Dehumidifier
Comparison guide
Dehumidifier vs heating to dry clothes
In many UK homes, a dehumidifier is the better answer when you are drying clothes indoors because it deals with the moisture directly and often uses less electricity than adding a large chunk of direct room heating just for laundry. Extra heating can still be reasonable when the room already needs to be warm for comfort anyway.
Last reviewed: 16 April 2026 - Estimate-based comparison, not a one-size-fits-all rule
Extra heating can be acceptable
Dehumidifier
| Factor | Dehumidifier | Extra heating |
|---|---|---|
| Main effect | Removes moisture from the air so the room dries out faster. | Raises room temperature, which can help drying but does not remove moisture on its own. |
| Running cost | Often lower than adding 1kW to 2kW of electric heat for the same session. | Can rise quickly if the room would not otherwise have been heated. |
| Best use case | Closed room, damp-prone home, regular indoor drying. | Occupied room that is being heated for comfort already. |
| Common mistake | Using too small a unit in a cold open space. | Counting all of the heat as "free" because the room sometimes needs warmth anyway. |
How to think about the decision
- A dehumidifier often wins when the room is shut off and the main job is getting moisture out of the air.
- Extra electric heating only makes sense as a drying method if that room was going to be heated anyway for comfort.
- If condensation is already building up on windows, using heat alone usually leaves half the problem unsolved.
Practical verdict
For a box room, spare room or utility space used as a drying room, the dehumidifier route is usually the stronger answer. For a living room where the heating is already on and the washing is occasional, the result becomes more mixed and comfort may justify the heat you were already going to use.
Useful shortcut
Choose the dehumidifier when the laundry load is adding a moisture problem. Choose "extra heating" only when the room genuinely needs that heating anyway.
Dehumidifier running cost
Check the direct cost of your likely dehumidifier usage pattern.
Using a dehumidifier for drying clothes
Practical setup guidance for room choice, door position and airflow.
Heated airer vs dehumidifier
Useful if your real comparison is between two lower-cost indoor drying setups.
Is a dehumidifier always cheaper than turning the heating up?
Not always. If the room is already being heated for comfort, some of that heating cost is not really "for the laundry". But if you are adding heat mainly to dry clothes, the dehumidifier is often the lower-cost route.
Can I run both together?
Yes, and that can speed things up. The main question is whether the extra heating is worth the added cost once the dehumidifier is already handling the moisture.