The best heated clothes airers for 2025, tried and tested
We put heated clothes airers to the test to see which ones really save time and money when drying your laundry.
The cooler, damper days that we inevitably get here in the UK can make drying your laundry a real challenge. Rainy autumn weather can make outside line drying impossible at this time of year, while using a tumble dryer or turning on the radiators can push up your energy bills.
It’s no wonder that heated clothes airers are increasing in popularity as a low-cost way to dry your clothes indoors. But are these warm clothes horses really all they are cracked up to be? They are reputed to eliminate that damp musty washing smell that can occur when laundry is hanging around for too long, and they are also said to help minimise wrinkles, which could potentially help cut down on ironing.
They can be a great solution for busy families, those living in compact flats or anyone looking to save on their energy bills, but with so many models on the market, it can be difficult to decide which heated airer is right for your household’s needs.
We put a selection of designs to the test to see which ones gave the best results and dried our laundry efficiently without taking up too much space or bumping up our electricity bills.
At a glance - the best heated clothes airers for 2025
Best heated clothes airer overall: Black + Decker X-Frame Folding Heated Clothes Airer
Best heated airer with a cover: Lakeland Dry: Soon Mini Three-Tier Heated Airer and Cover Bundle
Best heated airer for large wash loads: Minky SureDRI Four-Tier Heated Clothes Airer and Cover
Best heated airer for fast drying: Beldray Round Heated Clothes Dryer
Best heated airer for small space: Dunelm Heated Ladder Airer
Best heated airer for small-medium wash loads: Dunelm Three-Tier A-Frame Heated Airer
Best heated airer for design and functionality: Black + Decker Heated Airer and Accessories Bundle
Best heated airer for travelling: Lakeland Dry:Soon Foldable Heated Airer
How we tested
When carrying out our comparison tests we tested all the heated clothes airers in the same enclosed, unheated room, and we ensured the same items of washing were included in each drying test, including lighter items, such as T-shirts and synthetic sportswear, and thicker garments, such as jeans and jumpers.
Where possible, we also tested the heated clothes airer’s ability to dry towels and bed linen. We monitored how many hours the different items took to go from wet to touch dry. We also noted how much washing the airers could hold and how easy they were to set up and fold away.
We looked at how compact they were when folded up and how much space they took up when in use, as well as how durable they felt. Using the current Ofgem energy price cap of 26.35p per kWh, we calculated how much they would cost per hour to use.
Best heated clothes airers for 2025
Best heated clothes airer overall
Also available from Dunelm
Dimensions (open): H126cm x W57cm x D71cm
Dimensions (folded): H142cm x W56.5cm x D 7.5cm
Available drying space: 12.5m
Maximum capacity: 15kg
Running cost: 9.48p per hour
Power: 360W
Cord length: 1.5m
Warranty: Two-year guarantee
This heated airer was ready to use straight out of the box, with no assembly required. It has 18 heated bars, offering 12.5m of drying space, and because of its unique tall X-shaped design, it was really easy to reach all the bars, and it’s ideal for drying longer items, such as maxi dresses or bed linen. We felt the configuration of the bars also helped the air to circulate the garments, which aided the drying process.
Made from aluminium, it was lightweight, very stable and easy to move, with a cool touch frame, and it folded away flat for easy storage. The airer took around 10 minutes to heat up, and at 360W it costs just over 9p per hour to run. We liked the fact that the on/off button was handily located in the centre of the airer, making it really easy to reach.
It took just over five hours to dry heavier items, such as jeans, jumpers and towels, while lightweight garments, like t-shirts, socks and pillowcases dried in just three hours. For overall ease of use and performance, combined with running costs, we felt this airer offered the best value for money of the airers we tested.
