Financial Guru Labels Tumble Dryers 'Demon Appliances,' Urging People To Use More Affordable Option

Martin says there is a more cost-effective solution, suggesting people opt for using dehumidifiers instead.

Stephanie

• Published in Technology
• October 15, 2024

As the British Winter fast approaches, finance guru Martin Lewis is urging Brits to get rid of their tumble dryers and opt for using dehumidifiers to dry their clothes instead. Martin says tumble dryers are far too costly to run and has even gone as far as labelling them 'demon appliances.'

Of course, successfully drying clothing during the Winter months can be challenging and can lead to problems like condensation and mould if items are not appropriately aired. However, Martin says there is a more cost-effective solution, suggesting people opt for using dehumidifiers instead.

As the name suggests, a dehumidifier works to remove moisture from the air. So, it makes sense that it could also work well to assist in drawing out dampness from clothes hanging on a drying rack.

But which dehumidifier should you buy? Shopping writer Sam Jones purchased the Russell Hobbs 10L dehumidifier, and he noticed an immediate difference.

"It not only eliminated the overnight window condensation, but it now allows me to dry clothes on an airer on rainy days, without having to turn on the heating," he said.

"You simply turn it on, shut the door of the room it's in, and it starts working," Sam explained. "It takes quite a few hours, especially with thicker items like towels, but it's nice to have the option to save some money while energy costs are still high."

Finance guru Martin Lewis is urging Brits to get rid of their tumble dryers and opt for using dehumidifiers to dry their clothes instead.

Martin says tumble dryers are far too costly to run and has even gone as far as labelling them 'demon appliances.'

The guru spoke about the hefty usage costs of dryers on BBC's 'The Martin Lewis Podcast.'

Shopping writer Sam Jones purchased the Russell Hobbs 10L dehumidifier, and he noticed an immediate difference.

"It not only eliminated the overnight window condensation, but it now allows me to dry clothes on an airer on rainy days, without having to turn on the heating," he said.

Sam says he sometimes still uses a tumble dryer to get any remaining moisture out of thicker items, but overall, using a dehumidifier saves on electricity immensely. "It also means the house doesn't have the dreaded clothes draped all over the radiators over winter, which is a real pet hate of mine," he said.

As the name suggests, a dehumidifier works to remove moisture from the air. So, it makes sense that it could also work well to assist in drawing out dampness from clothes hanging on a drying rack.

However, Sam says there are also a few downsides to dehumidifiers. They can be pretty expensive, and some models make a lot of noise.

"Dehumidifiers aren't exactly a bargain to buy, and this particular model is somewhat noisy," he said. "It does have a 'silent' button, which reduces the noise, but calling it 'silent' seems an oversight as it's far from silent."

Some other recommended dehumidifiers include the Pro Breeze 12L and the Devola 20L with integrated air purifier.

Stephanie