Radiators groan. Washing hangs for days. Then a tiny box promises to turn the tide indoors.
Households across the country are weighing up cheaper ways to stay comfortable as temperatures drop. A compact two‑litre dehumidifier from Aldi arrives at a striking £39.99 price, and it lands just as condensation and musty corners return to many homes.
Why a cheap dehumidifier matters this winter
Cold weather traps moisture indoors. Steam from showers, cooking and laundry hits chilly panes and turns to droplets. That damp fuels mould, musty smells and flaky paint. It also makes rooms feel colder than the thermometer suggests, tempting you to nudge the heating higher.
Remove moisture and the air feels warmer at the same setting. Clothes dry faster. Windows clear sooner in the morning. For renters and families in smaller homes, this can make a day‑to‑day difference without wrecking the budget.
Damp, mould and the heating bill
Relative humidity between 40% and 60% keeps mould at bay and reduces condensation. Many homes sit well above that in winter. A small dehumidifier chips away at the excess. You use less tumble‑drying. You rely less on high thermostat settings to chase off that clammy feeling.
Lowering humidity to around 50% can make rooms feel warmer and drier at the same thermostat setting.
Aldi’s £39.99 model: key details
Aldi’s Specialbuys aisle will stock a compact 2‑litre dehumidifier with a stated room coverage of up to 15 square metres. The official launch date is 23 October. As with all Specialbuys, once stock goes, that’s it.
- Price: £39.99
- Tank: 2 litres, with removable reservoir
- Suggested room size: up to 15 m² (box room, small bedroom, home office)
- Form factor: lightweight and portable
- Use cases: everyday damp control, quicker indoor laundry drying, window condensation
On sale 23 October in the middle aisle: a 2‑litre dehumidifier for £39.99, aimed at rooms up to 15 m².
If you need help drying clothes, Aldi also plans two heated airers from 26 October: a winged design at £34.99 and an upright version at £79.99. Pair either with a dehumidifier to cut drying times and curb condensation.
Who it suits
Students and renters in small flats. Parents tackling steamed‑up bedrooms. Home workers in a box room. Anyone who wants drier air without shelling out for a large‑capacity machine. The 2‑litre unit won’t strip moisture from a five‑bed house, but it fits neatly where the problems start.
Will it help with laundry?
Yes, especially if you usually drape washing on radiators or a basic airer. Dehumidifiers draw water out of fabric while also keeping room humidity in check. That reduces the damp chill that hangs around washing piles.
- Place the airer and dehumidifier in the same room.
- Shut doors and crack a window for a brief vent once an hour if condensation builds.
- Space garments so air can flow between items.
- Use a timed window: two to four hours often shifts the bulk of the moisture.
Drying a full load indoors with a dehumidifier can cut drying time by hours and slash window fog.
Energy and cost check
People worry about running costs, and that makes sense. A small dehumidifier usually uses far less power than an old tumble dryer or an electric heater. Exact wattage varies by model, but many compact units sit well below 200 watts. Let’s run a simple example at a typical electricity rate.
- Assumed power draw: 120 W (0.12 kW) for a compact unit
- Usage: 6 hours to help a washday and curb evening condensation
- Tariff: 28p per kWh
Cost = 0.12 kW × 6 h × £0.28 ≈ £0.20 for that session. Run that three times a week through winter and you sit near £2.40 a month. Real figures depend on your tariff and how damp your space is, but the direction of travel is clear when you compare with a tumble dryer cycle or leaving heating higher for longer.
At around pennies per session, a compact dehumidifier can replace costlier drying and reduce heating strain.
Availability and the middle‑aisle rush
Aldi’s Specialbuys move quickly, especially in late October when the first frosts appear. If you want this model, don’t wait. Check the launch date and plan a visit early. If it sells out, a few other options can still keep your home on track.
Alternatives worth a look
The right choice depends on the room and the problem you need to solve. Larger spaces or heavy damp need more extraction. Unheated rooms often benefit from desiccant‑style machines. Here’s a quick snapshot to guide you:
| Model type | Typical capacity | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi compact (2 L tank) | Small, up to 15 m² | Bedrooms, home offices, laundry boost | Low upfront cost; simple daily damp control |
| Compressor 10–12 L | Medium rooms and flats | General humidity control in heated spaces | Efficient in warmer rooms; often has laundry mode |
| Compressor 20–30 L | Larger areas | Busy households, heavy condensation | Faster extraction; higher price and size |
| Desiccant 6–10 L | Cool or unheated spaces | Lofts, garages, spare rooms in cold weather | Works well in low temperatures; warms air slightly |
Practical tips to get the most from any dehumidifier
- Close doors in the room you are drying to focus the effect.
- Aim for around 50% relative humidity; use a cheap hygrometer to check.
- Position the unit away from walls and corners so air can circulate.
- Rinse the tank and wipe the intake grilles weekly to keep performance steady.
- If your model has a laundry or turbo mode, use it in short bursts.
- Empty the tank promptly to avoid auto‑shutoff stopping the job mid‑way.
- Ventilate briefly after showers and cooking to give the machine an easier task.
What to buy if you missed out
If you need a budget route to drier air and the shelf is bare, watch for supermarket repeats, refurbished units and seasonal promotions from the bigger brands. A 10–12 litre compressor model often hits a sweet spot for flats. If you dry clothes in a cold spare room, a desiccant unit can keep pace when the mercury drops.
Extra help for laundry days
Heated airers can work well alongside a dehumidifier. The winged style at £34.99 suits small loads and tight spaces. The upright version at £79.99 holds more garments and reduces bunching, which speeds airflow. Either way, keep items spaced, run the dehumidifier in the same room, and aim for a two‑to‑four‑hour window rather than an overnight slog.
A quick check on risks and gains
Over‑drying can make wooden furniture creak, though most homes in winter won’t reach that point. If you see humidity dropping under 40%, ease off. If black mould has already taken hold, wipe it safely and fix the source of moisture. A dehumidifier reduces the conditions mould likes, but you still need to clean and ventilate.
Think of the £39.99 Aldi unit as a first step. It tackles smaller rooms, morning fog on panes and slow‑drying laundry. If your space is larger or your walls feel wet to the touch, move up a size or choose a desiccant model for unheated problem areas. The goal is the same: steady, affordable moisture control that makes winter living less of a slog.
Got the 2‑litre last time and it genuinely sped up laundry in a box room. Pairing with a heated airer was a game‑changer; less condesation on the panes and the room felt warmer without cranking the thermostat. For £39.99, I’m impressed.
Up to 15 m² is fine for a small bedroom, but if your place is proper damp, this will struggle. Don’t expect miracles; think of it as a modest daily helper, not a whole‑flat solution.