I tested £1 mini dehumidifiers – the winner will keep your home cool AND prevent mould for months
IF your home suffers from damp, condensation, mould and mildew, a dehumidifier could be the answer to your moisture problems.
The main signs are a musty smell, pools of water around windows, black spots on the walls or discoloured patches coming through paintwork.
Leaving clothes to dry on radiators, cooking without ventilation and failing to open windows can all create excess moisture in the air.
And if you spot any of these signs it’s really important to take action, as not only can it damage the fabric of your home, it’s not good for your health either.
One of the best ways to protect your home is to invest in a dehumidifier that will keep your home moisture free.
They come in a range of sizes and prices, but which do the best job?
Lynsey Hope tried some best-sellers to find out.
Asda Lavender Dehumidifier
- £1.25 or £4 for four, asda.com
For the price, I was surprised at how much after these took out of the air.
If condensation is an issue in your home, these are a great help.
They do look a bit unsightly and they don’t really smell of lavender, but they do get the job done.
- Effectiveness: 6/10
- Value for money: 5/10
- Overall score: 5/10
PureMate Portable Dehumidifier
- £34.99, amazon.co.uk
The PureMate version worked well and collected a third of a tank in just 24 hours.
It’s a bit bigger than the small windowsill variety and more expensive, but it’s still small enough to move between bedrooms and should last much longer.
Ceilings and windows were dry in the morning after I put it on overnight. It’s also compact to store.
I really rated it, it was worth every penny.
The only downside is the upfront cost and with this one, you have to pay for the electricity to run it too.
- Effectiveness: 9/10
- Value for money: 7/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Sorbo Dehumidifier
- £3, dunelm.com
It looks a bit unsightly and cheap, which would be fine if it did the job.
However, I found it didn’t really collect much water either.
It was a waste of money.
- Effectiveness: 1/10
- Value for money: 0/10
- Overall score: 1/10
Fabulosa Interior Dehumidifier
- £1.49, bmstores.co.uk
This gives off a fragrance and is meant to be inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium.
It did smell rather nice and is a cheap and easy solution to help eliminate damp, condensation, mould and mildew from your home.
It was able to hold three times its own weight in water so it lasted quite a few weeks too – not bad for the price and there are various scents to choose from.
- Effectiveness: 8/10
- Value for money: 9/10
- Overall score: 9/10
Unibond Aero 360 Moisture Absorber
- £10.99, robertdyas.co.uk
A top notch product, I thought its unique design really made this stand out from others on the market.
It’s easy to use and did a great job of removing excess moisture from the air.
It’s eco-friendly as it doesn’t need electricity meaning it’s cheap cost-wise.
It has two refills included and each tablet should last around three months.
It’s silent and easy to move around. Best of all noticed a huge difference in the air quality at home after just a few days of use.
I’d really recommend it.
- Effectiveness: 10/10
- Value for money: 10/10
- Overall score: 10/10