Dehumidifier vs heated airer

[SoMuchAnger]

I've done a search but can't seem to find the answer to this question.

Along with many others I am trying not to use the tumble dryer. It's an A rated appliance (Miele, good brand) but for some reason will only completely dry clothes on the longest setting. So uses a load of electricity. Over 5 years old now so out of warranty. Reluctant to spend £500+ on a new one. Will suck up cost occasionally for towels etc.

So using the rotary airer as much as possible and then finishing off inside on clothes horses in a small utility room. Can take a while as only a small radiator in there and leads to garage so not particularly warm room.

Considering either a heated airer or a dehumidifier. I wonder which is more efficient both drying wise and electricity wise? I believe dehumidifier is more expensive but maybe this is the way to go.

Opinions/ experiences welcome please.

About 2 litres per wash load I think.

I have got my washing on my lakeland airer in the living room. It is comfortably warm and the heating is off. I used to have the airer in the kitchen but will keep it in the living room now. I have had my airer nearly 20 years and it is one of the best things I ever bought.

@borntobequiet yes I think that’s something people underestimate, how bad it is to dry clothes indoors without a dehumidifier even if it’s a non heated airer.

You don't necessarily need a dehumidifier with drying washing inside - we have a wood burning stove and that does a great job of reducing humidity. For us, the heated airer is enough. (Before anyone says anything about woodburners, we are rural and not on mains gas).

I used to have a woodburner - also rural - but needed a dehumidifier as well because the burner wasn’t always lit and I dried washing upstairs, away from the burner. I agree that the through draught created by a burner or open fire can limit humidity.

Not true.
I’ve been drying clothes indoors for 40 years and never had an issue with damp.
the vast majority of people do not have a dehumidifier and manage perfectly well. folk have damp towels in their house every single day, as well as steam from a shower/bath, don’t have a dehumidifier and manage just fine with no damp issues.

i can see it might be an issue if your house is hermetically sealed and you never open windows, but surely folk know to open windows after a shower etc?

never had an issue with damp

mould? Allergies? It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a serious issue with damp in the building. But it isn’t very good for the house or you to have a damp home.

There is no mould.
because my house is not, and never has been damp.

i am allergic to penicillin but medical science has never connected this to dehumidifiers

most people do not have dehumidifiers.

it is perfectly normal to dry clothes indoors without a dehumidifier and not to have a damp house.

i am allergic to penicillin but medical science has never connected this to dehumidifiers

there’s no need to be rude. I’m not fucking stupid. Mould and damp can cause allergic symptoms similar to hay fever.

I have it too, I'm very pleased with the purchase. I wasn't too convinced at first, but recently I emptied the tank on Friday eve and had to empty it again on Sunday morning. Collected 2.5L of water in 1.5 day and it's not even winter.

How many times do I have to tell you there is no damp or mould in my house.
it isn't hard to understand.

however, writing Mould? Allergies? and expecting a reader to somehow understand what you actually mean is Mould and damp can cause allergic symptoms similar to hay fever is somewhat obtuse.

I do it, but it doesn't work in my house. Downstairs is very warm and dry despite cooking, drying clothes etc. and upstairs steam always builds up on the windows or during showering and it won't go, especially when humidity is high outside. We never have black mould or so, but air is quite "obvious". Not sure why, maybe because of cold attic?

We live in an old house prone to condensation on windows (single glazed). We bought an Ebac about 20 years ago. It looks like this:
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/2250e/ebac-2250e

I shove it on for a couple hours/week in winter on each floor.

It's so weird. I have a heated airer and a dehumidifier. Lakeland airer and a black and decker dehumidifier so decent ones
Washing went on the airer 9pm last night. I put the airer and dehumidifier on this morning at 9am. Still not dry

i can see it might be an issue if your house is hermetically sealed and you never open windows, but surely folk know to open windows after a shower etc?

My house is far from hermetically sealed!

People have said to me that they dry clothes indoors and their house isn’t damp, but when I go in the air in the house feels damp to me. Of course no one has to have a dehumidifier or any appliance they don’t want, but people do seem to get particularly offended by the suggestion that one might be necessary, I’m not sure why.

Do you cover your airer with a sheet or something? I use a large table cloth and wrap it round the sides and secure with clothes pegs. I did a load of towels, face cloths, oven gloves and dish cloths, hung them up 3 hours ago and only the thick towels are still a bit damp. The airer is warming the room nicely.

people do seem to get particularly offended by the suggestion that one might be necessary

equally, some people seem to be particularly incredulous and express their disbelief at the idea that the lack of a dehumidifier does not not equate to damp and/or mould in a house.

@endofthelinefinally yep, there's a duvet cover over it