IT’S handy and compact, but would the Daewoo dehumidifier really be a “godsend”?
At £99, the Daewoo 24 Hour Timer White Dehumidifier isn’t necessarily the cheapest on the market, but according to ChatGPT, it’s one of the “best budget picks.”
Just days after testing out Lidl’s new gadget but not feeling totally sold, I asked AI for a bit of help in finding one that might be better.
According to ChatGPT, Daewoo’s 12 litre buy is “budget-friendly” and “offers good value.”
It’s also been going viral online and has been described by shoppers as “small but powerful” and is said to “work wonders in clearing condensation and mould.”
Not only has it been hailed as “very effective” and a “godsend,” but bargain hunters claimed it is also “good value for money” and “brilliant for drying clothes.”
I managed to get my hands on the dehumidifier, which is £100.99 less than a similar 12 litre machine from Meaco – the leading brand that was recently awarded ‘Best overall’ and ‘Best for laundry’ in the Sun’s dehumidifier test.
So after my sweaty gym gear was finished in the washing machine, I put the “winter must-have” to the test to see how it would really perform…
First impressions
First things first, this mould-tackling dehumidifier is not crazy heavy considering its size.
It appears well-made and robust, and what’s more, it can be set-up and used in a matter of seconds.
Not only this, but it’s nowhere near as loud as the Lidl dehumidifier that I recently tried.
What happened next…
The dehumidifier, which according to the online description is “perfect for removing damp and moisture from your home,” has three modes – auto mode, drying mode and sleep mode – and of course, for this laundry drying test, I chose the drying mode.
60 minutes after plugging it in and letting it do its thing, I couldn’t feel much difference and my clothes were still very wet.
Two hours later, there was a bit of a difference and it was incredibly satisfying to see the water slowly filling up in the tank.
After three hours, most of the stuff was pretty much dry, but some of the bigger items needed a little bit longer.
The sports bras and shorts were ready to be put back in my wardrobe and the vests were also good to go.
How does a dehumidifier work?
A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air by drawing in warm, moist air.
- Pull in air: A fan pulls in warm, moist air from the room.
- Cool the air: The air passes over a refrigerated coil, which cools the air and causes the moisture to condense.
- Collect water: The condensed water drips into a storage tank or bucket.
- Reheat the air: The dehumidifier reheats the remaining air and releases it back into the room.
Dehumidifiers can reduce the relative humidity in a room to 30–50%.
Many dehumidifiers have a meter that measures the humidity and allows you to set a desired humidity level.
Four hours later…
After four hours blasting my washing, everything was dry, even my thicker leggings.
Not only was I impressed with the fast drying time, but I was even more thrilled to see that a whopping 650ml of water had been collected.
My verdict
Overall, this dehumidifier, which has a 24 hour timer and even has an additional “quiet mode,” is pretty impressive.
Here, I’ll rate it across three areas; price, performance and design.
Price – 4/5
Although £99 isn’t exactly cheap, I do think you get what you pay for with this Daewoo buy.
While there are cheaper options at around £50, these are often much smaller and therefore, you’ll have to constantly empty them, making the process much more of a faff.
Performance – 4/5
This is the second dehumidifier I’ve tested and I’m impressed with its performance.
Not having to use my tumble dryer and getting my clothes packed away in four hours was a real result, so that gets a thumbs up from me.
Design – 4/5
When the tank is full, an indicator notifies you so that you can empty the tank, which is super simple to do.
It’s not as heavy as others and is pretty sleek-looking too.
Biggest mistakes people make when using a dehumidifier
Chris Michael, Managing Director of Meaco shared the mistakes exclusively with Fabulous.
Not cleaning the dust filter
Regularly cleaning the dust filter is essential to ensure that your dehumidifier works at its best. A clean filter allows air to flow freely, improving the unit’s efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and extending the lifespan of the appliance.
Not setting the humidistat correctly
A dehumidifier uses a built-in humidistat to measure humidity. It enables you to set a target humidity level for your dehumidifier to maintain. The dehumidifier will work towards reaching this target before turning off, only switching on again if it detects an increase. For UK households a comfortable target humidity is between 50% and 55%rh (relative humidity). It’s unnecessary to set the humidity much lower than this. Doing so makes the machine work harder for longer when its not needed.
Getting the wrong size for the property
Getting the wrong-sized dehumidifier for the job will mean a household is either wasting energy or cannot remove moisture effectively from the home. A 10L or 12L compressor dehumidifier is suitable for use in up to a three-bedroom house suffering with mild damp. In larger properties or for greater damp needs, larger 20L or 25L dehumidifiers should be considered.
Not just for drying clothes
As well as getting laundry dry without a tumble dryer, this dehumidifier is also great for preventing mould.
Chris Moorhouse, the Timber, Building, Decor, Garden Category Director at Wickes said: ‘Mould is a silent threat in Britain’s homes. Prevention is always cheaper and safer than cure – and with the right products, you can protect your property and your health all year round.’
Wickes have shared their three-step action plan to tackle mould and damp effectively – and step one will see your dehumidifier take centre stage.
According to the experts, you can prevent mould from forming with a good dehumidifier such as the Daewoo 24 Hour Timer White Dehumidifier 12L used in this test, which can keep homes with high moisture problems dry.
“This is key for prevention, as harmful mould starts to form within just 24-48 hours on damp surfaces,” said those at Wickes.
Secondly, in the case mould has already formed, it is best to remove all traces before repainting.
Mould is a silent threat in Britain’s homes. Prevention is always cheaper and safer than cure
Chris Moorhouse
A good mould remover, such as the Dryzone Mould Remover & Prevention Kit, provides everything needed to fight mould.
It includes eliminating sprays, sanitiser, protective gloves and a microfibre cloth which helps remove mould and sanitise affected areas.
Finally, long-term protection is the third step in the process, and Anti-Mould Paint is vital for high-moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Such protection helps to prevent any regrowth and ensures a fresh start to your mould-free home.
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