Mrs Hinch fans 14p drying clothes method that avoids Martin Lewis 'demon appliance'

Mrs Hinch fans 14p drying clothes method that avoids Martin Lewis 'demon appliance' The weather has turned but some appliances cost almost £1.50 an hour to run It’s the time of year when chilldren are back at school generating masses of washing - but the weather has taken a turn for the worse. Just a month or so ago it was so hot and dry that parents could hang the wet clothes outside and they’d be bone dry in an hour. People may be tempted to use the tumble dryer - but Martin Lewis has described it as a ‘demon appliance’ and one which uses far too much power. This winter people are facing massive fuel bill rises - From 1 October 2026, Ofgem’s energy price cap will increase by 3.6% (around £60 a year), raising the annual bill for a typical household paying by Direct Debit from £1,663 to £1,723. Mr Lewis warned that the January price cap is presently forecast to climb by approximately 10 per cent to 15 per cent compared to the cap taking effect this October, with the Iran war blamed. At £1.46 per cycle for some dryers the amount spent on energy drying clothes can be considerable and add up in winter months. A dehumidifier can cost around 14p an hour to run. On the Mrs Hinch Made Me Do It Facebook page fans have been discussing the best ways to dry washing. One parent said: “Hello, looking for advice for dying clothes. Don’t have a tumble drier and have 2 kids under 2 so have lots of washings. I have a heated clothes airer (Lakeland) but clothes still very damp even after 8 hours? Also have radiator racks but clothes don’t dry on them either. I have seen a lot of you talk about dehumidifiers. Would this solve my problems? Really don’t have spare cash to fork out for one if it’s hardly going to work.” People described a ‘game changer’ which transforms the performance of clothes horses and heaters. According to experts people advocate getting a dehumidifier - and using an old duvet cover or sheet. One said: “Airer, put an old double duvet cover over radiator and airer, tuck it in. My clothes dry in couple of hours. Do a extra spin first.” A follower said: “I saw a post the other day a woman put a sheet over the clothes on the heated airer and did the same with ones on the radiator. I tried worked brilliantly.” Some advocate dehumidifyers: “I’ve got one and highly recommend it, mine has a laundry dry function and can dry heavy jeans and work trousers In about 3 hours, costs 8p an hour to run. Mine keeps the whole house condensation free. While it was a fair amount to pay out initially it is paying for itself as the whole house is warmer with it running so I’m not needing heating on no where near as much as usual” A homeowner said: “Massive difference using dehumidifier cuts drying time right down also noticed a difference in the house temperature.” “I use a dehumidifier, it cost me £40, I plug it in under the airer, also prevents damp because it draws in the water. I also got one for my daughter in Uni to save her money on drying costs.” Mr Lewis pinpointed the tumble dryer as the appliance households should limit using wherever feasible, highlighting its £1-per-load running cost. He said: “Do you know what the real ‘demon appliance’ is in most people’s houses - the one that you don’t want to use because it’s really expensive. Tumble dryers. “You’re typically paying up to a quid per load, so dry your clothes on an airer outside, to shorten the amount of time you’re using your tumble dryer, or avoid using it completely. Those who have dehumidifiers can take some of the moisture out of the air. It’s less wattage than a tumble dryer, so it can be more cost-effective.”