Sarah stares at her energy bill on the kitchen table, the numbers swimming before her tired eyes. £180 for November alone. Her tumble dryer seems to be eating money faster than her teenagers devour cereal. When her neighbor mentions spotting a “Martin Lewis approved” heated airer at Lidl for just £39.99, Sarah’s ears perk up. Could this simple gadget really slash her winter bills?
She’s not alone in wondering. Across the country, shoppers are crowding around Lidl’s middle aisles, phones in hand, frantically calculating whether this heated airer could be their ticket to cheaper laundry days. But the reviews tell two very different stories.
Some swear it’s revolutionary. Others call it an expensive clothes horse that quietly drains wallets while promising savings.
What Makes This Heated Airer So Special
Lidl’s heated airer isn’t rocket science, but it’s perfectly timed. The discount supermarket has launched its energy-saving heated clothes airer just as families brace for another brutal winter of high energy costs. Martin Lewis, Britain’s trusted money-saving guru, has repeatedly championed these devices as tumble dryer alternatives.
The concept is beautifully simple: aluminum bars warm up gently, creating a controlled drying environment that uses significantly less energy than traditional dryers. The promise? Dry your clothes for around 6-10 pence per hour instead of the 60-85 pence most tumble dryers cost to run.
“I’ve been recommending heated airers for years because the math genuinely works,” says energy consultant James Morrison. “A typical load in a tumble dryer costs around £1.20. The same load on a heated airer should cost about 30 pence maximum.”
But here’s where it gets complicated. Real-world results vary dramatically depending on how you use the device.
The Great Heated Airer Debate: What Users Really Experience
Social media tells the story of two completely different products. Emma from Manchester posts triumphantly about her weekly laundry routine: “Three loads dried overnight for less than 50p total. My dryer stays switched off now.”
Meanwhile, Claire from Birmingham shares a very different experience: “Took 18 hours to dry one load properly. Left it on all day and night – my smart meter showed it cost nearly £2. Complete waste of money.”
The divide comes down to usage patterns and expectations. Here’s what determines success or failure:
| Success Factors | Failure Factors |
|---|---|
| Using timer settings correctly | Leaving on continuously for days |
| Spreading clothes thinly | Overloading the airer |
| Placing in well-ventilated rooms | Using in damp, poorly ventilated spaces |
| Pre-spinning laundry properly | Putting dripping wet items directly on |
| Understanding it’s not instant | Expecting tumble dryer speed |
“The key is managing expectations,” explains appliance expert Rachel Stevens. “A heated airer isn’t a tumble dryer replacement – it’s a radiator replacement. If you’d normally drape clothes over radiators, this will do the same job more efficiently.”
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
The £39.99 price tag isn’t the full story. Users quickly discover additional costs that can impact the overall savings equation:
- Extended drying times: What takes 90 minutes in a dryer might take 6-12 hours on a heated airer
- Space requirements: You need a dedicated area for the bulky frame
- Patience tax: Some families end up running both the airer AND occasional dryer loads for urgent items
- Electricity usage creep: Easy to leave running longer than necessary
The most successful users treat their heated airer like a slow cooker for clothes – set it up before bed, let it work overnight, wake up to dry laundry. Those who expect instant results often end up disappointed and out of pocket.
“I love mine, but you have to change your routine,” admits frequent user Dave Parker. “No more washing clothes the morning you need them. It’s all about planning ahead.”
Who Actually Benefits From Heated Airers
The heated airer success stories share common patterns. They work brilliantly for specific household types but can be money pits for others.
Perfect candidates include:
- Small households with manageable laundry loads
- People who already air-dry most items
- Families with predictable washing routines
- Homes with good ventilation and space
- Patient users who plan laundry days in advance
The struggles come from larger families trying to replace industrial-strength tumble dryer usage with a gentle heating system. A family of five doing multiple loads daily will find the heated airer becomes a bottleneck, not a solution.
“We calculated we’d need three of them running constantly to match our old drying capacity,” laughs mother-of-four Jenny Walsh. “Suddenly that £40 saving becomes £120 spent, plus triple the electricity usage.”
The Verdict: Money Saver or Wallet Drainer
After analyzing hundreds of user experiences and crunching the numbers, the heated airer works – but only under specific conditions. Success depends entirely on matching the product to your lifestyle rather than trying to force your lifestyle around the product.
The math is clear for ideal users: replacing radiator-drying with a heated airer typically saves 40-60% on laundry-related energy costs. But for heavy dryer users expecting like-for-like replacement, disappointment and higher bills often follow.
“The people having terrible experiences are usually trying to use it wrong,” observes consumer analyst Mark Thompson. “It’s like buying a bicycle and complaining it’s slower than your car. Different tool, different purpose.”
Smart shoppers are taking a measured approach. Many buy the heated airer as a supplement, not replacement, keeping their tumble dryer for emergencies and quick jobs while using the airer for everyday loads.
FAQs
How much does Lidl’s heated airer actually cost to run per hour?
Most models use around 300 watts, costing approximately 6-10 pence per hour at current electricity rates.
Can a heated airer completely replace a tumble dryer?
For small households with flexible schedules, yes. For larger families or time-pressed users, it works better as a supplement than replacement.
How long does it take to dry a full load of washing?
Typically 6-12 hours depending on fabric thickness, room ventilation, and how much you load onto the airer.
Is the Lidl heated airer actually endorsed by Martin Lewis?
Martin Lewis has praised heated airers as a product category for their energy efficiency, though he doesn’t specifically endorse individual brands or retailers.
What’s the biggest mistake people make with heated airers?
Overloading them and leaving them running continuously for days, which eliminates any cost savings and often costs more than using a tumble dryer.
Are heated airers worth buying if you already have a working tumble dryer?
Yes, if you want to reduce energy bills and don’t mind longer drying times. They work brilliantly for everyday loads, saving the dryer for urgent items only.