Best dehumidifiers to tackle damp and mould in your home, expert-tested
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As winter arrives, the cold, wet weather can wreak havoc in your home.
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And investing in one of the best dehumidifiers can make a noticeable difference.
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Dehumidifiers work by drawing excess moisture from the air and collecting it in a tank that you empty when full.
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Keeping the humidity in your home below 60 per cent means that you reduce the risk of mould, mildew, condensation and even dust mites – all of which thrive in humid environments.
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Drier air can also help if anyone in your home suffers from asthma, allergies and eczema, as damp can aggravate these conditions.
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And it’s not just your walls and windows that will thank you for using a dehumidifier.
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If you dry your clothes indoors, then hanging them on the radiator may seem like the obvious choice, but all that water ends up in the air.
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A dehumidifier will pull the water back out of the air so washing dries faster and smells fresher.
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How I tested
I live in a Victorian terraced house which is prone to damp and high humidity, which makes it the ideal environment to test out dehumidifiers.
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To make sure I was judging these machines against the right numbers, I turned to an expert.
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Noel Fok, indoor air quality expert and CEO and co-founder of EcoAir, says: "Optimum indoor humidity levels are between 40-60 per cent."
Get below 60 and, he explains, "airborne bacteria, viruses and other microbes will not only stop breeding, but will struggle to survive."
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For heavier damp or mould, he advises bringing it down to 40 per cent.
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He also busts a common myth, stating, "It's a common misconception that turning the heating up will reduce humidity; however, warm air carries more moisture.
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I’ve tested 10 of the best dehumidifiers to find the ones that will leave your home feeling fresh, warm and dry all winter.
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MeacoDry Arete One 20L Dehumidifier and Air Purifier
★★★★★
Best: Overall dehumidifier
What we love: Built-in air purifier, quiet operation, simple controls and excellent laundry-drying performance.
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Take note: It’s a hefty unit, and the water tank fills quickly.
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The MeacoDry Arete One is undoubtedly one of the best dehumidifiers I’ve tried, and I’ve tested plenty.
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I used it in several rooms and noticed it bringing humidity down quickly.
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It extracts up to 20 litres of moisture a day, although the 4.8L tank meant I sometimes had to empty it twice daily.
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Thankfully, the carry handle makes this straightforward, even when the tank is full.
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The controls are clearly labelled, and there’s no need to download an app to use it.
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I was particularly impressed by the laundry mode, which dried a full clothes horse in less than a day.
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Normally, my washing can take several days to dry indoors, so this made a real difference.
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Another bonus is the built-in HEPA air purifier.
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I genuinely felt the air was fresher after using it.
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The main drawback is its size: at 15kg, it’s not something you’ll want to carry upstairs regularly.
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However, the castors and extendable handle make moving it between rooms easier.
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- Extraction: 20L/day
- Size: 61.8 x 36.6 x 27.2cm
- Weight: 15kg
- Tank capacity: 4.8L
- Laundry mode: Yes
- Adjustable humidity: 40–70%
Lakeland 2.3L dehumidifier
★★★☆☆
Best: Budget dehumidifier for light condensation
What we love: Affordable, compact, quiet and finished with ambient LED lighting.
Take note: It collects moisture slowly and isn't suitable for serious damp problems.
If your main concern is a little condensation on the windows in the morning rather than a major damp problem, this compact Lakeland model could be enough.
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I tried it in my kitchen and bedroom, but I didn't notice a dramatic difference.
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After 24 hours, it had collected very little moisture, which was disappointing.
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Despite its 2.3L tank, its stated extraction rate is just 420ml a day, so it's important not to confuse tank capacity with how much water it removes from the air.
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The lack of a laundry mode also means it isn't particularly useful for speeding up indoor drying.
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I tried running it near my clothes horse but didn't notice much improvement.
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On the plus side, it's very quiet and small enough to sit unobtrusively in a room.
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The ambient LED lighting gives it a more decorative look than most appliances, too.
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If you're dealing with a slightly musty room or occasional condensation and don't want to spend much, it's worth considering.
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However, anyone experiencing persistent damp or high humidity should invest in a more powerful model.
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- Extraction: 420ml/day
- Size: 34 x 15 x 23.5cm
- Weight: 2.5kg
- Tank capacity: 2.3L
- Laundry mode: No
- Lighting: Ambient LEDs
Sealy 10L dehumidifier
★★★★★
Best: Dehumidifier for small spaces
What we love: Compact design, simple controls, wheels, a carry handle and an adjustable timer.
Take note: It can be noisy when the fan runs at full speed.
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…and 95 more, not listed.
The Aporia
