Are heated airers worth it?

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whatanametochoose@reddit

We have a more upright one and once all the clothes are on drape a double bed sheet over the top... Create kind of a hotbox... Works great

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TommyAtoms@reddit

Doesn't it just trap steam though?

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No because the sheet is breathable (can't think of a better word). It's just cotton so the moisture seems to wick through but it still keeps the temp up. Definitely works better for us with yhe sheet on but then we do have a fairly cold house which may play into that

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Great tip, thank you

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SongsAboutGhosts@reddit

We've just got one, with a cover - we heard that without a cover they don't dry very well, but the cover keeps the heat in more. We run it with a dehumidifier, and have our (two) normal clothes airers in the same room too. We've just had our second baby and are struggling to keep on top of the laundry so will take anything that helps, and I'd definitely say it's cut down drying time but is no miracle cure.

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TommyAtoms@reddit

Doesn't the cover just trap steam though?

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SongsAboutGhosts@reddit

That's what we thought, but it has vents, and we run a dehumidifier in the room too.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Great, thank you

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Breaking-Dad-@reddit

We have one, gets used for stuff which can't go in the drier like gym stuff etc. Works really well, but you need to either ventilate the room or use a dehumidifier. As you have one, I would put the dehumidifier next to the heated drier. Ours has a tent thing too but we don't use it, a lot of people swear by using the cover.

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TommyAtoms@reddit

Doesn't the cover just create a steam trap though?

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Breaking-Dad-@reddit

I've never used it! I think it has some mesh panels to allow the moisture out but I guess it builds up some warmth. I guess you could put a dehumidifier inside too?

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Right, okay, sound. Thanks

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Breaking-Dad-@reddit

BTW, they aren't expensive to run and they do also give a gentle heat to the room, so not all too bad, but we got a bit of mould when we ran it a lot without ventilation. We've since worked things out a bit better.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

thank you. Good to know. My house is cold so that would be a benefit. And yeah we can always pop the dehumidifier on to help with mold. Thank you

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Adventurous_Spot1183@reddit

Heated one with cover over it is fantastic

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bopeepsheep@reddit

I love mine (Lakeland Drysoon 3 tier): loaded well, with a sheet or its own cover on top it dries pretty quickly. With a dehumidifier tucked underneath, even quicker.

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TheSecretRussianSpy@reddit

Dehumidifier.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Already use one

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TheBestBigAl@reddit

If you're using a _proper_ dehumidifier (i.e. a decent sized powered one rather than those plastic tubs that do nothing), that should be doing far more than a heated rail. The heated rails are pretty rubbish because as you've said, they only dry the thin strip that actually touches them. Anything beyond that is just drying via the air like a regular clothes horse.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Ooohh I don't know. It is a reasonably small one I suppose, I didn't know there were different types. It is plastic Right okay yeah

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jack_hudson2001@reddit

meaco set it over night on laundry mode and most of it should be dry by the morning. i also give it an extra spin cycle, this also helps.

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sleepyprojectionist@reddit

I second this. My Meaco Arete One was the best £170 I have ever spent for anything in my damp little flat.

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

do you also use a fan or two? i have a couple of usb fans that i reposition to keep air moving around the drying and towards the dehumidifier. works very well...

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

No we don't, just stick the dehumidifier on for a bit to help. I have got a USB fan but it's quite small. And thank you!!

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

even small, it may well make a difference, a pleasure...

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Okay I'll give it go then. Thanks again

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DJGibbon@reddit

Is it a big one? We used to have a small (shoe box size) one and it was pathetic - we've now got a proper Meaco one and it's ridiculous how quickly our clothes dry, comfortably within 24 hours - it's so worth it.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

No it's small-ish. I didn't know there were different types. That's awesome. I'll have a look, thanks

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Koda614@reddit

If you get an upright heated airer, and it has a cover on it, they are great. The cover traps the heat, and it dries the clothes well throughout, not just from the rails. Try to avoid putting anything on the very outer rails on the bottom row, that's the one and only bit that seems to remain a little damp still afterwards. Everywhere else will be dry when it switches off in my experience. Other than that just try not to totally overload it. I have a Minky upright heated airer with a cover. Most clothes will be dry within 2-3 hours. Jeans and towels are generally more like 4-5 hours. I Personally have it on a smart plug to run overnight so it switches off as I am waking up. I pull the cover off to help it finish airing in the morning before I get around to ironing and lifting the cover releases a nice little blast of warmth into the room too. According to the smart plug, it costs in the region of 25p to dry a full load of laundry.

