Drying clothes in cellar using a dehumidifier vs tumble dryer

bigpappa

I have a large celllar that really is unused - it has a window at ground level and a coal shoot at ground level also. I have a vented tumble dryer but was reading up that you can use a dehumidfier to dry clothes also?

Using the dehumdifier would also dry out the cellar - it's not wet but has the damp musty smell - not sure why that is as the coal shoot is always open to let air in.

Or should I stick with my tumble dryer?

neilmcl

The dehumidfier is not actually going to dry the clothes it's simply going to make an attempt at removing the moisture from the air that's released by the clothes naturally drying. Depending on the ambient temperature in the cellar this could take ages, days even. 

oystercatcher

I suspect your clothes might get that damp musty smell too .

bigpappa

neilmcl said:

The dehumidfier is not actually going to dry the clothes it's simply going to make an attempt at removing the moisture from the air that's released by the clothes naturally drying. Depending on the ambient temperature in the cellar this could take ages, days even.

So why do they sell these dehumidifiers with laundry functions?

I just thought I could kill three birds with one stone, keep the humidifier one to dry out clothes, its cheaper than using a tumble dryer and when there are no clothes its drying out the cellar.

bigpappa

For the cellar should I go for a dessicant or a compressor?

bris

you would be as well just letting them air dry, the time difference won't be much and thats free.

Bossyboots

We have a dehumidifier with laundry function which does make a huge difference.  However, we have worked out that it costs just as much as a tumble drier to run.

neilmcl

bigpappa said:

neilmcl said:

The dehumidfier is not actually going to dry the clothes it's simply going to make an attempt at removing the moisture from the air that's released by the clothes naturally drying. Depending on the ambient temperature in the cellar this could take ages, days even.

So why do they sell these dehumidifiers with laundry functions?

I just thought I could kill three birds with one stone, keep the humidifier one to dry out clothes, its cheaper than using a tumble dryer and when there are no clothes its drying out the cellar.

Again, they don't actually dry the clothes they just, as the name suggests, dehumidifies the surrounding air allowing the clothes a better chance at drying naturally. However as you're planning on using it in, what you already admit is, a damp cellar then I'll think you're in for a struggle and certainly wouldn't be much of a saving on a good tumble dryer.

Jonesya

Stick with your tumble dryer but just to check, you have got the vent properly connected up to vent outside the cellar?

bigpappa

Jonesya said:

Stick with your tumble dryer but just to check, you have got the vent properly connected up to vent outside the cellar?

Currently the tumble dryer is in the kitchen and is vented to the outside. Thinking of moving it to cellar to create more space - cellar is empty and open - thought I would just let it vent in there?

neilmcl

bigpappa said:

Jonesya said:

Stick with your tumble dryer but just to check, you have got the vent properly connected up to vent outside the cellar?

Currently the tumble dryer is in the kitchen and is vented to the outside. Thinking of moving it to cellar to create more space - cellar is empty and open - thought I would just let it vent in there?

Don't do it. You'll be venting warm, moist air into the cellar, a perfect environment for mould.