Heated airer - can it really replace a tumble drier?

[chimichangaz]

I've seen lots of really positive posts about heated airers, especially the Lakeland one. I've just moved house and my condenser drier is currently in the dining room as there's no space in the kitchen. I'm deciding whether to redo the kitchen in the next couple of years in which case there will be space for a tumble drier (or I move the washer and drier to the bathroom which is a whole other thread...) but in the meantime I'm searching for solutions to the space issue.

Will a heated airer fully replace a tumble drier - including being able to dry towels so they are fluffy and not crispy? I'd still need to find somewhere to store it when not in use but it's the only solution I can think of.

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MNHQ

OP, I’m 65 with two DC and have never owned or needed a tumble drier in my life! The spin cycle on my washing machine is v effective, the clothes come out just damp, and I simply hang them on wire racks that hook over my radiators. Everything dries quickly and crease free, so I don’t need to do any ironing either.

I use my heated airer pretty much daily in the winter. I do have an old tumble drier, but only use is once every couple of months, and only when we need something drying very quickly (usually if we were going out spontaneously and something wasn't quite dry, so that doesn't happen anymore!)

I love mine but unfortunately the towels are crispy, though I consider it a bonus exfoliation.

No. It won’t replace, I’m pretty underwhelmed with mine!

Yes I don't use the tumble drier now, no shrunk clothes and as a bonus it's incredibly cheap to run

With one child I could manage with radiators. Then I got a heated airer when my twins were newborn and it was enough to keep on top of things- I'd wash a load or two and let it dry overnight. I got a tumble drier within a year though and it was the best thing I ever did. Everything can be washed, dried and put away immediately (it's not unusual for me to do three or four loads a day, mainly bedding from accidents.) Plus it makes towels fluffy which the airer didn't.

It probably comes down to how much washing you do really.

I have never had a tumble drier. I don’t have a heated airer either. I use a normal airer with a plug-in heater underneath and a sheet over the top to keep the heat in. Obviously, don’t leave the house with it still switched on. Or I put stuff on the radiators.

@chimichangaz

Yes they are fabulous

I've been on the verge of getting a tumble drier for months and since getting my Lakeland heated airier, it's definitely less of a priority

No, they’re fine, but for family of 4 don’t dry stuff fast enough, and tumble drier much, much better for sheets and towels.

So in your shoes would defo keep the dryer in dining room!

I've got to the age of 43 with neither. We bought a washing machine with a fast spin option (1400). We have an airer attached to the ceiling. We have a garden but never dry washing out there.

Why not get a washer-dryer? I don't think they're as good as separate appliances but ours is fine for drying towels and they stay soft. I don't trust it with clothes (don't want to shrink them) but it's handy for sheets, towels etc.

We bought a Lakeland heated airer recently and it works brilliantly in a small room with a dehumidifier running. Without the dehumidifier, it doesn't dry clothes very fast. Also, if you have limited space for a tumble dryer, it can be tricky to find space for a heated airer too - unless you have more space upstairs? But in that case you could probably put the tumble dryer upstairs.

I've never had a tumble drier but I can dry outside ; when we were in a flat with tiny DC I was always able to manage with airers .

I got a heated airer when my washer dryer broke. I've never had a tumble dryer alone though. The washer dryer wasn't great so no idea if a tumble dryer is good. I like my heated airer. Things dry so much quicker so there's no backlog of washing any more.

Second time today I've seen people say that a tumble dryer is essential with kids and I really don't get it. I use flat nappies and still don't have one / need one. We have a wooden airer by the radiator in the corner of the kitchen, and a second one in the nursery for overflow. In the summer we dry outside. Agree with first pp that a final spin on the washing makes everything that much quicker too.

I love my Lakeland heated dryer. I have a washer dryer which is enough for soft towels (dryer won't do this) and socks/ underwear if I have a lot to do.

They're excellent, but they're not as good at sheets and towels.

We had one for years, then we moved to sell our previous property and have no room for a tumble dryer here. Space for a dryer and massive dishwasher is a HUGE priority when house hunting again right now! Heated airers take ages to dry, make everywhere stuffy in the summer and you can’t get 2/3 loads done in a day.

Maybe it depends on lifestyle; we’re a full time working family with a toddler and I work evenings too (teacher).

We're a family of 4 and have a tumble dryer and heated airer (albeit not a Lakeland one. It works but I only use it for stuff I wouldn't tumble dry. It takes all day to dry - I couldn't strip the beds and do the towels over the weekend as I'd have nowhere to dry it all.

I think if you're used to having a dryer you'd miss it.

Dehumidifier!

That combined with a heater aired (we have a cheapy Aldi or home bargains one), a load dries within a few hours. We have a drier in the garage but I tend to use that for socks and pants as I can't be arsed having them all up, airer for everything else.

Where are you going to keep the heated aired? It’ll be up all the time in the winter and the footprint is the same as a tumble drier.

I have a washer dryer. Admittedly I only use the dryer for bed linen, socks and towels because the rest goes straight onto hangers.

I have something to hang things to dry using hangers (non electrical) but doing it from the door frames on the first floor has the same result, everything is dried over night.

We have a Lakeland heated airer. Is ok, but we found the room really suffered with lots of condensation. We bought a de-humidifier which has been amazing and definitely replaces the need for a tumble drier. Was expensive, but we don't have space in our kitchen for a tumble drier and I personally don't like the two in one washer/ drier machines.

I’ve never had a heater airer or tumble dryer. I know there is only the 3 of us and DS is 12 now but normal airers, either outside or inside if it’s raining have always been fine for us. We do have a huge upstairs landing where I can hang big things like duvets s maybe that helps?

Bought a Lakeland heated airer with the cover . It was rubbish . Sent it back and got a refund