This quiet little dehumidifier and air purifier is the perfect addition to any small utility space – it tackled drying my laundry in a breeze

Like many homes, mine struggles with poor ventilation - morning condensation, the off patch of (albeit well-maintained) damp and an ever-growing pile of laundry that takes forever to dry, especially without a proper working utility area due to building works. So I was more than happy to put the DryZone dehumidifier and air purifier to the test.

With renovation work in full swing, I knew I needed something that could tackle excess moisture in multiple areas, help prevent mould as things dry out and speed up drying times for our family's insane amount of laundry.

With the knowledge that the best dehumidifiers will lower humidity levels, prevent damp and speed up laundry drying times, I was thrilled that the DryZone has delivered on all three. And combining that with air purifying capabilities and this little bad boy is well worth its small price tag.

This compact unit combines dehumidifying power with a built-in medical grade, HEPA filter to improve air quality too. I tested it using our standard dehumidifier testing process to see how well it performs, not just in reducing humidity, but also in how easy it is to use day to day.

At a glance

As the name suggests, the DryZone dehumidifier and air purifier is a compact, dual-function device designed to reduce moisture in the air and filter out particles like dust, allergens and pet dander in rooms up to 15m2.

It features a 1 litre water tank and has the ability to extract 12 litres of moisture a day, with an auto-shut off function that kicks in when the tank is full, which is a handy feature it you're running it overnight or while out of the house.

Speaking of overnight use, while testing, I found it to be impressively quiet, producing a more low hum so it was just like white noise which I can definitely sleep through. Energy usage is low so it's an affordable option to run longer-term if you're tackling a particularly tricky space. It's also lightweight so it's easy to move around. Although, it would be even better if it had a carry handle instead of little built-in areas to handle it by.

However, don't let its small stature decieve you because it's actually pretty powerful. It managed to dry t-shirts in a couple of hours and it reduced the humidity in the room from 60% to 50% in four hours.

It doesn't have WiFi connectivity or hands-free controls others have on the market but you could sacrifice that for its performance and budget-friendly price tag.

Specifications

• RRP: £149.99
• Type: Compressor
• Extraction rate: 12L/day
• Water tank capacity: 2.2L
• Max room size recommended: up to 15 - 20 m²
• Noise level: 36dB – 39dB
• Power: 175W
• Dimensions: H60.7 x W36.2 x D21.1cm
• Weight: 11.1kg
• Portable?: Yes, with castor wheels and recessed carry handles
• Automatic humidity sensor: Yes
• Continuous drain option: Yes, hose included
• Laundry mode: Yes
• WiFi connectivity: No
• Timer: 1-24 hours and auto-off
• Operating temperature: 5 - 35 °C
• Additional features: air purifying mode, low temperature defrost mode, sleep mode, fan speed select, HEPA filter

Unboxing, set-up and design

Unboxing the DryZone dehumidifier and air purifier was refreshingly straightforward. It arrived well-packaged in a compact box that had minimal plastic and no unnecessary fiddly bits to take apart.

Inside, you'll find the unit itself, a user manual, the washable filter attached that needs to be slotted into place (this was very intuitive) and a hose to attach if you want to use it for longer-term use. It's pretty much plug-in-and-go.

The design itself is neat and unobtrusive, and it fits into any room perfectly without being really in-your-face. The controls are located on the top panel and clearly labelled, so it's pretty easy to get to grips with what's what. The icons on the LED display are intuitive too, with the air purifying function a leaf, the laundry mode a t-shirt, the sleep mode a moon and the fan functions, well, fan icons.

First impressions? I loved that it didn't need any syncing, apps or complicated settings. All I needed to do was have a quick scan of the user manual, and I had it up and running in no time. I think for a budget-friendly machine, it feels well-built in its simplicity.

Ease of use

When I tested it for laundry-drying, I was pleasantly surprised by how much of a difference it made. I kept it beside my clothes airer and had a relatively small load hanging up. The T-shirts that were hanging up dried within two hours, which is impressive for a compact dehumidifier.

For bulkier items like shirts and trousers, they dried a few hours later, but overall, it made a noticeable difference to the drying process compared to just air-drying. It's especially handy if, like me, you're short on space and have to dry laundry hanging in the bedroom or hallway.

I also used the unit in my daughter's newly painted bedroom, and it worked really well for clearing that heavy, lingering paint smell and the extra humidity that often comes with decorating and building work.