Practical X-shaped design, ideal for longer items
Comes with a two-year guarantee
No timer
Practical X-shaped design, ideal for longer items
Comes with a two-year guarantee
No timer
Best heated clothes airer for large wash loads
Also available from Dunelm
Dimensions (open): H147cm x W73.5cm x D71cm
Dimensions (folded): H147cm x W73.5cm x D15.5cm
Available drying space: 23m
Maximum capacity: 20kg
Running cost: 7.9p per hour
Power: 300W
Cord length: 1.8m
Warranty: One-year guarantee
Before use, this sturdy four-tier airer needs to have its feet fitted and the top tier attached, but this was quick and easy to do. We liked the fact that the feet could be folded inwards to avoid trip hazards, which could be useful in a busy family home. When not in use, this airer folds completely flat, which is ideal if you’re short of space.
We also liked the fact that the multi-positional arms fold flat to fit against a wall when space is limited. The very top layer of this airer isn’t heated, but it’s ideal for drying small, delicate items, while the cool-touch frame means it’s easy to move around when it’s on. Boasting 23m of drying space with unique vertex-angled arms, which separate garments to optimise heat flow, and a weight capacity of 20kg, this airer is ideal for busy families who need to dry a lot of washing at once.
The fabric cover definitely helped to keep the warm air inside the airer, although we were disappointed that the cover didn’t reach all the way to the floor and it didn’t have a zip closure, which we felt would have made it even more effective. This airer boasts a digital timer, which can be set for between one and nine hours, and it will shut off automatically once it has reached its programmed time. The timer display was clear and could be easily adjusted with the touch of a button. However, it was positioned very low on the airer, which meant we had to kneel to see what we were doing when setting the timings.
At 300W, this Minky airer costs around just under 8p per hour to run, and it took around six hours to dry lightweight garments, such as T-shirts, sportswear and pillowcases, while heavier items, such as jeans and towels, took a little longer at seven hours. Of all the airers we tested, this one had the largest capacity, making it ideal for families with large wash loads.
Large amount of drying space
Versatile, multi-positional arms
Cover helps speed up drying time
Fold-away feet to avoid trip hazards
Expensive
Feet and the top tier need to be attached before use
Large amount of drying space
Versatile, multi-positional arms
Cover helps speed up drying time
Fold-away feet to avoid trip hazards
Expensive
Feet and the top tier need to be attached before use
Best heated airer for design and functionality
Also available from Amazon
Dimensions (open): H140cm x W73cm x D68cm
Dimensions (folded): H143cm x W73cm x D9cm
Available drying space: 21m
Maximum capacity: 15kg
Running cost: 7.9p per hour
Power: 300W
Cord length: 1.6m
Warranty: One-year guarantee
This three-tier heated airer bundle comes with a zip-up fabric cover, which needs assembling, and a set of wheels, which require a 12mm spanner to fix them into place. The wheels were easy to fit and came with brakes, which we thought was a useful feature. The fabric cover was very well made and featured mesh vents at the bottom to prevent the build-up of condensation, and the zips felt sturdy.
The three tiers of this aluminium airer fold down into position, clip into place and offer a generous 21 metres of drying space. Operated with just a simple on/off switch, the airer took 16 minutes to heat up to its optimum temperature. At 300W, this airer costs just under 8p per hour to run. The full-length zipped cover definitely helped to enclose the heat to speed up the drying process. Lightweight garments took just three hours to dry, while heavy items, such as jeans and towels, took around eight hours to dry.
When not in use, the airer folded flat for easy storage, and the cover could be fitted more tightly to the folded frame using Velcro tabs. We felt the overall design and functionality of this airer was excellent, particularly the wheels with brakes for easy manoeuvrability and the well-made fabric cover.
Cover helped speed up the drying process
Large amount of drying space
Braked wheels
Requires some assembling
Cover helped speed up the drying process
Large amount of drying space
Braked wheels
Requires some assembling
Best heated airer for fast drying
Also available from Beldray
Dimensions (open): H146.5cm x W60cm x D60cm
Dimensions (folded): n/a
Available drying space: 18 hangers
Maximum capacity: 10kg
Running cost: 26.35p per hour
Power: 1000W
Cord length: 1.5m
Warranty: One-year manufacturer warranty
Using hot air circulation, this indoor dryer employs a 1000W fan heater to distribute warm air around a cylindrical fabric pod, efficiently drying laundry. It required some assembly but was simple to set up with clear instructions and no tools needed.
