How we test dehumidifiers at Ideal Home – this is everything we look for before we recommend one

If you're wondering how we test dehumidifiers at Ideal Home, you'll be pleased to know that every model is put through a thorough testing process to make sure it's genuinely worth a place in your home.

To find the best dehumidifiers, we put each model through a set of comparative tests, looking at everything from moisture extraction and energy usage to noise levels, tank capacity and ease of use. We also test useful extras such as laundry modes, continuous drainage, smart controls and air purification, where it's included.

Most importantly, we test every dehumidifier in a real home for a minimum of three weeks. That means using it in the sorts of spaces where you actually need a dehumidifier, including damp bedrooms, steamy bathrooms, laundry areas and chilly hallways. This gives us plenty of time to see how well each model reduces humidity and condensation, how easy it is to live with day to day, and whether it can help keep excess moisture at bay.

We're also very conscious that a dehumidifier can be running for several hours a day, particularly during the colder months, so running costs are an important part of our testing. We measure energy consumption alongside performance to work out how much each model costs to run and whether that energy use feels justified by the amount of moisture it removes.

Value for money matters too. A more expensive dehumidifier needs to work hard to justify its price tag, while a budget dehumidifier under £100 still needs to deliver where it counts. We weigh up price, performance, energy efficiency, functionality and ease of use to help you find the best option for your home and budget.

You can find out about our dehumidifier testing process and exactly how we put each model through its paces.

How we test dehumidifiers at Ideal Home

Our standard, well-refined testing process involves unboxing each dehumidifier and then testing it in the reviewer's home.

Value for money is a testing criterion. We calculate how much it costs to run the dehumidifier per hour based on its wattage and compare that to the energy use and running costs of other dehumidifiers we've tested.

How we test the unboxing and setting up process

When our reviewer unboxes the dehumidifier, they log their first impressions, including the look and feel of the product and the quality of the packaging. Where packaging is unsustainable, we make a note to take it into account when giving it an overall rating.

If the dehumidifier requires any assembly, we're looking at how easy this is. How many steps are there and how long does it take?

Finally, we want to know how the model looks, so the reviewer will assess the design and how it compares to other models. Again, quality and value for money come into play in terms of how robust the dehumidifier feels and what the finish is like.

How we test ease of use and performance

Then we move on to the testing stage. We test each of the dehumidifier's functions and assess how well they do the job.

Once the dehumidifier is in position – this is part of the test, as we assess how easy it is to manoeuvre, considering its weight and whether it's on wheels – some of the key testing criteria we consider are:

• Does it remove moisture from the air?
• How often do you need to empty it, and how easy is that process?
• Is it noisy?
• Are the controls intuitive and easy to use? Are the instructions for use clear?
• Is it easy to move around the house?
• How it compares to similar dehumidifiers on the market
• Are there other functions that distinguish it from the rest?

Knowing that the noise dehumidifiers make when running can be an issue for many consumers, we investigate the dB of the dehumidifier and what the noise is like in practical terms in a real home. Could you sleep with it running? Is it so loud you need to turn the TV up? Can you happily use it in the same room as you or do you need to shut the door and go elsewhere whilst it’s operating?

We also use our testing process to answer the question we all want to know – do dehumidifiers dry washing? The answer is yes, but as our review process uncovers, some do it far better than others. We let you know which ones make quick work of drying wet washing on laundry day.

How we test the cleaning and maintenance required

We also look at how easy each dehumidifier is to clean and maintain because this can make a big difference to how convenient it is to live with long-term. Each reviewer empties and cleans the water tank as needed, checking how easy it is to remove, carry and refit without spills, as well as whether there are any awkward areas are difficult to clean.

We also check how straightforward it is to access, clean and replace the filter if the unit is also an air purifier and take note of additional maintenance the manufacturer recommends. Ultimately, we're looking for a dehumidifier that's just as easy to look after as it is to use.

Our Consumer Experts

Our Consumer Experts are members of the team who have gained particular knowledge of products in their specialist area.

Earning a Consumer Expert certification involves gaining hands-on, practical experience with bestselling products, regularly testing said products, and conducting research into their area of expertise, as well as conducting interviews with leading brands. The exact specifications needed to become a Consumer Expert are below.

1. Testing

Our Consumer Experts have hands-on experience testing the bestselling and highest-rated products on the market. This then becomes the benchmark against which other products are reviewed and judged.

2. Product research

Our experts immerse themselves in each product category, learning everything there is to know about the product, from how it's made to its biggest pros and cons.

3. Behind the scenes

As well as hands-on product testing in a home environment, our Consumer Experts have also gained insider knowledge on the products they test. This might be through factory visits, showroom tours, or comparison testing days at our testing facility.

4. Industry knowledge

Our experts know the nitty-gritty of each product category. They regularly speak with industry experts such as product developers and retailers, and they know the market leaders and the growing trends within the industry. They are non-biased and able to formulate an honest judgement about the USPs offered by different products on the market.

5. Wider opinions

Our experts don't just rely on their own knowledge; they also seek input from the wider team and carefully research customer product reviews to gauge wider product satisfaction, noting and investigating any regularly occurring customer feedback.

Below, you can see which members of the team are certified Consumer Experts when it comes to testing dehumidifiers.

Jenny McFarlane

I’m Jenny, Senior Digital Editor at Ideal Home, and I've tested a number of our top dehumidifiers in our damp four-bedroom semi in Belfast. I share my home with my husband and two little girls, and between all of us, we have a lot of laundry to contend with. I have put DryZone, SmartAir and VonHaus dehumidifiers through their paces to see how they help dry our endless washing indoors and also tackle our condensation issues.

Amy Lockwood

I'm Amy, Ideal Home's dehumidifier expert. Along with our reviewer Rachael, I've put multiple dehumidifiers through their paces to find the best-in-class, digging into the detail of extraction rates, water tank capacity, and noise levels to compare and contrast the bestselling dehumidifiers on the market.

Rachael Phillips

I'm Rachael, a member of the Ideal Home review team who helps put all manner of products through their paces to find the top recommendations for our readers. I've tested dehumidifiers from Meaco, Pro Breeze, EcoAir, Silentnight, Black+Decker, Argos, Amazon, and many more in my damp-prone Victorian terrace in Newport, South Wales.

Our dehumidifier reviews

Here's a selection of our dehumidifier reviews so that you can see our testing process in action, along with images of testing the models in our homes.

• Meaco MeacoDry Arete One Dehumidifier review
• Pro Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier with Special Laundry Mode review
• ProBreeze 1500ml Mini Dehumidifier review
• EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier review
• Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier review
• Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L review
• Dryzone dehumidifier review
• SmartAir DryZone dehumidifier review

Along with a quick recap of our top three recommended dehumidifiers as tested by the Ideal Home team.

You'll find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our how we test page, including how we put air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, heated clothes airers, pizza ovens, and a whole host of other products through their paces to bring you our top recommendations.