When it’s raining for days and the washing keeps piling up, drying clothes indoors can leave windows covered in condensation and rooms feeling damp. A dehumidifier helps by drawing moisture out of the air as your laundry dries, making it easier to manage washing without adding to the damp indoors. A compact model may be enough for a spare room with a clothes airer, while larger loads or a chilly utility room call for a different approach. This review compares six dehumidifiers for clothes drying in UK homes.
Dehumidifiers for Clothes Drying in Busy Homes
01
The Pro Breeze OmniDry 20L is a practical choice for busy households drying larger loads indoors. Its dedicated laundry setting helps remove moisture released by wet clothes, while app control lets you adjust the dehumidifier without returning to the utility room or bedroom.
Pros
- Higher extraction capacity suits frequent indoor laundry
- Built-in humidistat also helps manage everyday condensation
- Quiet operating mode suits shared living spaces
- Continuous drainage option reduces tank-emptying trips
- Timer lets you plan operation around your routine
02
MeacoDry Arete One 12L is especially useful in flats and smaller homes where the clothes airer shares space with everyday living. Its laundry mode runs for a set period, and the quiet operation makes it easier to dry washing without a constantly intrusive background hum.
Pros
- Included HEPA filter offers additional air-cleaning capability
- Adjustable humidistat also tackles everyday condensation
- Front-access water tank is straightforward to empty
- Castors make moving it between rooms easier
- Continuous drainage option suits extended use
03
EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 is particularly useful for drying clothes in chilly utility rooms and unheated spaces. Unlike compressor models that lose efficiency as temperatures fall, its desiccant system works in colder conditions. An adjustable outlet directs the warm, dry airflow towards your washing.
Pros
- Operates at temperatures as low as 1°C
- Three-dimensional louvre helps direct airflow
- Simple rotary controls are easy to use
- Lightweight 6kg cabinet is easier to carry
- Continuous drainage and automatic restart add convenience
04
The Pro Breeze OmniDry 12L suits smaller households regularly drying washing on an indoor airer. Its laundry mode helps deal with the moisture released by damp clothes, while the digital humidity display makes it easy to check conditions before switching back to everyday use.
Pros
- Compact size works well beside a clothes airer
- Automatic humidistat helps control condensation
- Sleep mode reduces disturbance in shared rooms
- Full-tank shut-off prevents overflowing water
- Timer and drainage connection offer flexible operation
05
Devola’s 12L dehumidifier makes a useful companion to a clothes airer in homes where washing dries indoors most days. Its laundry setting helps remove the moisture released into the room, while humidity monitoring is handy for checking condensation levels after the clothes are put away.
Pros
- Colour-changing humidity indicator is easy to interpret
- Automatic full-tank shut-off helps prevent spills
- Washable dust filter keeps upkeep straightforward
- Castors and handle simplify moving between rooms
- Optional hose drainage reduces manual emptying
06
AEOCKY’s 25L compressor dehumidifier is intended for larger utility rooms and households drying substantial loads indoors. Its wheels make positioning it beside a clothes airer easier, while the humidity display helps you monitor moisture levels. Continuous drainage is useful during extended drying sessions.
Pros
- 25L maximum extraction rating at 35°C and 95% humidity
- Also rated at 20L per day at 30°C and 80% humidity
- Drain hose supports extended moisture removal
- Full-tank shut-off prevents overflowing water
- Castors simplify repositioning near laundry
How to Choose a Dehumidifier for Drying Clothes
A dedicated laundry setting is useful, but the right capacity and room conditions matter more than the name of a programme. Before buying, consider:
- Where you dry washing: A 12L compressor model may be sufficient for a small, heated spare room. Larger loads or a busy family utility room may benefit from a 20L machine. The litre figures describe maximum moisture extraction per day under test conditions, not how much water you’ll collect from one wash.
- Room temperature: Compressor dehumidifiers tend to work better in warmer rooms. If you dry clothes in a chilly utility room, a desiccant model may maintain extraction more effectively, although it will generally use more electricity.
- Airflow and noise: Look for a laundry setting or adjustable louvres that can circulate dry air towards the clothes. If your airer is in a bedroom or living room, check the noise rating at the setting you expect to use.
- Tank and controls: A humidistat helps manage moisture after the washing is dry. A larger water tank means fewer interruptions; continuous drainage can be useful if you have a suitable outlet.
Our dehumidifiers for small rooms guide covers compact options for limited spaces.
Where Should You Put the Dehumidifier?
Use a clothes airer in a room where you can close the door and windows temporarily while the machine runs. Give the dehumidifier the clearance specified in its manual, and leave space between garments so air can circulate. Don’t drape washing over the appliance or block its intake or outlet.
A dehumidifier removes the water evaporating from clothes; it doesn’t replace the ventilation your home needs. Once the laundry session has finished, maintain normal ventilation and use kitchen and bathroom extractors as appropriate. Our home heating and air quality guide explains how indoor moisture and ventilation work together.
Does Laundry Mode Make Clothes Dry Faster?
Laundry mode usually keeps the fan and dehumidifying system running for longer, or uses a lower humidity target to draw moisture away from drying clothes. It can help, although the time needed still depends on the room temperature, how thoroughly the washing was spun and the space between garments. Give the airer plenty of room, avoid hanging clothes too closely together and check the water tank during longer drying sessions.
If you’re using an unheated conservatory or utility space, see our dehumidifiers for conservatories comparison for advice on colder conditions.