The clever clothes drying buy people are going wild for that’s ‘way better than Aldi’s heated airer’
WHEN it comes to household bills, one of the biggest energy guzzlers is the tumble dryer.
So it’s no wonder that people are looking for alternatives to get their laundry dry without using the dryer when it’s cold and raining outside.
Dry:Soon Heated Cabinet, £89.99, Lakeland
And heated airers prove very popular with shoppers over winter to avoid breaking the bank.
Heated airers can save money on your energy bill as it offers a cheaper alternative to drying your clothes on the radiator.
They work like traditional ones, but you plug them in, with the bars of the dryer heating up.
You can buy covers for some as well, which speeds up the time it takes to dry your clothes.
It comes as many homes across the UK are bracing themselves for another winter of misery, with energy bills set to rise by £149 annually.
Unsurprisingly, bargain supermarket Aldi offers a bargain £34.99 option that is 230W and costs just 6p to run.
They also have a sturdier 300W version with 36 heated bars that is slightly more expensive, and costs 8p to operate.
The Ambiano Upright Heated Airer includes a drying cover, two mesh shelves and two peg hangers.
A savvy shopper, Sue, shared a picture of the winter gadget that will be available in stores from this weekend.
She said: “Available in Aldi from Sun 20th, very good buy.”
Her post on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, which boasts 2.5million members, racked up more than 650 comments.
But while many shoppers were excited by the buy, others warned against picking one up.
One person said: “Waste of money….unless you lay a T-shirt across all bars it takes days to dry…we got one last year…gave it away this year.”
“Absolutely rubbish”, wrote a second.
A third added: “The Aldi one was barely warm if you look at the wattage compared to some it’s very low and my last one form here didn’t even dry a football T-shirt.”
A fourth moaned: “I bought one of these and it never dried my washing.”
A fifth chimed in: “I got rid of mine, it only dried the area around the heat, was constantly needing to move things about.”
Meanwhile, a sixth moaned: “They’re not good I sold mine.”
Instead, many other people recommended an alternative buy that’s only a tenner more expensive.
The Dry:Soon heated cabinet is currently on offer in Lakeland for £89.99.
And shoppers have claimed that it is a saviour when it comes to drying clothes quickly – tackling three loads of washing in one day.
One person said: “Don’t bother with this [Aldi] one, spend the extra and get the Dry Soon [from Lakeland]! It’s amazing!”
“I have heard they’re not as good as the Lakeland one”, echoed someone else.
A third wrote: “Lakeland’s version is more expensive but cheaper to run and heats up to a decent temperature, especially with the cover.”
A fourth insisted: “Get a Dry:Soon heated cupboard from Lakeland. I did three loads of washing in one day. Bonus is that it heats the house up too.”
And a fifth echoed: “I’ve got a Lakeland one, absolutely love it! Don’t know how I got by without it to be honest.”
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.
Bosses at Lakeland say the Dry:Soon Heated Cabinet costs just pennies to run – and it is four times more powerful than Aldi’s version.
They say: “Simply hang your garments on one or both rails, zip up the attractive fabric cover to trap warm air and let the built‐in 1200w fan gently and effectively dry your clothing.
“Afterwards, you’ll be chuffed to find your clothing warm, dry and practically crease‐free. It really couldn’t be more efficient, especially on those busy days when you need clean clothes in a hurry.
“Whether it’s grubby school uniforms, last‐minute PE kits, or delicate items, the Dry:Soon Heated Cabinet will get the job done and save the day.”
“The whole unit weighs only 3.8 kilos and the stainless steel frame folds flat so you can slide it under a bed or pop it in your utility room.
“We can’t stress enough how simple it is, and how much time you’ll save. Warm air will circulate, gently and evenly drying your clothes for up to 6 hours.
“The handy built‐in auto shut‐off function is not only convenient, but reassuring.”