The Money Saving Expert founder has warned that one appliance could soon run up your energy bills
Alex Evans Deputy Audience Editor and Natalie King
11:34, 30 Sep 2025
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreMartin Lewis revealed a better alternative to a ‘demon’ appliance(Image: Kate Green, Getty Images)
Money guru Martin Lewis has suggested that households use a dehumidifier to dry their clothes instead of a ‘demon appliance’. Energy bills are a concern for many this time of year, and households could save £215 if they act ahead of major energy announcement.
As winter approaches and the opportunities for drying clothes outdoors become less frequent, families are grappling with the challenges of indoor laundry drying. These issues range from mould and condensation to mildew and stale, poorly aired clothing.
However, the founder of Money Saving Expert has cautioned against using tumble dryers if you’re keeping an eye on your energy bills, labelling them as ‘demon appliances’ due to their high running costs.
Instead, Martin recommends using dehumidifiers, which are considerably cheaper to operate and can quickly dry your clothes while preventing mould, dampness or condensation.
During an episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Sounds, Spotify and Apple Music, Martin Lewis identified ‘demon appliances’ that people should avoid, reports the Express.
Tumble dryers can be costly to run(Image: Jacob Wackerhausen via Getty Images)
One such appliance is the tumble dryer, notorious for its high operating cost, sometimes reaching up to £1 per hour. Martin instead proposed switching to a dehumidifier, stating: “Many dehumidifiers have different wattages – the one I checked out was 200W.
“Once we know it’s 200W and we know a kilowatt is 1,000W, which is how electricity tends to be priced, we know this is a fifth of a kilowatt.
“And you pay roughly 34p per kilowatt per hour. A fifth is 7p, so you’re going to pay roughly 7p per hour to run a dehumidifier at 200W, assuming it uses full power the whole time.”
In comparison, energy supplier Utilita estimates that a tumble dryer costs between 53p and £1 per hour to operate, which is ten to twenty times more expensive.
So what’s the top dehumidifier or most affordable option available?
The Pro Breeze 12L dehumidifier features built-in laundry drying functions and a 12-litre reservoir, allowing multiple uses before requiring emptying.
A dehumidifier can also help prevent mould in your home(Image: ronstik via Getty Images)
Priced at £139.99, this might seem steep initially, it’s far more economical than operating a tumble dryer and less costly than addressing mould issues, making it worthwhile long-term.
Devola offers a larger 20L variant that includes an integrated air purifier, enabling you to enhance your home’s air quality whilst removing moisture and drying garments.
Currently costing £149.99 for the bigger 20L version or £114.95 for the compact 12L size, and features a whisper-quiet mode at just 38db – quieter than a fridge.
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Lastly, the EcoAir DD1 7L is more compact, but its slender design makes it perfect for living room placement.
It includes a laundry function and operates at an incredibly quiet 34db, making it the most silent model available. At a slightly steeper price of £199.99, it’s the most advanced model on offer with numerous settings, an accompanying app and glowing reviews.
While there are some inexpensive portable options available, they lack laundry settings and aren’t recommended for drying clothes due to insufficient power and water storage capacity.
