’79p gadget from Home Bargains has transformed the damp and mould in my home’
Keeping on top of laundry when the weather is cold and wet can be tough at any time. During the winter months it can work out expensive when it comes to using a tumble dryer. But the added cost of putting on extra heating to dry clothes on the radiators or heated dryers can be too high – especially with the soaring energy costs of late.
And even then there is a bigger risk of seeing damp and mould develop as a result of the condensation it can cause – especially without the small window vents. Keen to find a solution Emma Gill, parents editor of the Manchester Evening News, decided to try out the interior dehumidifier tubs[1]. And at a cost of less than GBP1 each if they work it could be a bargain solution.
Emma said the devices are basically plastic tubs with beads inside which absorb moisture from the air. They are small and easy to move so they can be put wherever the air gets damp. She said: “I bought two to place on window sills – one in the room where I tend to dry clothes and the other in the bathroom, where we get a lot of condensation and the walls get very damp from the steam of the shower or bath.
The condensation when it was first placed on the window sill (Image: Manchester Family/MEN)
“They’re small enough to stick in cupboards or under sinks though, so a lot of people tuck them away in other places where damp is prevalent, plus they’re so easy to move around.
The fact that they cost just 79p is an added bonus and makes it a lot easier to get all the spots in your home covered. “Using them is simple. You just take the plastic lid off, remove the foil top, but leave the breathable layer underneath that in place.
You them put the plastic lid back on and you’re good to go. “The pots – which absorb up to three times their weight in water and last around six weeks – come in various scents so I chose my favourite, lavender. It didn’t really give off much of a smell, but I wasn’t too bothered about that.
It’s not exactly what I bought them for.
The interior dehumidifier tubs cost just 79p from Home Bargains (Image: Manchester Family/MEN)
“What I did buy them for was to get rid of the annoying condensation, which can quickly lead to mould and damp, and I have to say that they have done a pretty good job of it. “Within an hour of the pot being on the window sill, a lot of the moisture on the glass had gone. And when I’m drying clothes I stick the tub close to the airer, which seems to help them dry a bit quicker.
“It’s not a miracle worker. I don’t have those window vents I mentioned earlier, so there are times the windows need opening to let the damp air escape. But they’ve helped reduce it a lot and for 79p a tub, you can’t complain about that.”
The ‘ambient air’ brand can be found in Home Bargains, or you can order in bulk, with a pack of 12 costing GBP9.48 online[2].
Similar products are available from other retailers though, including Amazon, where a pack of 10 ANSIO dehumidifiers[3] can be ordered for GBP12.98.
References
- ^ decided to try out the interior dehumidifier tubs (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ a pack of 12 costing GBP9.48 online (home.bargains)
- ^ pack of 10 ANSIO dehumidifiers (go.skimresources.com)