The lightweight aluminium frame makes it easy to move around the home, and it reached optimum temperature within three minutes. The fan produced a low hum - similar to a hairdryer - which could be distracting in quieter rooms.
The timed heating unit offers six settings (30–180 minutes) for efficient drying, though its low placement and silver dial made the controls tricky to see.
The six-arm, umbrella-style frame holds up to 18 hangers—ideal for jeans, T-shirts and sports kit—but less suited to longer garments or bed linen. Lightweight items dried in about an hour, while heavier fabrics took around three and a half hours.
At 1000W, it costs around 26p an hour to run, but the quick drying times meant it proved more economical overall than many other airers we tested.
Dried clothes very quickly
Lightweight and portable
Easy to assemble
High wattage
Not really suitable for towels or bed linen
Dried clothes very quickly
Lightweight and portable
Easy to assemble
High wattage
Not really suitable for towels or bed linen
Best heated airer for small to medium wash loads
Dimensions (open): H135cm x W66cm x D73cm
Dimensions (folded): H140cm x W66cm x D7.3cm
Available drying space: 15m
Maximum capacity: 15kg
Running cost: 8.6p per hour
Power: 330W
Cord length: 1.7m
Warranty: n/a
This heated ladder airer features a vertical design that is compact and slimline, making it ideal for smaller homes. On unboxing the airer, the feet needed to be attached, which was easy to do, but required a screwdriver, which was not supplied.
Made from sturdy aluminium, this airer was lightweight and very portable, but the projection of the feet meant it couldn’t be folded away completely flat. Due to its compact size, this ladder airer has just three metres of drying space and is suitable for up to 5kg of washing, so it’s fine if you just have a few items to dry, but it couldn’t cope with a full machine-load of washing. Due to its height, it was also unsuitable for drying bed linen and longer garments.
This airer doesn’t have a timer function, just a simple on/off switch. It took 15 minutes to reach optimum temperature, and at only 90W, it costs just over 2p per hour to run. We found it took around seven hours to dry our laundry, especially as the overlapping of garments on the ladder rungs meant the air couldn’t circulate quite as well as more spacious airers.
It was fine drying lightweight items such as T-shirts, socks and sportswear, but heavier items like jeans and jumpers remained slightly damp. Overall, this compact ladder airer is great for small spaces, but it’s limited to drying just a few garments at a time.
Low wattage
Compact design
Not suitable for large loads
Didn’t perform well with heavier-weight garments
No warranty
Low wattage
Compact design
Not suitable for large loads
Didn’t perform well with heavier-weight garments
No warranty
Best heated airer with a cover
Also available from Amazon
Dimensions (open): H113.5cm x W60cm x D63cm
Dimensions (folded): H112.5cm x W60cm x D8cm
Available drying space: 13m
Maximum capacity: 15kg
Running cost: 5.2p per hour
Power: 198W
Cord length: 1.3m
Warranty: Three-year guarantee
Boasting 13m of drying space, this mini three-tier airer is ideal for small families. It’s ready to use straight out of the box and comes with a well-made full-length fabric cover, which not only makes the drying process more efficient but also handy for hiding away your washing while it dries, and it doubles as a storage bag so you can protect your airer when it’s not in use. The front panel of the cover unzips so you can roll it up, tie it out of the way and access the shelves if you want to move your washing around while it’s drying.
The mesh panels on the sides and top helped the airflow and stopped the airer from getting too hot, allowing air to circulate for even faster drying. Made of lightweight polyester to allow moisture to evaporate, the cover is machine washable at 30ºC. The airer itself is made from lightweight aluminium with a cool-touch frame. It was easy to manoeuvre and folded away to just 8cm deep.
