Martin Lewis' warning over 'demon appliance' that's making energy bills soar

The money saving expert says you should find alternatives

As the colder months approach and the opportunity to dry clothes outside diminishes, households are facing the challenge of drying laundry indoors, which can lead to issues such as mould, condensation, and stale garments. However, financial guru Martin Lewis has advised against relying on tumble dryers, which he refers to as 'demon appliances' due to their high running costs.

Instead, Martin recommends using dehumidifiers, which are much more cost-effective and can quickly dry clothes while preventing mould and dampness. On an episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast, available on BBC Sounds, Spotify, and Apple Music, Martin explained: "Many dehumidifiers have different wattages – the one I checked out was 200W."

He continued: "Once we know it's 200W and we know a kilowatt is 1,000W, which is how electricity tends to be priced, we know this is a fifth of a kilowatt."

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"And you pay roughly 34p per kilowatt per hour. A fifth is 7p, so you're going to pay roughly 7p per hour to run a dehumidifier at 200W, assuming it uses full power the whole time."

Energy costs are slightly down since those calculations, meaning it will only cost about 5.5p an hour now based on 26p unit prices this winter, reports the Express.

Energy supplier Utilita has estimated that running a tumble dryer can cost between 53p to £1 per hour, which is ten to twenty times more than other appliances. So, what's the best or most affordable dehumidifier?

The Pro Breeze 12L dehumidifier, with built-in laundry drying settings and a 12-litre tank, is available on Amazon for just £134.99.

While it may seem pricey initially, it's cheaper in the long run compared to running a tumble dryer or fixing mould damage. Devola offers a larger 20L model with an integrated air purifier, allowing you to improve your home's air quality while also removing moisture and drying clothes.

This model costs £179.99 for the larger size or £119.06 for the smaller 12L version, and operates quietly at just 38db, quieter than a fridge. Lastly, the EcoAir DD1 7L is slightly smaller but fits easily into a living room.

It features a laundry setting and runs quietly at just 34db, making it the quietest model here. Priced slightly higher at £229, it's the most advanced model with numerous settings, an app for connectivity, and glowing reviews.

There are cheaper portable options available, but these lack laundry settings and aren't recommended for drying clothes as they may not be powerful enough or have sufficient water storage.