With advice from experts, we've tried and tested the best dehumidifiers to speed up your laundry and prevent condensation. Copy link. twitter. facebook. whatsapp. If you’ve ever had reason to ask yourself ‘what is the best dehumidifier?’ it was probably with a sense of desperation over mould in your bathroom that just won’t shift, window condensation forever puddling on the sills or clothes that never dry in winter. Humidity can be a real problem. A dehumidifier is your best defence.

Dehumidifiers are the best way to reduce humidity in your home and many are cost effective and energy efficient. They range from bathroom dehumidifiers to compact ones for your car and even ones you can control from your mobile phone. Small dehumidifiers are ideal for flats or smaller spaces, while the bigger models can dehumidify a five-bedroom property or a small business space. Below, we’ve listed the best dehumidifiers as tested by us and recommended by experts, noting how much each costs to run, followed by a guide to how they work and how best to use them. If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at our top five:.

Look for one which draws less than 360 Watts and you will never spend more than 10p per hour*. It’s often much less on lower power settings. Dehumidifiers are generally cheap to run. Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product at the best price. No manufacturer ever sees copy before publication and we do not accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.

With advice from air conditioning experts Ryan Kandola and Chris Wood, we are methodically trying and testing the best dehumidifiers on the market in a small London flat and a larger, countryside house for energy efficiency, drying power, value for money and quiet running. Dehumidifiers are tested in rooms prone to damp and mould, using a hygrometer to make sure they keep humidity at around 50 per cent. We test them just outside bathrooms and in laundry rooms containing 5kg of damp clothes on a dryer. Where dehumidifiers are not available to test at home (they frequently sell out), our reviews are based on the verdicts of experts Ryan and Chris.

“Remember, size isn’t everything,” Ryan says. “Look at the area you’re dealing with and choose the right size of unit. You’ll be surprised at just how powerful some of the small dehumidifiers are.”. £209, De’Longhi. Best dehumidifier overall, 9/10. We like: the glossy exterior. We don’t like: it’s expensive, and a little less energy efficient than some. Tested at home by Rebecca Astill. In winter, the opportunities to dry your washing outdoors are limited, but if you invest in the right dehumidifier you can do it quickly indoors without recourse to a tumble dryer. This DeLonghi is the best dehumidifier for drying clothes, thanks to its designated laundry drying function, accessible by pressing the button on the far left-hand side.

It’s the setting with the highest ventilation speed and dehumidifying capacity, in my testing, I found it to really work. I don’t struggle too badly with mould in winter but I do find it difficult to dry clothes (I’m a little too stoic about not switching on the heating). With this DeLonghi dehumidifier sat next to my standard, non-heated clothes airer, my washing dried within a few hours, including a pair of jeans and a hoodie.

The transparent water tank means I can keep tabs on when to empty it although it rarely needs emptying more than once a day. The dehumidifier also automatically switches off when the water tank reaches its maximum capacity of 2.1l. In reality, it’s probably a little too powerful for my needs, instead I’d recommend it to anyone with large, open-plan rooms in their houses or a big house with open doors, where it can sit in a hallway. While the power of 290 Watts means it only costs around 8p per hour, there are still lower energy options on this list that anyone with a smaller house or flat should consider.

That said, if you need a powerful dehumidifier that’s intuitive to use and looks smart, this is it. It’s also very portable, thanks to the built-in handle. £169.99, Meaco. Best value dehumidifier, 9/10. We like: low energy costs and easy to navigate controls. We don’t like: you have to pay extra for castors. Tested at home by Emily Peck. What’s instantly attractive about the MeacoDry ABC 12L Dehumidifier is that it draws around 165 Watts, which means you’ll be more likely to save on energy costs. This is much lower than other dehumidifiers we’ve featured here from the likes of Midea Cube, for example.

Setup consists of just unboxing it and pressing the start button. This sets it to the highest fan speed, but there’s also a lower option to choose from. It’s not the lightest of devices, but you can buy a pair of castors, which I would advise to improve its portability. Meaco states that this is its quietest dehumidifier and it runs at 36dB(A). Using my Decibel Meter App I measured it at 46.7dB, however. On its lowest settings, it was more like 40.3dB, which is around average compared to other designs in our round-up.