Best dehumidifiers that tackle damp, tried and tested

Your questions on dehumidifiers answered

What is the best dehumidifier?

All of these appliances will help control humidity in your home. However, I think the standout for most people is the Duux bora smart 30l dehumidifier. It’s effective, quiet, and packed with bonus features. If you still want to save some money, the Daewoo 700ml dehumidifier is a good choice, as it costs six times less than my top pick. Finally, if you want a dehumidifier to help with your laundry, the Daewoo 16l dehumidifier was the fastest I tested.

How to use a dehumidifier

Firstly, you need a dehumidifier that matches the room. Most models will specify their capacity in square metres, so you can buy exactly the right appliance. Once you’ve chosen your dehumidifier, place it near the source of any moisture – for example, in a laundry room, near wet clothes, or in a kitchen, near a dishwasher. If you’re using a dehumidifier to help control damp, then place it near any signs of condensation, such as near windows.

However, make sure that there is a gap of at least six inches between a dehumidifier and a wall to ensure free air flow. When the placement is sorted, pick your mode. Most dehumidifiers have a standard, laundry, and quiet mode – the right option depends on what you’re trying to achieve.

Do dehumidifiers use a lot of electricity?

Electricity use depends on the model and the conditions in your home, but they’re generally efficient appliances.

Are dehumidifiers expensive to run?

Cost per hour varies depending on use, room temperature, and many other variables. However, a general rule is that a good dehumidifier will cost less than 10p per hour, even for the largest models.

“On average, a dehumidifier might be used for four to six hours daily, especially during colder months or in damp environments. In particularly humid conditions or larger spaces, it could be used for longer,” explains Katie Lilywhite, air treatment expert at AO. “The exact cost depends on how often they’re used and how energy-efficient the model is.”

Chris Michael, founder and chair of leading dehumidifier company Meaco, elaborates: “Choosing an energy-efficient model is key; regardless of size, as a cheaper model with high energy consumption is a false economy.”

However, size can be a factor. “Smaller models, which are ideal for flats or smaller homes, can cost as little as 4p per hour to run, while larger models, suited to bigger or damper properties, may cost up to 15p per hour,” Michaels says.

You can find out more about how much dehumidifiers actually cost in our expert guide.

Do dehumidifiers dry clothes?

Dehumidifiers draw moisture out of the air, so they can be a great help for drying laundry. They’re most effective alongside a heated clothes airer, and much faster than air drying.

Depending on the weather, line drying outside takes a few hours, and if you don’t have any outdoor space, it might take a day or more. In this guide alone, I used a dehumidifier to dry clothes in around four hours. On top of that, they can be a better choice than a tumble dryer – they’re often cheaper to run, and there is none of the shrinking, fading, and pilling you might find with a tumble dryer.

Michaels from Meaco agrees, adding that they “offer a low-cost alternative to dry wet washing indoors instead of electricity-guzzling tumble driers”. If you’re keen to know more about dehumidifiers and drying clothes, read our expert-led guide.

For a breath of fresh air, take a look at the best air purifiers to remove pollen, dust and bacteria