Summer is a great time to do some outdoor chores. One of those tasks might be laundry – drying clothes in a laundry room or utility room. If you have noticed your clothes taking longer to dry than usual, then your laundry room might be too humid.
Humid laundry rooms are not only bad for your dryer and the health of people and pets, but they also cause musty odors in clothes. If you can't find a way to increase airflow in that little room, consider using a dehumidifier for clothes for at least part of the day when drying towels and sheets.
Read along to know how dehumidifiers can help get rid of excess moisture in the air and make it easier to dry clothes properly.
Laundry Room Dehumidifier Overview
Humid air naturally holds more water vapor than dry air. In a closed laundry room, the moist, humid air gets trapped and creates condensation on surfaces including walls, windows, washers, dryers, and even your clothes.
Over time this humidity causes not only musty smells but also mold growth. The harder it is for you to get the clothes completely dry, the more likely it is that you will end up with a mold problem.
To keep mold and disease-causing germs at bay, it's critical to maintain humidity in your laundry areas under control. A dehumidifier for the laundry room is one way to accomplish this.
How Does a Dehumidifier for Laundry Room Work?
A dehumidifier works by removing moisture from the air in the room. When the appliance is turned on, it draws moist, humid air inside and passes it over a cold surface. The water in this air condenses into liquid and drips into a bucket or through a hose that drains to an area outside of your house.
A dehumidifier for clothes will remove excess moisture from the air in your laundry room. It will also give off heat and can help warm up a cold laundry room so you don't have to run the heat while drying clothes, reducing overall energy costs.
Related Article: How Does Dehumidifier Work? (2-Step Dehumidifier Principle)
Areas That Can Benefit From a Laundry Room Dehumidifier
Any area of your home with an abnormal amount of humidity can benefit from a dehumidifier for clothes.
Since laundry rooms are often small with cramped quarters, it can be difficult to increase airflow when you dry towels and sheets. If too much moisture builds up in the air, then your clothes may not dry properly.
A dehumidifier can help lower the humidity and make it easier to dry your clothes.
When Should a Laundry Room Dehumidifier Be Used?
One big advantage of a dehumidifier is that you can leave it running whenever your laundry room needs supplemental dehumidification, especially when you are drying towels or sheets. You can also use the appliance for just part of the day if your dryer is not running properly and your clothes continue to feel damp.
How Long Can One Dehumidifier Be Used?
One dehumidifier will last for around 8 hours before it needs to be emptied. That may vary depending on the size of your unit, so check with a manufacturer or a retailer for more information.
Do I Need to Add Drying Time When Using a Dehumidifier?
If you are dealing with excessive humidity, you will need to add about 30 minutes of drying time when using the appliance. This is because the air inside your home is already saturated with moisture and it must pass through relatively dry air before it hits the clothes in the dryer, thus increasing the time it takes for clothes to dry.
If you use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air and it helps your clothes dry faster, consider upgrading your appliance. New models are more efficient than ever before and can help you save money on energy bills during humid months. If you want to maximize your savings, a heat pump or steam dehumidifier can be a good option.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Laundry Room Dehumidifiers
The biggest advantage to using a dehumidifier is that it can help you dry clothes faster and more efficiently without having to increase airflow in your laundry room.
However, using the appliance may have some disadvantages depending on how you are currently drying clothes. If all of your laundry dries in a dryer, then adding a dehumidifier will likely mean that every load takes even longer to dry because the air space is already saturated with water vapor. That can be especially true during damp weather.
If you want to keep your dryer but still take advantage of using a dehumidifier, you can simply remove the clothes once they are mostly dry and place them in the laundry room while running the appliance overnight. That will allow them to finish drying without having to increase airflow in the little room.
How To Use a Dehumidifier To Improve the Drying Process?
If your clothes are taking too long to dry or if they are feeling damp when you pull them out of the dryer, then it is time to use a dehumidifier. Here is how you can use a dehumidifier to improve your drying process:
1. Clean the Lint Filter
Before you throw away your dehumidifier's instruction manual, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with how it works. This will help you remove any excess water in the unit. One essential part of dehumidifiers is the lint filter, which catches all residue that comes through the air. You should clean the lint filter according to your unit's operating manual.
