Quick answer
To dry washing indoors in a British winter, a 7 to 12 litre dehumidifier with a laundry mode in a closed room is enough, and the EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 desiccant dehumidifier is our pick: rated 4.6 stars across 6,319 Amazon.co.uk ratings, it extracts 7.5 litres a day and works from 1°C to 40°C, so an unheated spare room is fine. In a heated house with lots of laundry, the Pro Breeze 20L compressor model holds more water.
Drying clothes on radiators and airers adds litres of water to indoor air each load, and in a cold flat that water ends up as condensation and mould. A dehumidifier with a laundry setting pulls the moisture straight out of the room, so clothes dry faster without the heating on. The trick is the room: small, door shut, washing spread out, dehumidifier blowing across it. These four picks come from Amazon.co.uk listings read on 15 October 2026, chosen for laundry modes and strong buyer feedback.
Our picks
Pick 1 · Best overall, works in cold rooms
EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Desiccant Dehumidifier
Best for: Drying washing in a cold spare room, utility or flat without the heating on.
Check price on Amazon.co.ukDesiccant dehumidifiers suit British laundry because they do not slow down when the room is cold. This one is rated from 1°C, so an unheated box room works. The warm, dry air it blows out also speeds up drying. Point the outlet across the airer and close the door. It is a simple machine with a dial rather than a digital display, which some buyers prefer. In a warm, heated home a compressor unit will usually be cheaper to run per litre.
Pros
- Keeps working in an unheated room
- Quiet for a desiccant unit
- Simple rotary dial
- Gives off gentle warmth that helps clothes dry
Cons
- Desiccant models use more power per hour than compressor ones in warm rooms
- Lower extraction than a 20 L compressor unit
Key specs (from the listing)
- Type:
- Desiccant
- Extraction:
- 7.5 L/day (title)
- Working temperature:
- 1–40°C
- Noise:
- 34 dBA
- Room size:
- Up to 60 m²
- Controls:
- Rotary dial
- Filter:
- Silver nano anti-bacterial, removable
Pick 2 · Biggest tank, heated homes
Pro Breeze 20L/Day Compressor Dehumidifier with Laundry Mode
Best for: Families with daily washing in a heated home.
Check price on Amazon.co.ukIf you dry several loads a week, tank size matters as much as extraction, and this one holds 5.5 litres. The swinging louvre sweeps air over a full airer, which is what makes laundry mode work. The listing quotes a Which? comment that it copes reasonably well in colder rooms, but it is still a refrigerant machine, so keep the room above about 12°C for best results. It doubles as a whole-home dehumidifier the rest of the week.
Pros
- 5.5 L tank means fewer empties
- Swing louvre spreads air across the airer
- Carbon filter for musty smells
- Child lock and sleep mode
Cons
- Large and heavy compared with a desiccant unit
- Compressor output drops in a cold room
Key specs (from the listing)
- Type:
- Compressor
- Extraction:
- Up to 20 L/day
- Tank:
- 5.5 L, auto shut-off, hose included
- Modes:
- Strong, natural, ventilation, continuous, laundry
- Filters:
- Carbon filter and washable mesh filter
- Louvre:
- Auto swing 120°
- Award:
- Which? Best Buy 2025 (per listing)
Pick 3 · Compact desiccant with humidistat
Meaco DD8L Compact Desiccant Dehumidifier
Best for: Small flats, caravans and anyone who wants a desiccant unit with humidity control.
Check price on Amazon.co.ukThe DD8L is the desiccant choice if you want set humidity levels rather than a simple dial: 40, 50 or 60%. Meaco states it suits rooms below 10°C, and puts a laundry load at about six hours. Use the off timer so it stops once the washing is done. At 39 dB it is a little louder than our first pick, so run it in a room you are not sleeping in. Outside laundry days, set it to 50% to keep condensation off a cold bedroom window.
