How much does the Lakeland Dry:Soon cost to run?
The Lakeland Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier costs 7.9p an hour to run. It is rated at 300W, so a light load dried in about 6 hours costs 47.4p, and a heavy load of jeans and towels over 10 to 12 hours costs 79.0p to 94.8p.
| Per day | 63.2p |
|---|---|
| Per week | £1.90 |
| Per month | £8.21 |
| Per year | £98.54 |
Cost per load
| Setting | Cost |
|---|---|
| Light mixed load, about 6 hours | 47.4p |
| Jeans, jumpers and towels, about 10 hours | 79.0p |
| Sheets, about 12 hours | 94.8p |
Why Lakeland's figure is out of date
Lakeland's product page says the Deluxe costs 9p an hour, but that figure uses an electricity price of 30p per kWh, the cap from July to September 2023. At today's cap of 26.32p per kWh, the same 300W airer costs 7.9p an hour. The calculator above uses the current price, or yours if you type it in.
How long a load takes, and what it costs
A heated airer keeps its rails at a steady, low temperature, so it draws close to its 300W rating for as long as it is on. That makes drying time the main thing that changes the cost. Tech Advisor timed it at about 6 hours for T-shirts, shirts and delicates, and 10 to 12 hours for jeans, chunky jumpers and towels. Sheets took about 12 hours.
The Deluxe has a timer, so you can set it for the time a load needs and avoid paying for empty hours.
Dry:Soon or tumble dryer?
A conventional 7kg tumble dryer used 4.18 kWh for one load in a test reported by NimbleFins, which is £1.10 at today's price. The Dry:Soon holds up to 15kg, about two wash loads, and uses 3.6 kWh over a full 12 hours. So for a big wash it costs less than half as much, as long as you can wait. For a quick dry, a tumble dryer is still faster.
Getting the most from it
- Spin clothes on the fastest speed your fabrics allow before hanging them.
- Use a Dry:Soon cover to hold the warm air in.
- Put thick items on the top tier and give them space.
- Dry in a small room with the door shut, ideally with a dehumidifier.
- Set the timer so it switches off when the load should be dry.
Common questions
How much does the Lakeland Dry:Soon cost to run per hour?
The Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier is rated at 300W, so it costs 7.9p an hour at 26.32p per kWh. Lakeland's own figure of 9p an hour was worked out at 30p per kWh, the price cap in summer 2023.
How much does a full load cost to dry on the Dry:Soon?
In Tech Advisor's test, light clothes took about 6 hours (47.4p), bulky items 10 to 12 hours (79.0p to 94.8p) and sheets about 12 hours. A cover and a well-spun load shorten the time.
Is the Dry:Soon cheaper than a tumble dryer?
Usually. Twelve hours on the Dry:Soon uses 3.6 kWh (94.8p) for up to 15kg of washing. A 7kg tumble dryer load measured by NimbleFins used 4.18 kWh, about £1.10 at today's price, and would need two runs for the same amount.
Does the Dry:Soon cover make it cheaper to run?
It can. The cover traps warm air around the clothes so they dry faster, and because the airer draws the same power every hour, fewer hours means a lower cost.
What about the other Dry:Soon models?
Lakeland also sells the Dry:Soon 3-Tier, Mini 3-Tier and Foldable airers. Lakeland's product pages we checked do not list their wattage, so check the label on yours and type it into the calculator.