If you often dry full loads but don’t have a suitable room for an airer, consider a tumble dryer, checking its capacity, dimensions and energy label. If you keep using an airer, a dehumidifier can remove moisture from the air, but it doesn’t replace ventilation. According to ADEME, indoor air-drying is better suited to a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor.
If you already use an airer, start by checking the room’s size, ventilation and extraction. ADEME recommends drying laundry indoors in a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor. You could also consider a dehumidifier, but it won’t replace ventilation.
If you do laundry frequently and don’t have a room that’s suitable for an airer, a tumble dryer is worth considering. Match its capacity to your usual loads, then check the available space, access and energy label information.
If you need to keep an airer and move the appliance between rooms, consider the space they’ll take up together, the noise and how you’ll manage the collected water. Bear in mind that a portable dehumidifier still takes up space in the room while your laundry dries.
Consider it if: you do laundry frequently or don’t have a suitable room for an airer.
The trade-off: you’ll need to make space for the appliance, use electricity and carry out the maintenance specified for the model.
Consider it if: you want to keep air-drying your clothes while removing moisture from the room.
The trade-off: your laundry and airer will still take up space in the room, and you’ll need to empty or drain the collected water.
Consider it if: you have a large, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor, and you’re happy with the drying time.
The trade-off: according to ADEME, air-drying releases a lot of moisture into the air indoors. A small, poorly ventilated room isn’t a suitable place for it.
| Factor | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Damp and ventilation | Check the size of the room, how well it can be ventilated and whether the extractor is working properly. ADEME recommends keeping air inlets and extractor vents clear. | When the room stays damp, I want to avoid making things worse by drying clothes indoors. Around 36% of consumers would put this concern first. |
| How often you need to dry clothes | For a tumble dryer, match its capacity to your usual loads and check the duration of the programme you’d use, rather than relying on the time for a single quick programme. | When I have several loads to do, I need to organise drying without waiting for a room to become free. Around 29% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Space and installation | Measure the appliance, any airer, the access route and the space needed to open doors. Also check the noise and how water will be collected or drained away. | In a small home, I need to be able to move around and use the room while my laundry dries. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this space constraint. |
| Energy and fabrics | For a tumble dryer, compare the energy label, the stated consumption per 100 cycles and the programmes suited to your fabrics. ADEME also highlights the value of spinning clothes effectively before drying. | When I regularly dry a variety of fabrics, I want to compare energy use and choose a suitable programme. Around 14% of consumers would make this their main concern. |
Extraction capacity depends on the test conditions. For example, De’Longhi states 16 l/24 h for the DEXD216RF at 30 °C and 80% relative humidity. This figure won’t necessarily reflect how it performs in a colder room.
Compare figures measured under equivalent conditions, then check the stated room size, noise level, tank and drainage.
Drying clothes indoors adds moisture to the air. An appliance that collects water doesn’t remove the need for effective ventilation, as ADEME points out.
Don’t turn off your mechanical ventilation system or block the air inlets. If damp or mould persists even when you’re not drying clothes, have the property assessed rather than relying on this purchase to solve the problem.
Capacity doesn’t tell you whether the appliance will fit through the access points or leave enough room to open the door. Dimensions and noise levels vary by model.
Measure the height, width and depth, check the access route and allow for the door to open. Also check how condensate will be collected or drained away.
If you buy from a professional seller in France, the legal guarantee of conformity and any commercial warranty offer different protections. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that a commercial warranty is in addition to the legal guarantees.
Before buying an extended warranty, check its duration, exclusions and repair arrangements, then compare them with the rights that already apply to your purchase.
These brands offer specific models to compare; their features don’t necessarily apply to their entire ranges.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a heat pump tumble dryer and capacity and dimensions are key to your choice.
Worth considering if you’re comparing the programmes and maintenance requirements of heat pump tumble dryers.
Worth considering if the drying features available for different fabrics matter to you.
Worth considering if you want to use a dehumidifier with an airer and compare drainage options.
Worth considering if you’re comparing the stated room size and extraction capacity of dehumidifiers.
For use alongside an airer, the dehumidifiers below offer different setups to compare based on your room and how you’ll manage the water. Tumble dryers are more suited to drying clothes in a dedicated appliance. Whichever you choose, check the installation requirements first.
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Worth considering for drying laundry on an airer, if the room and conditions are suitable.
The product name lists a 2.8 L tank, automatic defrost, R290 refrigerant and a continuous drainage hose. Compare the stated extraction capacity with its test conditions, and check the noise level and suitable room size.
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Worth comparing for indoor clothes drying if you want a timer and the option of continuous drainage.
The product name mentions a 24-hour timer, automatic defrost and a laundry-drying function. Check that the stated area of approximately 32 m² suits your room, and also check the noise level during operation.
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Worth considering for use with an airer in a room that’s within the appliance’s stated size range.
The product name lists a 25 m² coverage area, a 1.4 L tank, a 24-hour timer, automatic defrost and automatic shut-off. Before choosing, confirm the available modes and the conditions behind the stated extraction capacity.
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Worth considering if you’d rather dry loads in a dedicated appliance than have an airer taking up space in the room.
The product name lists an 8 kg capacity and energy rating C. Measure the available space and access route, then check the energy label and how condensate is drained away.
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Worth comparing for regular loads if an 8 kg capacity suits the laundry you usually do.
The product name lists energy rating D, a refresh programme and an LED display. Check the dimensions, noise level, condensate management and energy consumption shown on the energy label.
No. For indoor air-drying, ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or one with a mechanical ventilation extractor vent, preferably a humidity-sensitive one. In a small, poorly ventilated room, reconsider where or how you dry your laundry.
No. A dehumidifier can be used alongside an airer, but it doesn’t replace ventilation in your home. ADEME recommends keeping the mechanical ventilation system running and leaving the air inlets and extractor vents clear.
Compare their stated extraction rates only after taking the temperature and humidity conditions into account, then check the noise level, stated room size, tank and drainage. For example, De’Longhi states 16 l/24 h for the DEXD216RF at 30 °C and 80% relative humidity. This figure doesn’t predict the result in a different room.
First, check that its capacity and dimensions suit your loads and the space available. For tumble dryers covered by European Union rules, check the energy label, particularly the energy consumption information, rather than relying on the words “heat pump” alone.
No. If you’re a private individual buying an appliance from a professional seller in France, an optional commercial warranty is in addition to the legal guarantees and doesn’t replace them. The French Ministry of the Economy states that you have two years to request that the legal guarantee of conformity be applied. Check the terms of any extended warranty separately.