Pros
- Humidity settings, not just a dial
- Light enough to carry upstairs
- Hose option for a garage or caravan
- Off timer
Cons
- Louder than the EcoAir DD1
- Small tank compared with compressor models
Key specs (from the listing)
- Type:
- Desiccant
- Extraction:
- Up to 8 L/day
- Humidistat:
- 40/50/60% RH
- Noise:
- 39 dB (listing)
- Laundry:
- About 6 hours per load (listing)
- Timer:
- Off timer 1–8 hours
- Drainage:
- Hose option
Pick 4 · Quiet compressor option
Devola 12L/Day Low Energy Dehumidifier
Best for: Bedrooms and living rooms where washing dries overnight.
Check price on Amazon.co.ukA compressor machine with a laundry mode and a quoted 36 dB at full speed, which is low for this type. Devola rates it from 5°C, a wider range than most refrigerant models claim. It is a good fit for a heated flat where the washing goes up in the living room or bedroom overnight. The 2 litre tank needs emptying more often than the Pro Breeze 20L, so use the hose if a drain is nearby.
Pros
- Quiet for a compressor unit
- Laundry drying mode
- Castors and carry handle
- Washable filter
Cons
- 2 L tank
- Short standard warranty unless extended
Key specs (from the listing)
- Type:
- Compressor
- Extraction:
- Up to 12 L/day
- Working temperature:
- From 5°C (listing)
- Noise:
- 36 dB at full speed (listing)
- Tank:
- 2 L, hose included
- Size and weight:
- H 47 × W 25.5 × D 22 cm, 10.5 kg
- Award:
- Which? Great Value, Nov 2025 (per listing)
Buying guide
Desiccant or compressor for laundry?
Desiccant dehumidifiers keep their drying power in cold rooms and blow out slightly warm air, which helps clothes dry in an unheated spare room. Compressor dehumidifiers pull more water per hour in a warm room and usually use less electricity there. If you dry washing with the heating off or in a conservatory, choose desiccant. If the house is heated and you wash every day, a 12 to 20 litre compressor unit is the better buy.
How to dry clothes with a dehumidifier
Use the smallest room you can, close the door and window, and spread the washing out on an airer with gaps between items. Place the dehumidifier a short distance from the airer with the air outlet blowing across the clothes rather than at a wall. Choose laundry mode or the lowest humidity setting. Most loads dry in about six hours this way. A spin at the highest speed your machine allows first makes a bigger difference than any setting.
Tank size and draining
A laundry load can put several litres of water into the air. A 2 litre tank may fill before the clothes are dry, and most machines stop when the tank is full. If you dry more than one load at a time, choose a larger tank or run the drain hose into a sink, shower tray or bucket on the floor below the outlet.
Who should not buy one for laundry
If you have a vented tumble dryer you are happy with, or space to dry clothes outdoors most of the year, a dehumidifier adds little. It is also the wrong tool for very large households drying several loads every day in a big open-plan room, where a heat pump tumble dryer will be faster. A dehumidifier pays off in flats, rented homes and anywhere clothes currently dry on radiators.
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to dry clothes with a dehumidifier or tumble dryer?
A dehumidifier is usually cheaper to run than a conventional tumble dryer, because it draws far less power per hour. It takes longer, typically around six hours a load. Heat pump tumble dryers narrow the gap, but cost much more to buy.
Do I need a laundry mode on a dehumidifier?
No, but it helps. Laundry mode runs the fan at full speed and ignores the humidity target, so the machine keeps drying until the clothes are done or a timer ends. Without it, set the lowest humidity level and the highest fan speed.
Can I dry clothes with a dehumidifier in a cold room?
Yes, with a desiccant model. Desiccant units like the EcoAir DD1 work down to 1°C and add some warmth. Compressor dehumidifiers slow down sharply in rooms below about 12°C and may defrost repeatedly.
How long does it take to dry clothes with a dehumidifier?
About six hours for a normal load in a small closed room, according to Meaco's own figure. Thick towels and jeans take longer. Spreading items out and using a high spin speed shortens the time more than any setting on the dehumidifier.
Does drying clothes indoors cause mould?
It can, when the moisture has nowhere to go. One load releases litres of water into the air, and in a cold home it condenses on windows and walls. Running a dehumidifier in the same room while the washing dries prevents that.