Best Dehumidifiers for Drying Clothes
Drying washing indoors is a fact of life in most UK flats, but it comes at a cost: a single load can release several litres of water into the air, and in a poorly ventilated flat that moisture ends up on cold windows and walls as condensation and, eventually, mould. A dehumidifier with a laundry mode solves both problems at once — drying clothes faster while capturing the moisture before it can cause damp.
This guide covers how to choose a dehumidifier specifically for drying clothes in a flat, what features speed things up, and how to combine it with a heated airer for the quickest results.
QUICK ANSWER
To dry clothes indoors without causing damp, use a compressor dehumidifier with a laundry mode (around 10–12L/day) in a closed room with your drying rack. It pulls moisture out of the air as clothes dry, cutting drying time to hours and preventing condensation. Pair it with a heated airer for the fastest, lowest-moisture results.
Who this guide is for
Anyone who dries washing indoors in a flat — especially if you have noticed wet windows, a damp smell or mould after drying clothes — and wants faster drying without a tumble dryer.
Quick recommendations at a glance
Our picks are grouped by need rather than ranked, so you can jump to the type that fits your flat. Product names will be added as affiliate-approved recommendations; for now each pick describes the type of product to look for.
| Pick | What to look for | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| BEST OVERALL | Compressor dehumidifier with laundry mode (10–12L/day) | Fast, efficient indoor drying in an average flat |
| BEST FOR COLD FLATS | Desiccant dehumidifier (7–10L/day) | Drying laundry in cold or unheated rooms |
| BEST BUDGET | Compact dehumidifier (up to ~10L/day) | Small loads and studios on a budget |
| BEST HANDS-OFF | Higher-capacity model with continuous drainage | Set-and-forget drying without emptying tanks |
How we chose
We focused on the features that matter for laundry: a dedicated laundry or continuous mode, extraction rate suited to a flat, low running cost, tank size (or continuous drainage) and noise. As elsewhere, we describe each pick by type and suitability rather than assigning invented ratings.
Our picks in detail
BEST OVERALL
Compressor dehumidifier with laundry mode (10–12L/day)
Best for: Fast, efficient indoor drying in an average flat
Key features to look for: Dedicated laundry mode that runs the fan hard to speed drying, humidistat, continuous-drain option.
Why it suits UK flats: Enough power to dry a full load in a closed room while keeping humidity down.
Pros
- Laundry mode speeds drying
- Efficient at room temperature
- Doubles as an everyday damp fighter
Cons
- Less effective in very cold rooms
- Some hum from the compressor
Who should buy it: Most flat dwellers drying regular loads indoors.
Who should avoid it: Those drying clothes in a very cold, unheated room.
BEST FOR COLD FLATS
Desiccant dehumidifier (7–10L/day)
Best for: Drying laundry in cold or unheated rooms
Key features to look for: Works at low temperatures, gently warms the air, lightweight.
Why it suits UK flats: Keeps drying clothes even when the room is cold, where compressors slow down.
Pros
- Works in cold rooms
- Adds gentle warmth that helps drying
- Quiet and light
Cons
- Higher running cost in warm rooms
- Smaller tanks on some models
Who should buy it: People with cold flats or winter drying needs.
Who should avoid it: Those drying in a heated room, where a compressor is cheaper.
BEST BUDGET
Compact dehumidifier (up to ~10L/day)
Best for: Small loads and studios on a budget
Key features to look for: Lower cost, small footprint, basic controls.
Why it suits UK flats: Handles a single rack in a small closed room.
Pros
- Affordable
- Small and portable
- Fine for light drying
Cons
- Slower with big loads
- More frequent emptying
Who should buy it: Studio dwellers or light laundry users.
Who should avoid it: Large households with heavy laundry.
BEST HANDS-OFF
Higher-capacity model with continuous drainage
Best for: Set-and-forget drying without emptying tanks
Key features to look for: Continuous drain hose, larger capacity, timer and humidistat.
Why it suits UK flats: Run it for hours into a nearby drain or sink with no emptying.
Pros
- No tank emptying
- Handles bigger loads
- Precise humidity control
Cons
- Needs a drain point nearby
- Larger and pricier
Who should buy it: Frequent launderers who want minimal fuss.
Who should avoid it: Those with no convenient drainage point.
Prices and availability shown on Amazon are accurate as of the date of publication and are subject to change.
How to choose a dehumidifier for laundry: what to consider
- Laundry / continuous mode: A dedicated laundry mode runs the fan harder to dry clothes faster; look for it specifically.
- Extraction rate: Around 10–12L/day suits most flats; more helps with big loads or damp flats.
- Compressor vs desiccant: Compressor for heated rooms; desiccant for cold rooms and winter.
- Tank size or continuous drainage: Drying releases a lot of water, so a bigger tank or a drain hose saves constant emptying.
- Noise: You may run it for hours, sometimes overnight, so quieter is better.
- Running cost: A humidistat and timer stop it running longer than needed.
- Room and airflow: Drying in one closed room with the rack near the unit works best.
Dehumidifier drying vs the alternatives
Dehumidifier + airer
The most flexible approach for flats: dries clothes in hours, captures the moisture, and the same machine tackles everyday condensation. Pair with a heated airer for the fastest results.
Tumble dryer
Fast and effective but needs space, costs more to run (unless heat-pump), and vented models need an outlet. See our heated airer versus tumble dryer comparison for the trade-offs.
Unheated airer alone
Free to run but slow, and it releases all that moisture into the flat — the main cause of drying-related damp.
Frequently asked questions
Does a dehumidifier dry clothes faster?
Yes. By removing moisture from the air, a dehumidifier lets clothes give up their water more quickly, especially in a closed room with the drying rack nearby. A laundry mode speeds this up further, and pairing with a heated airer is faster still.
Is a dehumidifier cheaper than a tumble dryer for drying clothes?
Often, yes — particularly compared with a vented or condenser tumble dryer. A dehumidifier with a humidistat only runs as needed, and it also does double duty fighting condensation. Heat-pump tumble dryers are more efficient than older dryers but cost more to buy and take up space.
Will drying clothes with a dehumidifier stop damp?
It greatly reduces the risk. The moisture that normally settles on cold windows and walls is captured by the dehumidifier instead. Combine it with drying in one closed room and a little ventilation afterwards for best results.
Heated airer or dehumidifier for laundry — which first?
If you can only buy one, a dehumidifier is the more versatile choice because it also tackles condensation year-round. Add a heated airer later for the fastest possible drying.
Our recommendation by need
For most flats: A compressor dehumidifier with a laundry mode (10–12L/day) dries washing fast and fights condensation the rest of the time.
For cold flats: A desiccant model keeps drying when the room is cold.
On a budget: A compact model handles a single rack in a small room.
For minimal fuss: A higher-capacity model with continuous drainage runs for hours without emptying.