2. Move the Unit into Place
If you have a stackable dehumidifier, move it to an open space where you can set up your laundry room equipment. If you don't have enough room for everything in one area, try taping some plastic sheeting to the back wall or under the door. The plastic will collect moisture as it reaches the threshold, which you can then empty out later.
3. Set Up Your Laundry Room Equipment
Before turning on your dehumidifier, ensure that all of your laundry room equipment is in good working order and set up properly. If you need to, use your vacuum to suck up any dampness from the washing machine. Also, wipe down or replace dirty filters as needed.
4. Turn on Your Dehumidifier and Start Drying Clothes
Once you have set everything up properly and replaced any necessary filters, turn on your dehumidifier and start drying your clothes according to your appliance's instructions.
5. Clean Out the Excess Water
Once your clothes are dry, remove them from the washer and dryer. As you do so, dump out any excess water that has collected in these appliances or on the floor around them to maintain a healthy humidity level throughout your laundry room. Afterward, wipe down any surfaces, using a mixture of three parts vinegar to one part water.
6. Clean Out Your Dehumidifier
To clean your dehumidifier, run it on high for about four hours without any laundry equipment plugged in. This will remove any excess dirt and debris that might have been collected during the drying process. Once you are finished with this step, use an old towel to wipe down the unit.
Tips for Using a Laundry Room Dehumidifier
When you are ready to purchase a dehumidifier for your laundry room, make sure that it is slim enough to fit between your washer and dryer. A dehumidifier will work more efficiently if the air around it is already dried out, which means that it should be kept in a high-traffic area of the room.
Even though a dehumidifier can help lower the energy costs needed to heat your home, you may still want to run your heater overnight while using this appliance if you have low temperatures in your laundry room.
Be sure not to place any objects around your dehumidifier, especially items that are sensitive to moisture, because it can pull in water vapor from the surrounding air.
If you are looking for a way to save money when drying clothes in your laundry room, consider investing in a dehumidifier. The device will help lower humidity levels and make it easier to dry your clothes without having to increase airflow in a small area.
Dehumidifier For Laundry Room vs Tumble Dryer
Dehumidifiers are smaller compared to washing machines. The dehumidifier also dries clothes and dryers do however differently depending on your preferences. The tumble dryers are considerably easier to operate and prevent gases from going into the atmosphere at higher levels with the use of heat.
On average driers, energy consumption is very high and in an immediate sense, you could make some difference in your energy bills. The cost is prohibitive as most people will need to use their drier during winter.
Also, the dryer makes clothes feel stiff and weary, causing them to swell and become soft. The airer and the dehumidifier will prevent the uncomfortable feeling of stiffness in clothes. It's because those cakes are already “baked” dry. Drying clothes can be done without a dehydration system.
Does a Dehumidifier Make Clothes Dry Out Faster?
Dehumidifiers are the most efficient appliances for air-drying all your clothes in one easy motion. These are easy to use and could reduce moisture and maintain humidity conditions in smaller rooms. The units should be desiccant dehumidifiers or one compressor type.
Will Using a Dehumidifier for Laundry Room Speed up Drying My Laminat?
A washing machine with a dehumidifier can save many hours of washing up. This will help combat more moisture at your place preventing any mold or dampness. Besides repelling the humidity it will draw sweat off clothes and aid in the drying process.
Some models have the ability to raise the volume so that they can work harder. This can be very helpful to use at that moment when your wet laundry has left the machine! Many models have other options such as a 'boost' to make the model work harder.
How Long Should a Dehumidifier Run per Day?
As a general axiom, the longer your dehumidifier runs the drier your air. Humidity levels increase in the morning and gradually fall as the sun rises and less water vapor flows through the air. If you use the dehumidifier intermittently your moisture may increase.
For best results, schedule this operation from early morning to afternoon for best results. Ivation Desiccant Dehumidifier has an optional drain hose that prevents water vapor from escaping into the water through its optional drain hankers.
