News Beat
The 10 best heated clothes airers to save time and money, tested at home
As energy prices rise again this winter, using a heated airer to dry clothes is a smart way to save on your bills. The best airers cost mere pennies per hour to run, and there are other solid benefits, too. Cleverly designed frames, multiple-tiers, covers and flexible feet offer versatility for even the heaviest of laundry loads. In colder months, the increased drying speed helps prevent unpleasant damp smells in your home, and ensures school uniforms, office wear and other essentials can be washed and dried as needed.
Compared with traditional tumble dryers (rather than newer, more expensive heat pump varieties), airers often win for efficiency and garment care. “Heated airers are far more energy-efficient than a tumble dryer, which can use up to five or six times more electricity per hour than a heated airer,” says Stephen Day, heating engineer at iHeat. “That’s a big difference in both emissions and energy bills. Plus, you’re also reducing wear and tear on clothes, as tumble dryers can be quite harsh on fabrics over time.”
I tested a range of heated clothes airers at different prices, and answered your FAQs below.
The best heated clothes airers: At a glance
How to choose the best heated clothes airers
The type of airer best for your home depends on a few factors.
Laundry capacity: Be realistic about the size of your laundry loads. Bigger is not always better. While large families may need a large airer for regular washing, this also takes up valuable space. One or two-person households might benefit from a smaller heated airer which can be stored easily and doesn’t dominate your living area.
Energy efficiency: Appliance repair expert Ian Palmer-Smith explains that heated airers are a popular option due to their low running costs. Heated airers use between 7p and 26p per hour, whereas a tumble dryer can cost you closer to 75p per hour. “Although you’d probably have to use a heater airer or drying pod for longer at a time, it would likely still cost you much less overall than a tumble dryer load,” he says. All the models tested here used between 7 and 27p per hour, measured via smart plug.
Storage and build quality: A heated airer needs to be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of 10 to 20kg of wet laundry, but also to fold down sufficiently to be stored away without issue. Consider the size of your storage space before you buy.
