The appliance costs 9p-per-hour to run, compared to a tumble dryer that’s usually around £1 per load
Dunelm is selling a household appliance that not only can help homeowners potentially reduce their energy costs, but also ‘dries laundry really quickly’, according to shoppers. Some users have been so impressed that they say they prefer using the gadget to a tumble dryer.
In winter, the only ways to dry clothes are to either use a tumble dryer or to let them air-dry over a radiator or piece of furniture. While a tumble dryer is quick and less hassle, it can quickly increase monthly energy bills. MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis says tumble dryers can cost up to £1 per load, calling them a “demon appliance” for energy consumption.
Hanging clothes over a chair or the radiator can be a much cheaper option, but still involves switching on the central heating and runs the risk of excess condensation and potentially mould indoors. With the weather staying cold and the cost of living keeping expenses high, people are choosing more energy-efficient alternatives that don’t cost as much but still dry clothes well.
One popular option is a heated airer, and Dunelm is selling a version that is receiving thousands of reviews. The store’s Three Tier Heated Airer is priced at £95 but costs only 9p to run. It has 20m of drying space, is suitable for up to 15kg of washing, features a ‘sturdy’ aluminium design, folds away neatly to save space, and is 330 watts.
Hundreds of pleased shoppers who have already purchased the appliance and have left glowing five-star reviews recommend that other shoppers also purchase the matching Three Tier Heated Airer Cover. Many say the cover ‘helps laundry dry even faster’.
There are other retailers selling heated airers besides Dunelm. B&Q is selling a Three Tier Electric Heated Clothes Airer for £70, which comes with 24 rails. For a cheaper option, Amazon has a HomeTronix 20 Bars Winged Electric Heated Clothes Airer Dryer on sale for £35.
However, Dunelm’s Three Tier Heated Airer has hundreds of five star reviews, with an average customer rating of 4.4 stars out of five. One shopper said: “I love this airer, it’s easy to use gets warm quickly and has made drying clothes in the cold winter months so much quicker and easier. It’s cost barely anything to run folds away flat. I do recommend getting the cover to go with it, it really does speed up the drying.”
Another wrote: “Wish I had known how good these were before now. I don’t care what the weather is these days and even though I have a tumble drier I prefer to use this.” A third put: “Airer holds a good load of washing inside the cover. All clothes dried first time when using the cover. Would recommend for value.”
Someone else said: “Excellent! No more draping round the house, dry in 1/3 the time.” One more said: “Heated Airer is great. Prefer it to using tumble drier.” Another posted: “Excellent value for money, dried my clothes perfectly overnight, added bonus clothes did not need ironing.”
However, a some shoppers shared a few issues they faced. One said: “Leaves clothes smelling musty. Flimsy and ineffective.” A second claimed: “It’s not worth the price as it’s not strong enough.” Another put: “Not very sturdy though mine is falling apart at the bottom two poles keep coming disconnected.” A fourth said: “Not really worth buying if you dont have a cover to keep the heat in.”
But, the majority of reviews were five-star. One person said: “Dries clothes very quickly and efficiently. An absolute life saver.” Someone else said: “Does exactly what it says – dries really quickly – much quicker than I thought. Folds away easily.” Another wrote: “Great in winter, its the perfect size for me. Heats up quick and dries it all.”