Also, you couldn't run a dehumidifier all day in a laundry room because it could give off too much heat and moisture. But if you open the door to your laundry room during the day or night time, put a dehumidifier in there so that it can absorb moisture from your clothes as they dry.
The less humidity in the air, the faster your clothes will dry.
How Do I Choose a Dehumidifier for the Laundry Room?
During its tests, a dehumidifier goes through three initial audits by the Department of Energy for potential contaminant levels before entering the retail markets. The electrical engineer assesses the device's performance to determine the level of removal in pint-sized units in days.
A room measuring 300x500 square feet is, for example, 30 square feet of air that can withstand maximum humidity. You, therefore, have to have at least 20 pints. The greater the humidity level or space in your room, the higher the capacity of a dehumidifier will be. Besides its size, you need to consider the ease to remove the bucket from the unit.
Dampness in the Laundry Room
If untreated the air will remain damp throughout the laundry room. This will make drying very long and can produce a musty smell. The drying takes many hours and it also takes several months before the excessive moisture is removed.
Laundry Room Humidity
As laundry room humidity rises to around 50%, clothes start to take longer to dry. The higher the humidity, the greater the chance that your clothes will be damp when you take them out of the dryer and you could end up with a musty smell in your laundry room and mold in your dryer.
Many homeowners who use dehumidifiers for basements choose to add one or more units to the laundry room as well. The reason for this is that it can be a challenge to get rid of all excess humidity from basements, where appliances and people create extra moisture in the air.
In cases where you have high basement humidity, your clothes will dry more quickly if the humidity level drops below 50%. In certain climates, it might make sense to run a dehumidifier all year long, but in most cases, you will only need to use the unit during the summer months or when taking care of extra-large loads that take longer than usual to dry.
If you have noticed your clothes taking longer to dry than usual or if they feel damp when you take them out of the dryer, then your laundry room might be too humid.
The Best Humidity for Drying Clothes
The humidity requirements on clothing should vary depending on the type and humidity for drying and washing your clothes inside.
Read more: What does inside drying mean on a dehumidifier?
What causes humidity in the laundry room?
This external temperature has been proven indirect to control humidity levels in a laundry room. When it's too hot the laundry can experience extreme humidity conditions. The water content in your laundry room also plays an important factor in the humidity in the room.
The short-term cooling in AC means frequent turns on and back that can allow more humidity in your washer. The short-term cooling in the AC unit has a significant effect on the humidity in your home's laundry room if it comes through the connection to your house. The wetness of your room will also play a significant role.
How do I reduce the humidity in my laundry room?
Make sure that there may be a leakage in the pipe to prevent a leak and then cover and tape the leak with duct tape. You will best install fans and air conditioners as an easy way of increasing your home's airflow. Opening your washing rooms windows can help reduce the moisture in your laundry room.
Related Article: Does a Dehumidifier Lower Humidity: How to Reduce & Benefits
How Do I Prevent Mold in My Laundry Room?
Moisture helps to prevent mold and you should keep that moisture as close to your clothes as possible. Dry clothes soon. Check your clothes every day. Dehumidifiers are another effective way to keep your house dry.
Among other ways to remove moisture from the washing room are air purifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and dry clothes immediately.
Clean up the dirty laundry room and get rid of mold and bacteria. Wash your washing frequently, dry clothes immediately, maintain equipment, and dehumidifying products. Molds spread quickly posing health hazards and structural damage. Call a mold remediation company such as PuroClean who will remove it using professional tools and professional expertise. The site offers more information.
Related Article: Dehumidifier Help With Mold: How to Run and Top 5 Best
What Causes a Musty Smell in the Laundry Room?
If you feel that laundry is smelling bad it can happen in several instances. Poor drainage reduces the free circulation of dirt water and results in stagnation and leakage. This could also create bacteria which might compromise your health.
If you don't take adequate measures or leave them dry, causing mold in your laundry room, experts said. The laundry room is sometimes wet and if there are no proper steps taken it may rain.
Related Article: Can a Dehumidifier Eliminate Musty Odor?
