Martin Lewis-backed Lidl dehumidifier: will 245W for 6.4p an hour save you 50p+ per laundry load?

As colder days creep in and windows mist over, households are weighing up fresh ways to beat damp without burning cash.

A budget dehumidifier lands at Lidl next week with a price tag under £75 and a promise that speaks to your bills. Martin Lewis has long argued that drying clothes with a dehumidifier can undercut a tumble dryer. With energy costs still sensitive, the maths behind that claim matters more than the hype.

What’s arriving at Lidl and when

Lidl will put its new Tronic Dehumidifier on shelves on Thursday 16 October for £74.99. The chain says stock is limited and will vary by store, so early birds stand a better chance. The device carries two modes — one tuned for laundry, the other for background dehumidifying — and it targets households chasing drier rooms, less condensation and cheaper clothes drying.

Key specifications at a glance

• Power draw: 245W (0.245kW)
• Tank capacity: 2.1L
• Moisture removal: up to 10L per day
• Modes: laundry and standard dehumidifying
• Water window, full-tank alert and overflow protection
• Price: £74.99, in stores from 16 October, while stocks last

Running cost guide: at 26.35p per kWh (current cap), 245W equates to around 6.5p per hour.

Why energy watchers care

Martin Lewis has repeatedly suggested using a dehumidifier with an airer as a frugal alternative to tumble drying. His point rests on electricity use. Many tumble dryers gobble energy, so even short cycles add up. A dehumidifier, by contrast, sips power for longer periods, nudging down total spend while speeding up indoor drying and helping to keep mould at bay.

For the final quarter of 2025, Ofgem’s average unit rate for electricity sits at 26.35p per kWh on standard variable tariffs. On that basis, a 245W machine costs about 6.45p for every hour it runs. A typical condenser or vented dryer can use 2–3kWh per cycle; a modern heat pump dryer often uses 1–2kWh. The gap in running cost per load becomes clear once you do the numbers.

The quick maths

Clothes-drying comparison: if your dryer uses 3kWh, swapping one load to a dehumidifier running four hours can trim costs by 50p+.

How the savings stack up for a typical family

Imagine two scenarios for a full laundry load:

• Older condenser dryer: around 3kWh per cycle, costing roughly 79p.
• Airer plus dehumidifier: four hours of running at 6.5p/hour, costing about 26p.

That’s a saving of about 53p per load. Over 60 winter loads, you’d keep roughly £31 in your pocket. A home doing 100 loads could see around £53 saved, with extra gains if your dryer is particularly inefficient or your unit rate sits above the cap. Heat pump dryers shrink the gap, yet many households still own energy-hungry models bought years ago.

What the Tronic brings beyond lower running costs

Energy is just part of the story. Drying wet washing indoors can leave windows streaming and rooms clammy. A dehumidifier pulls moisture from the air, cutting condensation that causes peeling paint, damp smells and, worse, mould growth on cold surfaces and behind furniture.

• Moisture control reduces the chance of musty odours and damp patches.
• Less condensation means fewer towels on sills and fewer trickle vent debates.
• Faster drying lowers the time clothes sit wet, which helps fabric freshness.
• Overflow protection and a viewing window take the guesswork out of emptying.

Placement and usage tips that boost results

• Shut doors and windows in the drying room to focus extraction where it’s needed.
• Space garments on an airer so air can circulate; avoid layering items.
• Target 45–55% relative humidity on a cheap hygrometer; adjust runtime to stay in range.
• Empty the 2.1L tank before bed to avoid overnight shutdowns.
• Clean the filter regularly to maintain airflow and performance.

A note on costs, caps and real-world use

The 6.5p per hour figure assumes the unit runs at its rated 245W the whole time. Real machines ramp up and down as humidity falls, so your average hourly cost can be lower across a session. Conversely, colder, damper rooms push runtimes up. Regional and supplier variations mean your unit rate might sit above or below 26.35p/kWh. The daily standing charge is separate and does not change with appliance choice.

Switching to a dehumidifier for laundry works best when paired with basic ventilation. Crack a window briefly after a session or use an extractor fan to clear stale air. For homes with chronic damp, check gutters, trickle vents and bathroom fans; a dehumidifier treats symptoms, not structural causes.

How it compares to other budget drying options

• Heated airers are simple, cheap to run and pair well with a dehumidifier for quicker drying.
• Radiators dry clothes but can create intense condensation and block room heat if covered.
• Heat pump tumble dryers offer lower running costs than old-school dryers, yet the upfront price is far higher than £74.99.

Availability and what else is coming to middle aisles

Lidl says the Tronic Dehumidifier will be in limited quantities. Shoppers can check ranges online, then visit their local store once stock lands. The same day will bring a seasonal mix of indoor and outdoor plants, thermal clothing for all ages and several household picks aimed at cooler months.

Before you buy: sizing, noise and expectations

• Room size matters: a 10L/day unit suits bedrooms, small lounges or utility rooms; larger homes may need more capacity.
• Noise varies by model and mode; plan placement away from beds and workspaces if you run it for long stretches.
• Condensation hotspots such as bay windows or north-facing rooms benefit most; move the unit as needed.
• Check for a continuous drain option if you want unattended operation without emptying the tank.
• Read the energy label and warranty details; value is not just purchase price but longevity and support.

A worked example you can adapt

Say you dry four loads a week through late autumn and winter (20 weeks). With a 3kWh tumble dryer, that’s roughly 80 cycles at 79p each, or about £63. Using an airer plus the Lidl dehumidifier for four hours per load lands near £21 for the season. The difference — roughly £42 — pays over half the purchase price within one winter. Households with higher usage or pricier unit rates recover the outlay faster.

The appeal: predictable, low hourly costs, less condensation and a shot at paying back the £74.99 within a season.

For those mixing methods, a hybrid approach often works: spin clothes at the highest safe setting, start with a heated airer for the first hour to lift surface damp, then switch to dehumidifier-only to finish. This balances speed, freshness and running cost while keeping window condensation in check.