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SteveGoral@reddit

I've got a heated airer with a cover, it works great. But, to get it working efficiently I need to use pegs to properly close the opening to keep the heat inside the cover. I've explained it incredibly poorly, but once you see one you'll see what I mean.

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InternationalRich150@reddit

Ive got a heated airing pod. It stands upright so hardly takes any room. Dries clothes fast. Wouldn't be without mine. https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/addis-3-arm-drying-pod?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=22800460738&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22800462949&gclid=CjwKCAiAraXJBhBJEiwAjz7MZWIEh0oA9RqTDmhmBP0Alh-_0Bd3QH7_CLIRblZKb3wAqgeoFyHLxxoCch8QAvD_BwE

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TSC-99@reddit

No - they only dry the bit they touch

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Pip1710@reddit

I got a heated airer, but it's a vertical stand with a space heater below it. You put a bag over it, and the space heater blows hot air into the bag. It does work really well. The best thing I've found though, is to just put your heating on and get a dehumidifier

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

So is that like a drying pod then? Heard they're really good

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Pip1710@reddit

It's one of these [Drysoon](https://www.lakeland.co.uk/53211/drysoon-heated-drying-pod-airer?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20891890221&gbraid=0AAAAADtoD6N2nB_3E3jvoXkNRAp-rpspq&gclid=CjwKCAiAraXJBhBJEiwAjz7MZbBOETjLZKKgnvn9XgKwVucRvmUhRslDpwNMdl8b-aM5QUhgLiwjtBoCXV0QAvD_BwE) Yeah, they are really good.

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Repulsive-Bridge111@reddit

I bought one last year and it was crap. It's the only thing I have ever bought from john lewis that didn't live up to expectations. Yes, they only seem to dry a line across where it touches, Clothes dry better on the normal one too

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JeffSergeant@reddit

We use them and they work well. They heat the air around all the clothes, so it doesn't just dry in one place.

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Only2gendersFACT@reddit

Absolutely pointless just out the stuff on your radiator it's the same principle but better

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

My heating is useless. My house is dead old (100+ yrs) and it's crazy expensive to run. The radiators don't get hot hot, just kind of warm, and you can't feel the heat in the house - doesn't retain any heat, so it's just on burning money and not doing anything unfortunately

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Only2gendersFACT@reddit

I'm telling you get a tumble dryer you will never look back. whatever the cost is it's worth it

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

I can't afford it unfortunately (physically and cost of running it) and I have no space in my kitchen. There's one tiny gap, and it would block the under stairs cupboard door by putting it in. So it's not an option to us

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oompaloompagrandma@reddit

Can't fit much stuff on a radiator though!

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Only2gendersFACT@reddit

I've probably got 8 or 9 in my house and I can fit a lot more on them than I can one of those shit airers (I also have one of those at my partner's demand due to her sister's shit recommendation) Now we have a tumble dryer which is the only way I will ever do it from now on

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Fair enough. We only have about 6 in our house and 2 of them are too small to hang anything on. Our airers hold much more

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Rich-Tourist5092@reddit

They are brilliant. Ours dry all areas of the clothes. You just have to hang the clothes so they dry properly. There is a method. But yeah...game changer for us during the winter months

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Okay thanks

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Used-Ad9589@reddit

Wife loves hers, I do too (no noise). We have a dehumidifier right next to it set to clothes and honestly it dries at a similar pace to a tumble dryer from what she has said, less power draw more heat into the house and the dehumidifier helps reduce the moisture too, all positives frankly.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Fair play. Thanks

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3a5ty@reddit

We bought one from Argos recently, works great alongside the dehumidifier, the combination dries all of it. £100 airer, £40 dehumidifier.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Brill, thank you

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ShuttleTwoGolf@reddit

We have a Minky heated airer and a Meaco dehumidifier. It’s a game changer, washing including items like jeans are dry and smell fresh in under 6 hours. Heated airers alone I don’t find great, but with a dehumidifier they’re brilliant.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Awesome. Thank you

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External-Piccolo-626@reddit

A tip is to layer the clothes rather than hang them.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Good to know thanks!

