looked into one but we have a lot of washing on the go and size wise it wouldn't cut it.
Just incase anyone is looking at this in the same boat, I ended up buying a really tall airer and a dehumidifier and it works great.
I do miss my dryer for nice soft towels though...

Howtohideasausage · 25/09/2023 13:05

Love mine. Had it ten years now. We have a largish bedroom (cold) so it warms that in the winter. I don’t have a drier.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 25/09/2023 13:36

I thought of getting one but I find using an airer with my ( cheap to run) dehumidifier)on is effective.
I live in a tiny flat alone

TabbyBeast · 26/09/2023 22:02

Mine definitely didn't warm the room up op I'm afraid.

Perfectlystill · 26/09/2023 22:04

Absolutely yes. I love ours and use it all the time

Furryrug · 26/09/2023 22:08

I had the Lakeland one with the cover and sent it back, utterly useless.

deplorabelle · 26/09/2023 22:26

They do use slightly less energy than a condenser tumble dryer provided you can fit all the washing on in one go but the difference is minimal (and they use more if you have to dry in two batches). You do have to be aware that all the moisture in the clothes will be released into the air making it damper inside your house, whereas a dryer with a condenser, or a dehumidifier will prevent the damp from entering your indoor air.

If you have room, a tumble dryer is much less hassle for not much more energy. If you have money to buy a heat pump tumble dryer it will use less energy than heated airer or dehumidifier, will keep the moisture from the clothes out of your indoor air AND you won't have to have laundry festooning the house for days on end either.

Perfectlystill · 27/09/2023 06:50

Heated airers are far cheaper than tinker dryers - less than half the cost in energy terms to dry a load of washing. Tumble dryers are terrible in terms of energy use.

I have the Lakeland one and it's several years old and still going strong. We use it in a spare bedroom and have the windows open. It's a fairly small room and does warm it up.

Perfectlystill · 27/09/2023 06:50

Tumble not tinker!

EquallyDetermined · 27/09/2023 06:57

I'm planning to sell ours, it takes up too much space and takes ages to dry a full load (that's with a sheet over it and by an open window), I don't think it saves much over our tumble dryer and it takes ages to load and unload it. I made a determined effort to line dry outside through the winter last year just finishing off in the tumble dryer to save money instead.

Hopingforno2in2023 · 27/09/2023 06:59

We have the Lakeland one and it is great. We have a lot of clothes that can’t be tumble dried so in the winter it would be a nightmare to dry stuff without it.

greenacrylicpaint · 27/09/2023 07:05

they are great as an airer+

they are not a tumble dryer equivalent though. so don't expect clothes to dry instantly.

washed jeans (10 pairs) last night and they are dry this morning. just hanging on the line would have taken at least until this evening.

avocadotofu · 27/09/2023 07:08

Yes we absolutely love ours.

AmIAutumnalNow · 27/09/2023 07:31

They're rubbish

Takes days to dry clothes properly and really awkward to hang things on

howmanyflutes · 27/09/2023 07:37

We have ours in a well ventilated room and to dry things tend to run it for 2 to 4 hrs and then leave overnight which works well for us

Very thick things may need longer ( thrown on the towel rail to finish )

GigiAnnna · 27/09/2023 07:42

I bought one from Amazon for about £40, I've had it 3 years and it's still going strong. I normally use in Autumn/ Winter when stuff doesn't dry on the line outside as fast and then I finish it off in the tumble dryer. The downside is that if you haven't got a lot of space, it'll get in the way and it takes ages to dry things, but they are worth it for saving on time in the dryer.

CrunchyCarrot · 27/09/2023 07:49

I have the Lakeland one (minus cover). It's great. Can get clothes dry far faster in autumn/winter, I leave the window open a little. Highly recommend it.

Azaeleasinbloom · 27/09/2023 07:51

I have a Lakeland one, and it’s a nice to have , but I would not replace it if it dies. I have the cover, but I find it a bit bulky , and no matter where I put it, it’s always in the way.
I have set it up in the garage in the past , but that’s a trek. Tumble Dryer or dehumidifier work better for me.

summerisnearlyhere · 27/09/2023 07:55

No, ours didn't dry the clothes at all, only where they touched the bars, and you had to space out the clothes using every 2-3 bars otherwise nothing dried and ended up smelling damp.

Flamingnorahs · 27/09/2023 07:57

I must have been doing something wrong or had a really rubbish one, we thought it was useless. Took far too long to dry. Had a cover, too. Also assive and bulky. Ended up selling it. Still unsure how to dry ruddy clothes in autumn now though as I refuse to use tumble dryer!

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