Dry Out the Excess Moisture
High moisture levels slow clothing drying in the increase of water-based molecules in the room. Mold growth is also found in the laundry area on the ceilings and walls or in closets. Condensation over windows doors and floors indicates excess moisture in the air.
The laundry room is a breeding place for bacteria in addition to insects, rodents, and other parasites. Looking for these 8 signs: condensation mold growth, musky smell, walls and ceiling stains, wood rot, and dry drying are not the best ways to dry. Quite frequently the interior can become rusty and dirty with wear.
Related Article: How Much Moisture Can a Dehumidifier Remove per Day?
Qualities To Consider When Purchasing the Best Dehumidifier To Dry Clothes
When choosing from the best dehumidifiers for laundry, you must go for a device that is not only effective but also efficient at managing energy. Here is the list of features you must consider:
Size of the Dehumidifier for Your Laundry
Size is an essential component to consider. You should purchase a product that is likely to efficiently serve the size of the room you wish to place them in. The size and weight of the product should also be considered what you want to do in a year.
With Timer Feature
A timer feature would be especially helpful in dehumidifiers that set the correct period for use according to the laundry cycle. This way, the device is always ready for use so you don't have to worry about setting a timer every time.
Some also come with a remote control that makes it easier to change settings from across the room. A digital display will help you monitor humidity levels and operate your machine remotely. Energy usage of this product should be considered as well.
Power Consumption and Operating Modes
The dehumidifier for clothes must consume less energy while operating in order to maintain running costs at minimal levels. The mode selection plays an essential role when selecting the best dehumidifier for laundry room, especially if you want to operate it at night.
Silent Dehumidifiers for Laundry Room
The best dehumidifiers for clothes must be silent and generate as little noise as possible, so you can sleep peacefully throughout the night. Look out for machines with higher fan speeds and lower decibel levels. You may also consider using a device at higher levels in order to reduce noise.
Energy Star Rated Best Dehumidifier for Laundry
Go for energy-efficient dehumidifiers that are Energy Star Rated when shopping around. This will help you keep running costs low and choose from one of the most efficient units on the market. Since this is one of the primary functions you want to consider, look for a product that offers impressive performance.
Price and Warranty
When buying the best dehumidifier for laundry room, you should set a budget and compare prices in various shops to make your purchase affordable. Consider warranties when shopping around, which will help protect your investment from damage and accidents.
How Do I Clean a Dehumidifier?
If you don't regularly clean the dehumidifier, mold and other bacteria will build up to it. This filter catches mold bacteria and other harmful contaminants from dust and dirt. The more likely you use it will require cleaning at least one day and more often.
The filters are cleanable so remove the filter and wash it with soap and water then place it back in the system. That was all for our laundry bathroom dehumidifier review! I'm happy to answer your questions. You can also find detailed appliance comparisons on our website.
Will I Have To Keep Emptying a Bucket or Water Reservoir?
Most commercial dehumidifiers include a reservoir with a large bucket or storage system if needed. These can hold relatively much water and usually only need to be depleted once a day. When you use a reservoir of water to hold soiled clothes it can quickly become clogged with water if not.
You should also ensure that if there is water in the bucket the automatic shutoff will work to prevent leaking and to give you peace of mind. You can also buy units equipped with draining hoses so you remove a bucket from the water at any given time.
Dehumidifier for Laundry Room FAQs
Is there any kind of dehumidifier I can put at the end of my dryer hose so I can have it anywhere in the house?
Yes, there are quite a few, any of the Frigidaire models have a hose option quite large and sucks out a lot of moisture.
The Whirlpool Whispure Air Purifier has a built-in water tank that can hold up to 4 gallons of excess humidity too. You may also consider models with wheels so you can easily move the machine from one room to another.
Is It Better if People Use a Clothes Dryer or Put Their Clothes Out Inside a Room and Run a Dehumidifier for a Longer Power on Time?
It would be better to put your clothes out in a room and run a dehumidifier for longer because when you use the dryer, it heats up very fast and forces the moisture into the air. You need to run a dehumidifier in several cycles without using heat so that all the water evaporates from the machine and not into the air.
