WITH temperatures continuing to drop and rain on and off, chances of you being able to dry your wet laundry outside are slim.
So, if you’re looking for a way to speed up the drying process inside without forking out a small fortune on electricity bills courtesy of your tumble dryer, then look no further.
While many people have already invested in heated clothes airers, there’s one accessory that’s often forgotten – the heated airer cover.
It’s ideal to pair with the popular gadget because the cover traps the heat inside, helping your clothes dry even faster – although it’s important to note you can’t just use any cover, it needs to be suitable with the airer you own.
And many delighted shoppers have been racing to Dunelm to snap up a bargain which they claim is a total gamechanger when it comes to drying their wet washing inside their home.
And perhaps the best part of all? It costs just £16.
The ‘3 Tier Heated Airer Cover‘ is new in to the store and is made from fire-resistant material, helping to enhance the performance of your heated airer while ensuring safety.
Not only that, but the product description notes it’s easy to fold and store and has an added mesh fabric bottom that “promotes optimal airflow.”
While there are several heated airer covers available on the market, this one is suitable for use with Dunelm’s ‘3 tier heated airer‘, which retails at £95.
The ‘3 tier heated airer,’ which costs approximately 9p per hour to run, offers 20m of drying space, is suitable for up to 15kg of washing and is ‘heated to speed up the drying process.’
Laundry tips
Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol shared her laundry tips.
How often should you be remaking your bed?
When it comes to your bed, maintaining a hygienic sleep setup can actually improve your sleep quality, helping you start every day better.
Most people shed 500 million skin cells per day and a lot of that ends up in bed for dust mites to feed on. And those with asthma or allergies might see symptoms worsen by sleeping on dirty sheets!
You want to be washing your sheets once a week – or every 10 days if you don’t suffer from allergies and wear nightclothes. Bedding builds up with sweat, skin cells and oils quickly, even if it doesn’t look dirty.
Using an effective detergent like smol’s will still give you a great clean on a 20°C cycle – that’s better for the planet and your energy bills!
What temperature do smol recommend then?
For your regular weekly washes I recommend washing most loads at 20°C for 30 minutes. It’s gentler on fabrics, slashes energy use, and still delivers excellent stain removal with the right detergent. A colder wash can actually be more effective if you opt for a bio detergent as its enzymes need cooler water; too hot and they lose their ability to digest stains. A wash at 60°c (unless you have silk sheets) every now and again can help kill off dust mites and other nasties.
What’s the difference between bio and non-bio detergent?
Bio detergents contain enzymes, which are especially good at breaking down tough stains like food, grass, or sweat. It’s best used in mid to low temperature washes (ideally between 20-40°C) as anything hotter can cause them not to work effectively.
Non-bio skips the enzymes, which in turn makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Although non-bio doesn’t contain enzymes, it’s still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean, you just may need to use a slightly higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process.
So it’s little surprise the heated airer cover has been flooded with five-star reviews online, with one praising: “Well worth investing in, really speeds up the drying time.”
A second commended: “Got this a little while after buying the airer. It makes such a difference to the drying time and so definitely worth buying.”
A third added: “The answer to drying clothes in wet, cold weather.”
Meanwhile, another delighted shopper chimed in: “Easy to use, costs pennies to run. Everything is dry and ready to hang. Stores flat.”
