Martin Lewis© (Image: ITV)

Money-saving guru Martin Lewis has issued advice to households on drying clothes as the colder months approach, cautioning against the use of what he calls a ‘demon appliance’. With the end of opportunities for outdoor drying, many face the challenge of indoor drying, which can lead to issues such as mould, condensation, and stale clothing.

However, Lewis warns that tumble dryers, while a common solution, are costly in terms of energy consumption. Instead, Martin recommends using dehumidifiers, which are not only more economical but also quick at drying clothes and preventing dampness and mould. On an episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast, available on BBC Sounds, Spotify, and Apple Music, he explained: “Many dehumidifiers have different wattages the one I checked out was 200W.”

He continued by breaking down the costs: “Once we know it’s 200W and we know a kilowatt is 1,000W, which is how electricity tends to be priced, we know this is a fifth of a kilowatt.” And you pay roughly 34p per kilowatt per hour. A fifth is 7p, so you’re going to pay roughly 7p per hour to run a dehumidifier at 200W, assuming it uses full power the whole time.”, reports the Express.

Lewis noted that with the slight decrease in energy costs, running a dehumidifier now may cost about 5.5p an hour, based on the current unit price of 26p this winter. In comparison, energy supplier Utilita estimates that a tumble dryer can cost between 53p to £1 per hour to run, which is ten to 20 times more. Indeed, it’s a demon appliance.

So, which dehumidifier is the best or the most affordable? The Pro Breeze 12L dehumidifier comes with built-in laundry drying settings and a 12-litre tank, allowing for multiple uses before needing to empty the tray. It’s available on Amazon for just £134.99.

While this may seem steep initially, it’s significantly cheaper than operating a tumble dryer and less expensive than repairing mould damage, making it a worthwhile investment in the long run.

Devola offers a larger 20L model that also includes an air purifier, enabling you to enhance your home’s air quality while simultaneously removing moisture and drying your clothes. The larger 20L model costs £179.99, while the smaller 12L version is priced at just £119.06.

It also features a quiet run mode at just 38db, quieter than a refrigerator. Lastly, the EcoAir DD1 7L is slightly smaller, but its slim profile will blend into a living room more seamlessly. It has a laundry setting and operates quietly at just 34db, making it the quietest model in this selection.

Although it’s slightly more expensive at £229, it’s the most advanced model here, boasting numerous settings, an app for connectivity, and glowing reviews.

There are some inexpensive portable options available, but these lack laundry settings and are not recommended for drying clothes as they won’t be powerful enough or have sufficient water storage.