Across wet, unheated rooms, a budget desiccant from Action is drawing attention for shrinking drying times and stopping that stale cupboard smell.
Why a €0.79 desiccant is trending in wet, cold homes
When humidity lingers, fabrics hang for days, fibres stay clammy, and odours set in. Many people try to fight back with the tumble dryer, only to watch the meter spin. Some plug in electric dehumidifiers, which help, but need floor space and steady power. A tiny pot of moisture-absorbing beads offers a third route: no plug, no hum, and a shelf price of just €0.79 in Action’s cleaning aisle.
Place one small pot beneath your airer and it draws in water vapour, creating a drier microclimate around damp clothes.
The product is compact at 230 g, so it fits under a folding rack or beside a radiator. The beads inside swell as they capture moisture from the air. By reducing local humidity near the laundry, airflow can do its job and clothes dry more cleanly, with fewer stubborn odours.
What sits inside the pot
The unit uses moisture-hungry beads sealed beneath a vented lid. Open the seal, click the lid back on, and the beads begin to absorb vapour. As they fill with water, they expand. Once they reach saturation, you replace or refill the pot. There’s no timer and no settings to manage.
Scents and where it helps
Several light fragrances are on offer—lavender, rose, lemon, and ocean. They freshen the air around the rack and mask the musty notes that cling to slow-drying cottons and towels. The pot suits tight spaces: windowless bathrooms, small utility corners, or older rooms with poor ventilation.
How to position it for faster drying and fresher clothes
Placement drives results. You want the pot close enough to capture vapour, yet not touching fabric. That builds a drier zone where clothes release moisture more readily.
- Set the pot on the floor directly under the centre of your airer.
- Leave a hand’s width between the unit and any hem or sleeve.
- Shut the door to concentrate the effect; crack a window if condensation forms on glass.
- Check the beads weekly and swap in a refill when swollen.
Closer to the damp load means faster capture of vapour and fewer bacteria that cause stale odours.
A simple routine that stacks the gains
Spin laundry at the highest safe RPM before hanging. Space garments so they don’t touch. Rotate thicker pieces halfway through. Place the absorber under the middle bar, then aim a slow fan across the rack to keep air moving. Each small step adds up.
Is it cheaper than switching on the tumble dryer?
This fix uses no electricity. The only cost is the pot and occasional refills. That appeals when budgets feel tight and bills rise with every rainy spell. For context, here’s an illustrative comparison at an example unit rate of £0.30 per kWh. Local rates vary, so treat these as rough figures.
| Option | Typical energy per load | Example cost at £0.30/kWh | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vented/condensing tumble dryer | 1.5–4.0 kWh | £0.45–£1.20 | Power socket, space, venting or tank |
| Electric dehumidifier (4–6 hours near airer) | 0.4–1.2 kWh | £0.12–£0.36 | Power socket, floor space |
| €0.79 desiccant pot | 0 kWh | €0.79 plus refills | Open pot, safe placement |
Safety, lifespan and when to replace
The unit sits quietly and needs no maintenance beyond checks. A few sensible precautions keep everything on track.
- Keep the pot upright and off textiles, wood finishes, or polished stone.
- Store and use it out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not ingest the beads or the collected liquid.
- Follow the disposal guidance on the label when the beads saturate.
How long does one pot last?
Lifespan depends on room size, humidity, and how often you dry laundry indoors. In a small, damp bathroom, beads may swell quickly. In a larger lounge with better airflow, they last longer. Inspect the pot weekly; when most beads have plumped up, swap in a refill so performance stays consistent.
Where it works best—and when to add a second pot
Small rooms give the most obvious uplift. A single pot can also help in a larger living space if you cluster the rack, the absorber, and a gentle fan together. Very damp homes may benefit from a second unit on the opposite side of the airer to widen the dry zone.
Choosing a scent and colour
The pot comes in blue, yellow, violet, or red housings, which makes it easier to spot beneath a crowded rack. Scents are light rather than heavy. Lavender suits bedrooms, lemon perks up bathrooms, rose softens odours from towels, and ocean offers a neutral breeze for living spaces.
Extra ways to cut odours and speed up drying
- Run a hot maintenance wash monthly to keep the machine free of residue that can transfer smells.
- Add a small measure of white vinegar to the rinse drawer for towels to neutralise lingering odours. Check garment care labels first.
- Use hangers for shirts to open the fabric and increase airflow.
- Wring sink-washed items thoroughly with a dry towel before hanging.
- Point a low-speed fan across, not at, the rack to move damp air away.
- Aim for indoor humidity of 40–60% to curb mould; a cheap hygrometer helps you track it.
What this means for your home through the wet months
A small desiccant pot will not remake a draughty house, yet it chips away at the two problems that punish winter laundry: slow evaporation and trapped odours. It creates a pocket of drier air exactly where you need it—under the rack—so every minute of airflow does more work. That helps you run the dryer less often, and it trims the hours clothes spend sitting damp.
If you already use an electric dehumidifier, the pot still plays a role. Place the dehumidifier at one end of the rack and the desiccant under the centre. The machine pulls moisture from the room at large; the pot targets the hot spot beneath wet fabric. Together they manage condensation and keep windows clearer, which matters for mould control across the colder weeks.
