Lidl is releasing a new gadget that can help homeowners dry laundry faster indoors without a tumble dryer, costing about 10.5p per hour to run compared with a tumble dryer, which costs between 21p and £1.24 per hour. The Tronic Dehumidifier, priced at £89.99, arrives as part of the supermarket's upcoming 'Cosy Bedroom' Middle Aisle sale.
From Sunday, November 15, shoppers can buy faux fur stools, rugs, cushions, blankets, a Storage Basket Set, Storage Ottoman, and various 'comfy' bed items alongside the dehumidifier.
Features and Running Costs
The Tronic Dehumidifier offers four settings: inside laundry drying with a powerful fan and dehumidification, a ventilation function without dehumidification, automatic and time-controlled operation adjustable up to 24 hours, and adjustable target humidity from 30% to 80% or continuous operation. It extracts up to 20L of moisture per 24 hours, has a 4L water tank, a removable washable filter, overflow protection, a hose connection for continuous operation, an automatic defrost function, four wheels, recessed handles, and a child safety feature. It consumes 400W of power and comes with a three-year warranty.
At the standard UK electricity rate of 26.32p per kWh, running the 400W dehumidifier costs approximately 10.5p per hour. Over a typical four-hour period, it costs 42p, and over eight hours, roughly 84p. Users can lower costs further by avoiding high-power settings such as continuous ventilation and relying on automatic mode, which shuts the unit down once the room reaches a healthy target humidity range of 50% to 55%.
Benefits for Laundry and Energy Bills
Many energy experts agree that using a dehumidifier indoors is an effective way to manage moisture, speed up laundry drying times, and significantly lower household energy bills. The device actively removes moisture from the air, lowering relative humidity and pulling dampness from fabrics instead of letting it evaporate into the room.
For fastest results, homeowners can create a compact drying microclimate by sealing the clothes rack and dehumidifier inside a small room, directing the warm exhaust vent toward the clothes, and rotating the rack halfway through the drying cycle. Replacing an energy-heavy tumble dryer, which can cost between £1.50 and £2.50 per cycle, with a drying rack and a dehumidifier can save homeowners a substantial amount per load.
Dry air is cheaper to heat than damp air because the central heating boiler does not waste energy warming suspended water molecules. Rooms heat up faster and retain warmth longer, often allowing the thermostat to be lowered without losing comfort. By eliminating condensation that leads to black mould, a dehumidifier prevents expensive structural damage and redecorating costs over time, as mould releases microscopic spores, allergens, and irritants into the air that can harm health and damage property.