Within a few hours, the room felt noticeably less stuffy and the overpowering just painted smell that lingers for days was definitely reduced. The air purifier function seemed to make a real difference to circulating the air. It made the space feel more comfortable much sooner, which make a big difference when I was trying to get it ready for her to sleep in it again.

Performance

Overall, I was really pleased with how the DryZone dehumidifier and air purifier performed. I live in a Victorian house with original single-glazed windows, so condensation and damp are part of daily life, especially in the colder months. I rely on dehumidifiers to keep the air dry and prevent mould, and the DryZone made a noticeable difference.

We're also mid-renovation and recently plastered and painted my daughter's bedroom. I'd noticed the air still felt damp in there weeks later, so I rolled in the DryZone overnight. The digital humidity display made it easy to track the changes.

In the bedroom, the humidity dropped from 60% to 50% in under four hours, which felt like a solid result to me. With ideal indoor humidity levels typically between 30 - 50% in winter and 40 - 60% in summer, I was happy with how quickly it reached a comfortable level.

Right now, with the house still in a bit of chaos, I haven't used the continuous drainage hose, but once our utility room is up and running, I'll set it up in there so it can run uninterrupted.

Energy use

If you're curious about how much a dehumidifier costs to run, it largely depends on its wattage. The higher the wattage is, the more energy it uses.

With the current energy price cap at 24.5p per kWh, I've calculated that it costs around 4p per hour to operate the DryZone on the highest setting. That's impressively low, especially for a unit of this capacity and compared to other dehumidifiers like it.

So, you can comfortably run it for hours, whether you're drying laundry or reducing damp, without worrying about it impacting your electricity bill.

Noise levels

Operating at just 36dB to 38dB, depending on the fan setting, the DryZone is actually pretty quiet compared to others on the market. On its lowest setting, the sound is barely noticeable, while on its highest setting, it's still acceptable, producing a not-too-annoying whoosh noise.

Obviously, with its specifically designed sleep mode, it's even quieter because of its reduced fan speed, making it ideal for bedrooms and even kids' rooms (no white noise machine required).

The noise ramps up for laundry mode, though, because it's working faster to get rid of moisture. Saying that, even in this setting, it's not antisocial.

Portability

One of the things I really liked about the DryZone dehumidifier and air purifier is how easy it is to move about. It's fitted with smooth gliding castor wheels, which are easy to get over carpet and recessed carry-handles, so I could roll or lift it from room to room without much effort.

It's slim and compact, so it didn't take up too much space either, so I feel like I can use it in pretty much any space.

Maintenance

Looking after the unit is relatively straightforward and doesn't require much effort. The water tank is easy to remove, but without a built in handle it’s a little bit tricky to empty but because the tank is small it’s lightweight enough to carry. I have been giving it a rinse with warm water to keep things fresh, especially after heavy use.

According to the manual, this HEPA filter should be cleaned every two weeks, which I found easy enough to quickly wipe down with a dry cloth, or a vacuum if it's more heavily soiled. It's also worth giving the interior where the HEPA filter is inserted a quick wipe too with a soft, dry cloth.

When the filter becomes too worn or clogged over time, replacement filters are available to buy directly from Safeguard Europe's site.

How does the DryZone Dehumidifier and Air Purifiers rate online?

The DryZone Dehumidifier and Air Purifier garners consistently strong ratings across a number of retailers.

Verified shoppers on Amazon rated it 4 out of 5 stars, citing its low-noise operation, ease of use and noticeable improvements in air quality and damp control. One reviewer on Amazon noted the HEPA filter's effectiveness at capturing dust and allergens, while another reported that indoor laundry dried quickly when using the machine's laundry mode.

There are a lot of reviews noting how quiet the unit is, plus its portability and reliability, making it a strong performer for family homes dealing with damp and condensation, as well as drying copious laundry loads.

Verdict

If you're after a fuss-free dehumidifier that also freshens the air in your home, the DryZone is well worth a look. It's neat, easy to use, quiet enough to run overnight, and makes a noticeable difference to indoor humidity levels.

OK, it might not replace a full-size HEPA air purifier, but for the price, you're getting great value in a little package. Its intuitive settings and energy efficiency make it a great choice for busy family households with limited space to play with.

At £149.99, it's a great price for a 2-in-1 unit, and compared to the similarly priced ProBreeze 12L Dehumidifier with Built-in Humidistat, the DryZone gives it a run for its money. Although the ProBreeze has a larger water tank, so can be used in larger rooms.

Compared to competitors, like the SmartAir Dry Zone dehumidifier, the DryZone wins out on portability and simplicity. Plus, it's lighter, quieter and has zero digital fuss.