A heated clothes airer can dry laundry for as little as 4p per hour, according to a home specialist who has tested multiple models. The devices cut drying time significantly while using less energy than a tumble dryer, making them a cost-effective option for indoor drying, especially in colder or damp weather.
The specialist, who has been testing heated airers since 2020, found that most models cost between 6p and 8p an hour to run, though more expensive options can reach 40p an hour. Even at the higher end, this remains cheaper than running a tumble dryer. The tests involved bulky items like towels and bedding, as well as standard 8kg loads, measuring drying time, evenness, creasing, and running costs.
The Dry:Soon mini three-tier heated airer was rated the best overall. It holds up to 15kg of washing, costs 6p per hour to run, and dries T-shirts and sports kits in three to four hours. It comes ready to use out of the box, weighs 4.3kg, and folds to just 8cm deep for storage. For faster drying, a Lakeland cover can be added.
For those on a budget, the Beldray heated drying pod system transforms a standard clothes horse into a heated airer. It costs half the price of some competitors, with shirts drying in a couple of hours and jeans in under four hours. A built-in timer helps save electricity, but it requires an existing tiered airer.
The Easylife XL three-tier airer offers a large capacity with 30 heated rails and a 15kg load limit, handling two washing machine loads at once. It features two- and four-hour timer settings for safety and energy efficiency, folds flat for storage, and has a wheeled base for easy manoeuvring.