We liked the fact that the six-fold-out shelves can be positioned to suit your load and your space, and you can just fold out the shelves on just one side for smaller loads and spaces. The design of this heated airer meant that we could hang T-shirts, socks or larger items over the rungs, lay delicate clothes flat to avoid stretching, or hang sheets and bath towels over the top without them touching the floor.
The thermostatically controlled bars meant that the airer won’t overheat, and, at 198W, it only costs just over 5p per hour to run. With the cover in place, we found that T-shirts, socks and pillowcases dried in just five hours, while jeans, jumpers and towels took a little longer at eight hours. We felt that this airer had the best-designed cover that we tested, and it definitely helped to boost the drying performance.
Comes with a three-year guarantee
Cover helped speed up the drying process
Versatile heated bar positions
Expensive
Comes with a three-year guarantee
Cover helped speed up the drying process
Versatile heated bar positions
Expensive
Best heated airer for travelling
Also available from Amazon
Dimensions (open): H150cm x W62cm x D33.5cm
Dimensions (folded): H28cm x W62cm x D33.5cm
Available drying space: 5 garments
Maximum capacity: 5kg
Running cost: 15.81p per hour
Power: 600W
Cord length: 1.5m
Warranty: Three-year guarantee
Designed to fold down for easy storage and portability, this airer is ideal if you don’t want to keep it up all year round or want to pop it in the car boot to take with you on long weekends away. Before we could use it, we needed to attach the aluminium support poles at either side of the top and base units, which was quick and easy to do.
When the poles are removed after you’ve finished using the airer, it transforms from a 150cm-high heated laundry airer into a 28cm-high carry case with a handle on the top for easy lifting. The dryer has a built-in rack inside to suspend clothes hangers from, and it has space to dry up to five items of clothing at a time. This is plenty of room if you’re only doing a small load or need to dry a few garments on your travels, but it’s not really ideal for busy families or when you need to get a full machine-load dried.
The airer has a built-in fan in the base, which circulates warm air up to 60ºC and blows this hot air up through your clothes, which gets trapped inside by the fabric sides. The fan does emit a low-level hum when in use, similar to a hair-dryer, which could be distracting. The airer features a remote control panel in the upper section of the airer cap, which can be used in place or removed from the cap. It features timer options from 30 minutes to 6 hours, and there are high, medium and low heat settings.
When the airer has finished drying, it emits audible beeps and then shuts off automatically. If you misplace the remote control, there is also a manual control switch on the underside of the base. We liked the added touch of the fragrance reservoir in the base, which you can add your favourite aroma oil to, in order to keep clothes smelling fresh and fragrant. Unless you want to fold them over a coat hanger, this airer isn’t really well-suited to drying bed linen or towels, but we found it was pretty efficient on clothes.
Jumpers, T-shirts, sportswear and dresses dried in around five hours, while jeans took a little longer at seven hours. At 600W, this airer costs just under 16p an hour to run, which can be costly if you need to have it on for a number of hours, as we did to dry our jeans. However, if you’re travelling away from home and want to dry your washing or clothes that have got wet in the rain, then this is a compact and portable solution.
Compact and portable
Comes with a three-year guarantee
Fragrance reservoir to eliminate damp smells
Can only hold five garments
Expensive to run
Not suitable for towels or bed linen
Compact and portable
Comes with a three-year guarantee
Fragrance reservoir to eliminate damp smells
Can only hold five garments
Expensive to run
Not suitable for towels or bed linen
Best heated airer for small spaces
Dimensions (open): H91cm x W53.5cm x D35cm
Dimensions (folded): n/a
Available drying space: 3m
Maximum capacity: 5kg
Running cost: 2.3p per hour
Power: 90W
Cord length: 1.6m
Warranty: n/a
This heated ladder airer features a vertical design that is compact and slimline, making it ideal for smaller homes. On unboxing the airer, the feet needed to be attached, which was easy to do, but required a screwdriver, which was not supplied.
