'I'm an energy expert - there's one thing you should own to save money on bills in winter'

An energy expert has given their views on a must-have product as Brits seek to reduce their energy bills amidst the increasing chill of recent weeks. With households hesitant to crank up the heating, finding efficient ways to dry laundry without risking shrinkage - especially for items that cannot be tumble dried – is becoming more crucial.

High demand continues for heated airers, and experts at Utility Bidder have now shared their insights on this popular laundry gadget's efficacy and its comparison with other electric drying options. James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, highlighted: "As temperatures turn colder, it is becoming less and less possible to effectively dry your washing outside. However, there are effective alternative appliances that can help."

He noted the benefits of heated airers stating: "Heated airers can offer energy-efficient drying, making them an eco-friendly choice when - and like normal clothes airers, they're space-saving and easy to use. Heated airers can be a more cost-efficient way to dry washing during winter.

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“Given that a 9kg heat pump tumble dryer, although a speedier option and one of the most cost-effective types - uses 2.16 kWh for a full load. As a result, you’ll be spending over 50p per cycle. A 300-watt heated airer, on the other hand, would cost more between 30p and 40p to use for five hours under the current energy price cap.”

Despite the variety of shapes and sizes on offer, the experts recommend opting for a “tower heated airer with two or three tiers; you should be able to squeeze these in a corner of a room”.

Longley issued a word of warning for those using radiators to dry their clothes: “Many may turn to radiators to dry their clothes, and although radiators may appear to be a cost-friendly alternative for drying your clothes, that is not their purpose. Wet clothes being placed on radiators could result in moisture being spread in the air and over time, mould build-up in the room.

“So even though drying your clothes on a radiator is an option, and may feel more comfortable for you in the short-term, realistically this will lead to the onset of more bills around the home. We also believe that it is important to be aware of the dangers of drying clothes on radiators, including the risk of ignition due to flammable materials being placed on a heat source. Also, the build-up of lint, dust, and fluff could further develop such fire risks.

“In order to compare appliances, this formula can help you calculate expenditure: Cost = power (kilowatt) × time (hour) × cost of 1 kWh (pence).”

On TikTok, many people have shared their success with heated clothes airers. On one particularly popular video showing the set up of a clothes airer in use, one person said: “I have one of these… my clothes dry within half a day on these and don't smell damp!!” The creator of the video replied: “It’s great isn’t it! I wish I got one sooner”.

Another said: “Had mine for 8 years now and still works perfectly. We call it ‘the hut of happiness’ as it makes me happy every day!” And another added: “I have one of these and it’s probably the best thing I’ve ever bought for my flat. My clothes would take days to dry on a normal airer but take less than a day with this”.