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AIBU?

Does anyone have a heated clothes airer?

97 replies

Scaredypup · 10/09/2022 09:26

Am I stupid to spend yet more money on another gimmick in a bid so save money in the long run? In the winter I rely on the heating to dry clothes. I do a load a day and if it doesn’t dry I start running out of places to put it.
i also hate airers as they’re an eye sore but I have one in my room all year round so wouldn’t want a huge one.
Are they worth it?

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Am I being unreasonable?

38 votes. Final results.

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79%
Funkyblues101 · 10/09/2022 10:07

Lookingforrecommendations · 10/09/2022 09:32

We looked into it, it works out cheaper to tumble dry

Although airers do not prematurely age clothes/linens like tumbledryers.

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bumpertobumper · 10/09/2022 10:20

I bought one, after reading many threads like this on here. But it never worked properly and I returned it.
I covered it, but nothing dried properly unless laid flat on the bars, so could only dry a few items at a time. Tried lots of different ways, didn't get on with it.
Bit baffled tbh how people get them to work.

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SlightlySummerStill · 10/09/2022 10:22

MakeMineALarge1 · 10/09/2022 10:06

@Scaredypup had a drier for over 25 years, never had one thing shrink in it

I’ve shrunk loads of cotton t shirts and various jumpers in ours, so always leave these out of the tumble dryer to dry on hangers

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Sherrystrull · 10/09/2022 10:24

Thank you! We have a dryer but with lots of sports kit and uniform that shrinks, I have tons of stuff that can't be dried in it. Our garage isn't generally damp so it sounds like a goer! Exciting!

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TrashPandas · 10/09/2022 10:50

Yes and it isn't a gimmick. It does what it says and makes drying clothes much easier in the winter.

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WobblyLondoner · 10/09/2022 10:58

I finally bought one last winter after dithering for years. It is a game changer for us - whereas previously we had various dryers dotted around the house now we have one big one which will dry everything except the bulkiest items overnight.

2 buts.

  1. You have to cover them - they just don't work without a cover. I bought the official one but as others have said you could use a sheet. AND


  1. it is flipping enormous. Look at the measurements carefully and make sure it will fit. Ours needs to be moved from one room to another and only just fits through the door when fully open.


All that said I'd replace it in a shot if it broke.

Has never crossed my mind to get a dehumidifier. Perhaps our house too drafty but condensation hasn't ever been a problem.
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Doorhandleghost · 10/09/2022 10:59

I also have the Lakeland 3 tier one - wouldn't be without it now.

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JamesWilbyFanClub · 10/09/2022 11:11

I've got the John Lewis heated airer. £100 .It doesn't come with a cover - I didn't like the grey covers that come with the Dry:soon airers, and as it's going to be 'on display' in my small house, I didn't want grey and I cover it in a plain white sheet .
I also considered the drying pod/ cabinets which have a fan heater. They are expensive to run but take less time to dry.
I used to put the central heating on all year round to dry my washing. I am planning on absolute minimal central heating this winter and can see the airer will be useful and economical.
Also bought a slow cooker, plus torches, phone power packs and battery recharger in case of disruptions to electricity supply.

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catandcoffee · 10/09/2022 11:21

A friend has just got one....it does take up a lot of space though.

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Mumspair1 · 10/09/2022 11:44

Marshmallow12345 · 10/09/2022 10:01

A dehumidifier, think it was about £50 off Amazon, has been amazing for getting our stuff dry. It's always dry in 24 hours, often half that if it's spread out nicely. We worked out how much it cost to run last year and it's was pennies a day, so even with price rises it won't be much.

Which one did you get? I'm a bit skeptical about the airer.

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teaandtoastwithmarmite · 10/09/2022 11:47

I have one black and decker. Works really well. No cover

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greenacrylicpaint · 10/09/2022 11:53

I have one in the (drafty) attic. I think they work best in drafty environments. in previous house it was in a drafty lean-to/conservatory.

things dry fast(ish) up there. a full load usually dries over night.

however I only have it switched on if I need clothes dryer quicker.

they are not as fast as a drying appliance though. not comparable. think of them as airer+ instead.

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Marshmallow12345 · 10/09/2022 12:08

Mumspair1 · 10/09/2022 11:44

Which one did you get? I'm a bit skeptical about the airer.

