can this practical rack dry laundry fast and efficiently?

What is the Lakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer?

Living in a draughty Victorian terrace usually means I have a kitchen filled with perpetually damp clothes in winter so I was keen to test out the Lakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe heated airer. Like many of its competitors, this is a three-tier indoor clothes dryer that folds out for use and holds up to 15kg of washing, with six shelves of heated bars to dry clothes quickly.

Having recently tested the best heated airers in the UK, the Dry:Soon Deluxe took top spot. It won this coveted position for its energy efficient laundry drying, at 9p per hour, its sturdy yet lightweight design, and the useful built-in 12-hour timer.

At £199.99 (RRP), the Dry:Soon Deluxe is positioned at the higher end for heated clothes racks price-wise. This review examines its capacity, efficiency, drying time and overall build quality. Read on to find out how it performed during a week of testing.

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I used the Dry:Soon Deluxe for three loads of washing at different times of day, testing its capacity by filling the shelves with a variety of clothing types and materials. This included delicates, thin cotton shirts, knitted jumpers and denim jeans. Garments left in the same position for hours on heated bars will dry more slowly than garments that are regularly repositioned, so I tested and timed both approaches.

I used an infrared thermometer to check heat distribution and the temperature of the rails in the first minutes of the Deluxe being switched on, and again at five, ten, thirty and sixty minute intervals. I kept track of dampness in each item of clothing until everything had dried fully.

Using a smart plug, I measured the airer’s energy efficiency over the course of an hour, checking if it matched the manufacturer’s claims. Finally, I rated the airer’s build quality, design and ease of storage by manoeuvring it up and down the stairs, moving it around while loaded with laundry, and packing it away after use.

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Score: 9/10