Made from sturdy aluminium, this airer was lightweight and very portable, but the projection of the feet meant it couldn’t be folded away completely flat. Due to its compact size, this ladder airer has just three metres of drying space and is suitable for up to 5kg of washing, so it’s fine if you just have a few items to dry, but it couldn’t cope with a full machine-load of washing. Due to its height, it was also unsuitable for drying bed linen and longer garments.
This airer doesn’t have a timer function, just a simple on/off switch. It took 15 minutes to reach optimum temperature, and at only 90W, it costs just over 2p per hour to run. We found it took around seven hours to dry our laundry, especially as the overlapping of garments on the ladder rungs meant the air couldn’t circulate quite as well as more spacious airers.
It was fine drying lightweight items such as T-shirts, socks and sportswear, but heavier items like jeans and jumpers remained slightly damp. Overall, this compact ladder airer is great for small spaces, but it’s limited to drying just a few garments at a time.
Low wattage
Compact design
Not suitable for large loads
Didn’t perform well with heavier-weight garments
No warranty
Low wattage
Compact design
Not suitable for large loads
Didn’t perform well with heavier-weight garments
No warranty
How to choose the best heated clothes airer
Types of heated clothes airers
There are two main types of heated clothes airers: airers with heated bars and drying pods. Both designs work very differently. Heated bar clothes airers use electrically heated bars to dry clothes, and they come in a variety of different designs, most of which can be folded away when not in use. Some heated bar airers resemble a tiered tower, which usually offers more drying space for a compact footprint, but they can be less useful for drying larger items such as bedding, bath towels or long dresses.
Other heated bar airers resemble a typical clothes horse, often with fold-out wings on the side for extra drying space. These usually have a larger middle section, which is ideal for larger items of laundry, such as bedding or denim jeans, but they usually offer less drying space than tower models. Winged heated airers are usually cheaper to buy than tower airers. However, we found that tiered heated airers worked better than winged heated airers at drying washing. On a winged heated airer, less of the wet laundry actually touches the heated bars, so longer items, like trousers or leggings, hang down below the heated elements and stay damp at the ends.
Drying pods, on the other hand, are basically large hair dryers for clothes, using a fan and heating element to blow hot air through the clothes, which hang inside a fabric-covered pod. They usually dry clothes faster than heated bar clothes airers, but they typically have smaller capacities and use more energy. They’re fine for drying garments such as dresses and school uniforms, etc, but they aren’t really suitable for duvet covers, bath towels or sheets.
Size and capacity
When it comes to choosing a heated airer, you need to consider its size and capacity. Not only should you look at its size when folded out, but also how much available drying space it offers. If you live in a smaller home where space is a concern, you should take into account its footprint when in use, how compactly the airer packs away when not in use and if it will fit neatly in the available storage space in your home.
Generally speaking, tower airers offer the most drying space in a compact space, while for families with lots of bedding to wash, a fold-out winged airer might be a better choice. If you live alone and don’t have large loads to wash, then a compact drying pod would be more than adequate for your everyday needs.
All heated clothes airers will give you an estimate of how much drying space they offer, either in kilograms of damp washing or metres of drying rack available.
Some of the fan-heated pod designs tell you how many clothes on hangers you can dry at once instead. If you live alone or in a two-person household and usually just do a small amount of washing at a time, a smaller option will be more cost and energy-efficient. However, if you regularly do full machine-loads of washing, you will be better choosing an airer with at least 20 metres of drying space.
When choosing an airer, it’s important to not just think about its size when folded away, but also what size footprint it will take up when in use. Think about where it will be in your home when it’s in use. It will need to be sited near a plug socket and safely away from children and pets. Take into account what floor space you have available, and whether you will still easily be able to open doors and manoeuvre around the airer safely.
