UK households turn to low-power drying options as energy costs rise

As winter approaches and energy costs rise, households across the United Kingdom are increasingly turning to lower-power alternatives to tumble dryers such as heated airers, drying pods and dehumidifiers to dry clothes indoors, experts and users say. Those options promise lower running costs and gentler treatment for fabrics, but they also bring trade-offs in speed, coverage and safety considerations.

Appliance repair specialist Ian Palmer-Smith said the primary attraction of heated airers and drying pods is cost. He noted that heated airers typically use between 2p and 26p per hour, compared with around 75p per hour for a tumble dryer. He added that while alternatives often take longer to dry a load, the lower hourly cost usually produces overall savings. Palmer-Smith also highlighted that these devices are gentler on delicate fabrics and sportswear and are compact and portable, allowing users to position them where airflow and radiator heat can aid drying.

Energy experts advise households to make the most of built-in tumble dryer features before switching entirely to alternatives. Many modern dryers include a sensor dry function that automatically detects when clothes are dry...