Have You Ever Thought That A Dehumidifier Can Also Dry Clothes?

Author: DianjinPublished: 2025-11-14

This guide will tell you about another function of a dehumidifier.

Tired of seeing your clothes rack full for days on end, especially when it’s grey and rainy outside? Drying laundry indoors can be a real drag. It often leaves your home feeling damp, your clothes smelling a bit musty, and can even lead to yucky mold. But what if there was a better way? A dehumidifier can be a surprisingly effective, safe, and economical way to dry your laundry.

How Do Dehumidifiers Work to Dry Your Laundry?

It sounds a bit like magic, but it’s actually very simple. A dehumidifier works by pulling in the damp, moist air from a room. Inside the machine, this air is cooled down, which turns the moisture into water droplets that collect in a tank. The now-drier air is slightly warmed and released back into the room.

So, how does this dry your jeans? By constantly pulling moisture out of the air, the dehumidifier creates a drier environment. This makes it much easier and faster for the water in your wet clothes to evaporate, leaving them fresh and dry.

5 Benefits of Using a Dehumidifier for Drying Laundry

Thinking about making the switch? Here are five fantastic reasons why a dehumidifier is a great choice for your laundry.

  • 1. It Saves You Money: Let’s be honest, we all love lower bills. Tumble dryers are notorious energy hogs. A dehumidifier uses way less electricity, which means you’ll see a happy difference in your energy costs. It’s a win for your wallet!
  • 2. It’s Kinder to Your Clothes: Tumble dryers can be rough, using high heat that can shrink or damage your favorite outfits over time. A dehumidifier uses a gentle stream of dry air, which is much kinder to fabrics. It’s perfect for those delicate items you’d never dare put in a dryer, like wool or silk.
  • 3. It’s an Energy-Efficient Choice: Because they use less power, dehumidifiers aren’t just cheaper to run—they’re also a greener, more environmentally friendly option for drying your laundry.
  • 4. It Improves Your Home’s Air Quality: A dehumidifier offers a dual benefit. As it dries your clothes, it is also actively improving the air in your home. By removing excess moisture from the environment, it helps prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and dust mites, contributing to a healthier living space.
  • 5. It’s a Multi-Talented Appliance: A dehumidifier isn’t just for laundry day. You can use it all year round to keep humidity levels down in steamy bathrooms, musty basements, or any room that feels a bit damp. It’s a versatile tool for a more comfortable home.

How to Dry Clothes Indoors with a Dehumidifier: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to give it a go? It couldn’t be easier.

  1. Pick a Small Room: For the best results, set up in a smaller room like a laundry room, bathroom, or spare bedroom. This allows the dehumidifier to work more efficiently.
  2. Hang Your Clothes: Pop your wet laundry on a clothes horse or rack. Try to leave a little space between each item so the air can move around them freely.
  3. Position Your Dehumidifier: Place the dehumidifier near the clothes rack, but don’t block its vents. It needs space to pull in the damp air.
  4. Try “Laundry Mode”: Many modern dehumidifiers have a special “laundry” setting. This usually makes the fan work a bit harder to speed up drying time.
  5. Shut the Door: Close any doors and windows in the room. This creates a closed environment and stops more moisture from getting in, letting the dehumidifier work its magic faster.

Dehumidifier vs. Other Drying Methods

How does a dehumidifier stack up against the alternatives?

Method
Speed
Cost
Fabric Care
Other
Dehumidifier
Medium
Low
Excellent
Prevents damp & mold
Tumble Dryer
Very Fast
High
Can cause shrinkage/damage
Needs venting or space
Indoor Air Drying
Very Slow
Very Low
Good
Creates damp & mold risk
Heated Airer
Medium
Medium
Good
No moisture removal
Clothesline
Slow-Fast
Free
Excellent
Weather dependent

Dehumidifier vs. Tumble Dryer: A dehumidifier costs significantly less to run—often just a few pence per hour compared to over £1 per cycle for a dryer.  It’s also much gentler on delicate fabrics that can’t go in the dryer.

Dehumidifier vs. Indoor Air Drying: While air drying is free, it introduces a huge amount of moisture into your home, which can lead to dampness, mold, and that musty laundry smell. A dehumidifier prevents all of this while speeding up the process.

Energy Use and Cost: Is It Cheaper?

Yes, running a dehumidifier is significantly cheaper than running a tumble dryer.

A typical tumble dryer can use 3-4 kWh of energy per cycle, while a dehumidifier uses only a fraction of that. To estimate the cost, check the wattage of your dehumidifier (e.g., 250W is 0.25 kW). If you run it for 8 hours, it will use 2 kWh (0.25 kW * 8 hours). Compare that to your local electricity rate to see the savings.

To keep costs low, choose an energy-efficient model, dry clothes in a well-insulated room, and make sure they are well spun beforehand.

So, What’s the Verdict? Explore Deye Dehumidifier Products For Your Project

Using a dehumidifier to dry your clothes is a fantastic idea. It’s cheaper, greener, and gentler on your fabrics than a tumble dryer, and it even helps keep your home’s air fresh and healthy. It’s a simple switch that makes a big difference.

Ready to make laundry day easier? Check out our range of Deye dehumidifiers and find the perfect one for your home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does it take to dry clothes with a dehumidifier?

It usually takes between 4 to 8 hours to dry a load of laundry with a dehumidifier. The exact time can depend on a few things, like the size of the room, how wet your clothes are, and the power of your dehumidifier. While it’s not as fast as a tumble dryer, it’s much faster than just leaving clothes to air-dry on their own.

2. How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier to dry clothes?

It’s surprisingly cheap! Dehumidifiers use very little energy. On average, running a dehumidifier for a few hours will cost you just pennies, whereas a tumble dryer can cost a pound or more per cycle. Over a year, those savings really add up.

3. Will a dehumidifier make the room hot?

A dehumidifier will make the room feel slightly warmer, but not uncomfortably hot like a heater would. The air it releases is a few degrees warmer than the air it takes in. This little bit of warmth actually helps your clothes dry even faster!

4. Where is the best place to put a dehumidifier when drying clothes?

For the best results, place it in a small, enclosed room with your clothes horse. Don’t push it right up against a wall or the clothes rack; give it a little space so air can circulate properly. Closing the door will trap the dry air and speed up the process significantly.

5. Do clothes smell musty when dried with a dehumidifier?

Not at all! In fact, it’s the opposite. That musty smell you sometimes get from air-drying happens because clothes stay damp for too long, allowing bacteria to grow. Because a dehumidifier dries clothes quickly, it prevents that damp smell, leaving your laundry smelling fresh and clean.

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