This is the one we've got Pro Breeze® 1500ml Dehumidifier for Damp, Mould, Moisture in Home, Kitchen, Bedroom, Caravan, Office, Garage amzn.eu/5IWchFQ?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

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Scaredypup · 10/09/2022 15:33

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 10/09/2022 09:59

I always suspected this especially when people start talking about also adding a dehumidifier also!

But surely most stuff can’t be tumble dried?

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Scaredypup · 10/09/2022 15:34

Marshmallow12345 · 10/09/2022 10:01

A dehumidifier, think it was about £50 off Amazon, has been amazing for getting our stuff dry. It's always dry in 24 hours, often half that if it's spread out nicely. We worked out how much it cost to run last year and it's was pennies a day, so even with price rises it won't be much.

I have a dehumidifier as o had a damp and mould problem a couple of years back. I don’t find it makes a huge difference.

OP posts:
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LilacPoppy · 10/09/2022 15:36

I haven't found heat pump dryers to shrink clothes. They cheaper to run too.

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Scaredypup · 10/09/2022 15:36

MakeMineALarge1 · 10/09/2022 10:06

@Scaredypup had a drier for over 25 years, never had one thing shrink in it

Really? I very rarely put clothes in mine, if I do it’s just for 10 mins to finish them off if I need to wear it. But, I’ve definitely had pyjamas shrink in it. Nighties come out shorter, as do trousers so now I literally only use it for bedding and towels.

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Shiloh139 · 10/09/2022 15:40

I have one from Lakeland for the past couple of years and it definitely dries out clothes quicker than the normal drier. I'm getting another one shortly, to try and keep our energy costs down and use the tumble dryer less this winter. They dry much more effectively with a cover over them but we use a spare double duvet cover, a lot cheaper than buying the Lakeland dryer cover and it works a treat.

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Partypoooooper · 10/09/2022 15:42

I can't speak for a heated airer as I don't have one but I would definitely recommend a dehumidifier.

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YoniWheretheSunDontShine · 10/09/2022 15:42

@PianoHouseBanger

Which dehumidifier please and do you mean used in conjunction with the airers thank you

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YoniWheretheSunDontShine · 10/09/2022 15:42

@Partypoooooper which one!!

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Glorieta · 10/09/2022 15:50

Bought the John Lewis 3 tier airer and used it for the first time on Monday.

Its in the corner of the kitchen out of the way so not taking up any more space than my usual airer.

I Spread a load of towels on it over 3 bars each and covered it with a large sheet.

Turned it off after 3 hours, left the sheet on overnight and the towels were completely dry by morning.

Did the same last night with DC clothes - smaller so easier to drape over. 3 hours of airer then off and they are all dry, even school sweatshirts.

Think its going to be a game changer between washing less often, using economy 30 min wash for everything except bedding and towels and me going back in the office 4 days per week. I guess time will tell but so far so good

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Disneyblueeyes · 10/09/2022 15:52

If you did your washing on say, a Saturday morning, wouldn't they be dry by Sunday night on just a normal airer? Stick the airer outside if it's dry even in winter?

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/09/2022 16:14

I bought one from Aldi a couple of years ago , it's a verticle flat , with six bars .
It's kept on the upstairs landing next to an airer that overhangs the stairwell .
I've got an airer above the door to the box room/ storeoom (doesn't have a door)

I bought a dehimidifier a couple of years ago as I noticed the amount of condensation on the windows which has now gone .
And it helps with hanging laundry .

I'd buy the JL one with the shoe dryer on the bottom rung , might look when I'm there next at the size of it .

Airer is good for anything I don't want to tumble dry like DD very £ sweatshirt that's on there now .

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DinkBoo · 10/09/2022 16:31

I bought an Aldi 3 tier one, with shoe dryer last year (and a cover included). We have used airers and a dehumidifier with laundry setting for years, and I have to admit, the electric airer feels like a slight waste of money. I ended up using it last winter for heavier things to just speed them along, but it's not noticeably better than our 3 and 4 tiered unheated airers plus dehumidifier.

(the shoe driers are great if you live somewhere rainy though! And preheating slipper socks on them feels very luxurious)

The cats like to go under the cover when it's on, but it was bloody expensive for a luxury cat warmer tent!

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