Overview
- A head-to-head winter trial assessed a tumble dryer, dehumidifier, heated airer, clothes horse and bathroom extractor fan using heavy loads and hard-to-dry items.
- Only the tumble dryer delivered fully dry, fresh laundry the same day, though it was the priciest to run, especially condenser models that also need regular filter cleaning.
- A dehumidifier reduced condensation and outperformed passive drying, yet loads typically took one to two days and thicker fabrics could still smell musty.
- The heated airer gave only marginal speed gains, dried unevenly where garments touched the rails and often left a mildew odour even with a £60 covered unit.
- Passive options fared worst: a standard clothes horse was slow, smelly and increased room condensation, and bathroom extractor-fan drying proved ineffective without a powerful fan or adequate space.