Running costs and energy efficiency
We found that the energy consumption and running costs varied greatly across the airers we tested. Heated bar airers tended to have a lower wattage than drying pods, but in most cases, they took longer to dry the clothes, so it’s really worth considering their cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Electricity is sold by the kilowatt-hour (kWh) – commonly referred to as ‘units’ on your electricity bill.
You can work out how much an airer costs to run by multiplying its wattage by the amount of time it’s on and then by the cost of electricity. For example, you have a 500W (0.5 kW) airer and you run it for 24 hours, it will use 12kWh of electricity (e.g. half a kilowatt every hour). Electricity currently costs around 27p per unit, so multiply 12kWh by 27p and you get a total cost of £3.24 to run the airer all day.
That said, sometimes a higher-wattage appliance, such as a drying pod, will actually use less power overall than a lower-wattage one, because it dries clothes quicker. So don’t judge the energy efficiency of an airer only by its given power rating, especially if it is controlled with a thermostat or can be operated on a timer.
Most heated airers take a full afternoon or more to dry a load of washing, so the running cost per hour can soon creep up. And, while drying pods that usually dry clothes faster than heated bar airers generally cost more to run, they are still cheaper to use than a 3kW tumble dryer, which, under October 2025 energy prices, costs 79p an hour to run. While turning on your central heating to help your laundry dry quicker could cost you even more.
Emily Seymour, energy editor at Which?, says: “The best heated airers and drying pods dry small loads in a comparable time to tumble dryers; the worst take over six hours to dry a small load. While heated airers use less electricity per hour than a tumble dryer, they take longer to dry the clothes. So, if you’re drying big loads regularly, it will cost you more to run a heated airer annually than a tumble dryer.”
Foldability and storage
The majority of heated airers fold up when not in use to save space, but unless you have a dedicated utility room, you should consider where you will keep it when it’s folded up, e.g in a cupboard, behind the sofa or under the bed. Make sure you check the folded measurements of the clothes airer you’re considering to ensure it will fit your available storage space.
How to keep heated airers clean and safe
Most heated airers can be simply wiped clean with a damp cloth or sponge to keep the bars clean. This should always be done when the airer is turned off and cooled. Never put a heater away while it is still hot, and avoid wrapping the cord around the airer; keep it neatly stored using a cable tidy instead.
How to get the most efficient use from your airer
There are a number of ways that you can speed up the drying process and make the most efficient use of your heated clothes airer. Firstly, it is important to begin with clothes that have as little moisture in them as possible. Always spin dry your clothes to remove as much water as you can before placing them on your heated airer.
Most manufacturers will advise on the maximum weight capacity of damp washing that is suitable for your airer. Don’t be tempted to exceed this, as overloading the heated bars will impair their ability to dry your clothes as efficiently. Try not to overload your airer by hanging garments from every single bar. If you can, leave some space between them to allow the warm air to circulate better. As the parts of your laundry which are in contact with the heated bars dry the quickest, it’s important to move the garments around from time to time to ensure they dry more evenly. Avoid the temptation to over-dry your laundry, as this can leave fabrics, especially towels, feeling hard and crispy.
Covered airers can cut drying times by up to half, but you can get similar results by laying a fitted bed sheet over the top of the airer, as long as you leave a gap for any moist air to escape. If you decide to use a cover for your airer, make sure you remove it as soon as your clothes are dry. Most covers are vented to avoid condensation, but moisture can seep back in if you leave your dry clothes inside for too long.
Fiona Peake, home improvement expert at Ocean Finance, says: “Heated clothes airers can be a handy alternative to tumble dryers, especially during the colder months when drying laundry outside isn’t possible. But their energy efficiency really depends on how and when you use them. To get the best value from a heated airer, position it in a warm, well-ventilated room so heat can circulate rather than gather around the clothes. Pairing it with a dehumidifier can help clothes dry faster and prevent damp. If you’re on an Economy 7 or similar tariff, try to run the airer during off-peak hours to take advantage of lower electricity rates. When choosing a model, look for features like fitted covers, which trap heat and speed up drying.”
