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Heated clothes dryer

(51 Posts)
Rosiebee Sun 17-Nov-24 14:09:47

We've been using a dehumidifier to help dry clothes but DH has been looking at heated clothes dryers to speed up during especially in the winter months. I'm looking at some on Lakeland but they do get mixed reviews. They're cheap to run but not to buy. Don't want to end up with a white elephant. Anyone any experiences with them? Thanks

Oldbat1 Sun 17-Nov-24 14:18:17

Dh was this morning reading Martin Lewis article discussing tumble driers v heated airers v dehumidifiers. Seemingly according to DH that dehumidifiers came out top. I havent read it myself as yet so please dont shoot the messenger!

winterwhite Sun 17-Nov-24 14:24:18

I have a Lakeland one, the medium size one. Had it 5 or 6 and very pleased with it. Use it for socks, woollens etc. It comes with a cover that saves the air in the room from getting damp. Anything tougher, incl sheets and towels go in the tumble drier in winter or if wet in summer.

MiniMoon Sun 17-Nov-24 17:26:11

I have one bought from QVC. It is very similar to the ones in Lakeland. I use it mainly for drying items that you can't tumble dry, but with the cost of energy at present it is getting a lot more use.
Mine also comes with a cover.

Ziplok Sun 17-Nov-24 17:41:03

I’ve got a Lakeland one and like it. However, it does not dry clothes quickly and I tend not to over fill it. Having said that, I would not be without it - it earns its keep during the winter months. I did buy the cover to go with it, which I think helps speed up the drying process.

Doodledog Sun 17-Nov-24 17:47:24

I agree with Ziplok. I use mine mostly for jumpers which can't be tumble dried or hung on the line (hand knits, on the whole) and it is excellent for drying flat.

It dries more efficiently that way (including jeans, towels and other large items) than when you hang clothes over the bars. It's also good for 'smalls' that I don't want on radiators when it's not drying weather outside.

BlueBelle Sun 17-Nov-24 17:59:56

I bought one and found it useless and got rid of it and

TerriBull Sun 17-Nov-24 18:07:39

We got one from Dunelm, have to say pretty useless. Having since read reviews it does seem the more expensive ones work efficiently, in particular a zip up tent like affair from Lakekand came out topd, not cheap as much as a tumble dryer the reviewer commented, but so much cheaper as far as on going electricity bills are concerned.

Casdon Sun 17-Nov-24 18:14:21

I’ve got a three tier Lakeland one, it’s probably about 8 years old now. I love it, it dries two loads of washing at once, I put towels flat on the shelves with other clothes on the rails beneath, and I hang shirts, jumpers and my sons sweatshirts on hangers at the ends. It’s really very efficient, it warms up the room it’s in very well, so I switch off the radiator. I’ve never had any problem with condensation. I’ve got a washer/dryer too, but I don’t need to use the dryer often, sometimes for towels and duvet sets.

blueskies6 Sun 17-Nov-24 18:25:41

I love my Drysoon 3 tier dryer from Lakeland. I bought the cover too. I don't have room for tumble drier. No trouble with condensation and warms the room. More of a faff but doesn't shrink clothes. Highly recommend.

Visgir1 Sun 17-Nov-24 18:26:36

I can remember when I was little, my Mum had a "Flatley" same sort of thing, must have been late 50 s early 60 for me to remember it.
She used it for years, great lump of a thing in the corner of the kitchen, I assumed it worked fine.

Patsy70 Sun 17-Nov-24 18:27:43

I’ve got a pulley clothes drier in our laundry room, and would recommend it, rather than anything else. Clothes dry overnight during the Winter. In the Summer, when it’s dry, my washing dries outside on a rotary line.

Mollygo Sun 17-Nov-24 18:31:56

We have a middle sized one and the biggest bonus so far this year with all the wet weather, has been draping my coverless duvet over it. even with socks etc on the lower shelves it dries it quite quickly.

Doodledog Sun 17-Nov-24 18:39:52

Yes, the combo of heated airer and coverless duvet is great one. The duvets dry very quickly just over the bannister, but the airer speeds it up even more.

w1u7 Sun 17-Nov-24 18:43:19

I bought mine from QVC. It comes with a hood and I really like it.Very efficient and is so cheap compared to a tumble dryer

MayBee70 Sun 17-Nov-24 18:50:30

I’ve got.a small one but can’t really fit a lot of clothes on it. The one that would be big enough is too big for most homes. I still have a dehumidifier next to it as I had a mould problem in the house last year. I drape a duvet cover over it instead of buying a cover.

Retread Sun 17-Nov-24 19:00:56

I have a £49 one from Aldi (bought a few years ago). It’s very efficient for drying small loads, so I don’t do big washes.

Heavy duty trousers etc go into the tumble dryer up for 20 mins or so and then finished on the heated dryer. Sheets too and then over the banister smile

No humidifier, I open the window a crack.

I don’t like using the tumble dryer to properly dry everything, too harsh on fabrics.

Cid24 Mon 18-Nov-24 12:46:32

I bought a three tier one from Lakeland last week- not impressed! It’s going back today! I’m going to try a de humidifier next!

Jojo1950 Mon 18-Nov-24 13:02:35

I bought the John Lewis Dryer.
Fabulous and kitchen is warm too.

LeslieL Mon 18-Nov-24 13:32:50

So where does the water go when you use a heated drier? Surely into the house atmosphere at some point, and that won’t do the house any good.
At least with a dehumidifier you empty the water down the drain. And it’s amazing how much water they suck out of the air.

Mojack26 Mon 18-Nov-24 13:34:30

Depends what you get I suppose! Mine is just like a heated airer...next to useless as it's all heated rails. Can't dry a lot at a time....

Davisuz Mon 18-Nov-24 14:06:49

I have the large Lakeland one and it's not useless at all. It doesn't of course dry like the tumble dryer and will take hours but So much cheaper, I think 12p an hour and warms the room at the same time. I throw a clean old sheet over it - you don't need an expensive cover. If I have a load of wet towels, blankets etc then I use the dehumidifier at the same time.

Moth62 Mon 18-Nov-24 14:32:17

All my sons have the Lakeland airers plus covers and they’re excellent. I used to drape a duvet cover/sheet over the middle son’s airer to create the heated cupboard effect, but found it got dangerously hot. In the end, I bought them a proper cover and it’s wonderful. Can be left on all night quite safely. Great for any clothes, but especially for their children’s clothes. Takes quite a few hours to get everything dry though and sometimes entails removing smaller dried items and spreading out the larger/thicker items to finish off.

mrsgreenfingers56 Mon 18-Nov-24 14:35:09

Purchased one recently from Dunelm but not really impressed. Seems to take ages to dry clothing and you have to move things round a bit. Think I will stick to finding a good sunny day in the winter and get the washing out on the line!

Chicklette Mon 18-Nov-24 14:37:44

I have a large Lakeland heated airer with cover and it’s great. I’ve had it 4 or 5 years now. I have a washer/dryer, but try not to use the tumble dryer but too often due to the cost. So I use the airer. I have it turned on with the cover over , then at night I turn it off and remove the cover. Most things are dry by the next day.