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Basic-Salamander-808@reddit

They work better than a regular airer, but are more expensive to run. We've got one of the hot air type of heated airer, so where it's covered and there's a fan at the bottom which blows out warm air. It's more convenient as it only takes about 90 minutes to dry the clothes, but the cost of the electric works out as only slightly cheaper than doing a load in the tumble dryer so it's not particularly efficient. So yeah, if you've got the space for some regular airers and on a limited budget I probably wouldn't bother. But if you're in a hurry for your clothes and can afford to use it, then they're good.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Fair enough. Thank you :)

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Nine_Eye_Ron@reddit

Yes in winter. The only reason our clothes dry in winter is due to the tumble drier warming the air in the laundry room, the dehumidifier and the ventilation. Even then they can take more than a day… I do not have a heated one and I suspect it would speed up the process.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Thank you

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personalunderclock@reddit

They're pretty good if things aren't drying quickly. Loads that would take 3 days to dry when it's cool take a few hours on the heated airer so good if you've got a backlog of laundry.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Brill, thank you

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BugAdministrative683@reddit

We have one. Works well with a mini dehumidifier right next to it. Definitely dries the clothes much faster in winter than if they were left just on a clothes horse. An extra spin cycle in the washing machine at the end of your clothes wash can help speed things up too.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Thanks. Yeah I always do extra spin cycle :)

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Ladymouse54@reddit

I bought a heated airer two years ago when I lived in a flat that had issues with damp and staying warm. It was one of the best purchases l made, my clothes dry so much quicker as it is similar to drying your clothes on a radiator. I helped to stop the humidity going up in my flat as the clothes wouldn't be our for ages. Now that I've moved out of the flat I don't use it as much, but I still think that it is useful. Energy wise, I used to put my airer on overnight and didn't notice my energy bills going up too bad. However that might change depending on the airer you have. Overall I would recommend getting one as they help to dry clothes quicker in the winter and especially if you are living in a place that has a lot of damp or high humidity levels. Having said that now I'm in a place with better humidity levels I don't use it as much as I used to.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Yeah our house is cold and doesn't retain any heat. Good to know, thank you

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Training-Goat-2430@reddit

Friend just bought one and he finds it useful for his house where radiator space is at a premium and he was dealing with smelly wet clothing due to slow drying

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oompaloompagrandma@reddit

Why not just get a clothes horse and stand that in front of a radiator?

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

My heating is shit. Hence using clothes horses. The plus the radiator in my bedroom (where the airers are) is tiny so would do F-all anyway unfortunately. My house is like 100 years old at least and doesn't retain any heat

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Training-Goat-2430@reddit

Was not effective enough

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Okay thanksn

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Maty612@reddit

You're having a baby and you're on benefits? You can't afford to have a baby

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Leonichol@reddit

!dick

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AcreCryPious@reddit

We've got one with a cover, it's great for drying clothes quickly in the winter. Bonus points for the blast of steamy air I get when I open it up

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WoodenEggplant4624@reddit

Not worth it for the reason you state

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Cus we're having a baby?

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Genuinely asking for clarification I'm autistic 😭

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DigitalStefan@reddit

They aren’t an efficient way to dry your clothes. They put a little heat into the area, but you would get more effective drying simply by having a fan circulating air in the room or running a dehumidifier (although those also cost to run). Things dry faster due to airflow than from heat.

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WoodenEggplant4624@reddit

Because only the fabric near the heated bar dries and you have to keep moving the items around which is tiresome if you are busy, which you will be. Or you can spread one item flat over the whole heated area and it will dry fairly quickly but that's not a great help. I dont use mine often.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Definitely misunderstood thank you for clarifying

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Ahhh okay, thank you

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Rubberfootman@reddit

Once you get the hang of them they are pretty useful. Just don’t stuff them full.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Okay thanks

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Far_Shine6039@reddit

We have one use it daily dries our stuff best if left overnight.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

So it will dry a load in 8 hours or so?

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Far_Shine6039@reddit

As long as you don't overload it mine from last night need to empty. https://preview.redd.it/fdou9313504g1.jpeg?width=2296&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=860e3d41408e0485f729f79339ed07a62fa0e406

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Okay. Thank you

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buginarugsnug@reddit

Drying pods are better than heated airers. We have a dry soon from lakeland and it's such a massive help getting stuff dry in winter and bad weather.

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Anxious-Intern1167@reddit (OP)

Thanks!

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