Heated clothes airer FAQs
Do heated clothes airers work better with a cover?
Many heated airers come with covers which are designed to trap the heat from the airer and thus speed up the drying time. However, they can sometimes end up increasing the actual drying time, as moisture can get trapped underneath the cover if it’s plastic, rather than a breathable or meshed fabric, creating a humid environment that slows down the drying time of the laundry.
Wherever possible, choose an airer with a cover made from breathable, and ideally washable, fabric rather than plastic. Look for covers which have built-in vents to allow the air to circulate better and prevent condensation buildup, and remove the cover as soon as the clothes are dry to prevent them from reabsorbing any moisture trapped within the cover.
Which heated airer is best for different needs?
If you have a large family, or just do a lot of washing each week, look for a heated airer with the maximum capacity, either in hanging rail meterage or wash load weight, to give you the most drying space. Tiered airers are usually the best choice for this, offering generous amounts of drying capacity without taking up too much floor space.
If you wash a lot of bedding each week, you may be better off choosing a winged airer, which offers more drying space for longer, larger textiles, such as duvet covers and fitted sheets. If space is an issue in your home, then a multi-positional tiered airer is an ideal choice, as you can fold out either all or half the tiers you need to halve its footprint and save on space. It’s also important to choose an airer that folds away as neatly as possible, so it doesn’t take up necessary room in your home when it’s not in use.
How hot do heated airers get?
On average, heated airers can reach temperatures of around 60ºC. Using a cover can help to keep the temperature constant. If you are drying clothes on an uncovered heated bar airer, move the garments around from time to time, as the areas in contact with the heated rails will dry faster.
Where does the water go from a heated airer?
Heated airers dry your clothes by evaporating the water left over from a wash and spin dry cycle. However, that moisture has to go somewhere. If your home is prone to humidity, heated airers can contribute to moist air and ultimately, dampness. However, you can reduce this risk by using a portable dehumidifier, which can potentially speed up the drying time for clothes by up to 25 per cent, while also helping to reduce damp and mould in the home, but it will obviously add to your energy-usage costs.
Phil Spencer, property expert and founder of the property advice website Move iQ, shares these tips on dealing with excess moisture from using a heated airer: “Drying your clothes on a heated airer typically uses less energy than a full cycle in a tumble dryer. But unlike a tumble dryer, which will either vent the moisture released from the wet clothes out through an external wall or capture it in a water tank, a heated airer will evaporate the moisture into the air inside your home. Whether this moisture goes on to cause a problem comes down to ventilation, ventilation, ventilation.
This is less of an issue in summer, when we tend to have the windows open and plenty of cross-draught ventilation. But in winter, we’re more likely to keep windows closed, and the lower temperatures can cause humid air to form condensation on windows and other cold surfaces. If this happens, you should wipe away the condensation - leaving it to gather can encourage mould to grow on window frames and walls.
Air flow is key, so if you want to use a heated airer, put it in the middle of the room rather than next to the wall and open the windows at least once a day to allow in some fresh air. This is why heated airers are preferable to wall-mounted radiators. Finally, don’t let the room temperature drop too low. You can reduce the risk of condensation and mould by using your thermostat to keep your home at a consistent, warm temperature.”
Can you leave heated airers on overnight?
It takes a few hours for heated airers to dry your clothes effectively, so it can be tempting to leave them on overnight, but is it safe to do so? A 300W heated bar airer uses around the same amount of energy as a fridge freezer, so you can usually leave them on safely overnight. However, you should be more cautious with the fan heater type, as these use a greater wattage and can be noisy, so it’s not advisable to leave them on overnight or unattended.
You should always check the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you’re using your product safely. Although it’s tempting to do so, most manufacturers don’t recommend leaving any electric heated products unattended. However, many come with timers and thermostats to choose lower temperatures for longer drying periods.
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