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Ideal Home tested the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier for 10 days in a family home, using it to dry laundry, reduce humidity and address condensation. The reviewer reported that it lowered humidity within hours and found its clothes-drying mode useful, but noted that the full water tank is awkward to empty and the child lock does not disable the power button.
Ideal Home has reviewed the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier, a £158.99 appliance sold at Toolstation, after testing it for laundry drying, humidity reduction and condensation in a family home. The reviewer reported lower humidity within hours and found the dedicated clothes mode effective for bedding and jeans, while flagging drawbacks with its water tank and child lock.
The reviewer tested the appliance for 10 days in a three-bedroom home, moving it between a utility room, dining room and bedrooms. Its functions included standard, continuous and strong dehumidifying modes, a Dry Clothes setting, a sleep function and an air-cleaning button. The unit has a humidity sensor, timer and two fan speeds, but no Wi-Fi connectivity.
According to the review, the Dry Clothes mode dried bedding within a few hours and jeans in about six hours. The reviewer also said the unit reduced humidity in rooms within hours and used the timer to run it for a set period after showers. These are observations from one household test, not independently reported performance figures for every home or set of conditions.
The compressor model is rated to extract up to 20 litres of water per day and has a 5.5-litre tank. Its listed specifications include a 320-watt power rating, a 42-decibel noise level and a recommended room size of 30 to 40 square metres. A continuous-drain option is available using the included hose, and the appliance weighs 12 kilograms, with castor wheels and side handles for moving it.
Laundry, Damp and Running Costs
The review focuses on three common cold-season concerns: slow indoor laundry drying, condensation and excess humidity. A dehumidifier can collect moisture from indoor air, and the reviewer’s results suggest this model may be useful for drying clothes and managing humidity in the rooms tested. The practical benefit will depend on factors such as room conditions, how much laundry is being dried and how the appliance is operated.
The report also raises a possible household-cost benefit, but does not establish one. The reviewer suggested that a dehumidifier could reduce reliance on a tumble dryer, which may affect energy use, and that removing moisture could help limit damp-related problems. However, the review gives no measured energy-bill savings, comparison with a tumble dryer, or long-term evidence about mould prevention. The price makes the product a lower-cost option in the reviewer’s assessment, but the test does not show how it compares with every competing model.
20L dehumidifier for laundry drying
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How the Home Test Was Run
Ideal Home’s report describes a practical, in-home test rather than a laboratory comparison. The reviewer used the Wessex unit in different rooms to try its available modes, monitor the humidity display and assess day-to-day handling. The test covered 10 days; the review introduction also describes a two-week trial, so the report’s stated testing duration is not entirely consistent.
The appliance requires no assembly for standard use. Owners who want to drain water continuously need to connect the supplied hose, while those using the tank must empty it as it fills. The review says to leave at least 30 centimetres of clearance around the appliance for operation. Its automatic sensor displays room humidity, and an indicator light changes colour as humidity readings change.
“I found that it has reduced humidity throughout my home within hours.”
— Ideal Home reviewer
Limits of the Review Evidence
The published account does not provide controlled measurements of moisture removed in a typical day, the time needed to reach a particular humidity level, or the electricity used during the test. It also does not compare the Wessex model directly with other dehumidifiers or provide verified savings against tumble-dryer use. The claimed potential to reduce energy bills or mould risk should therefore be treated as a possible benefit, not a result established by this test.
The reviewer says the tank is tricky to empty when full and recommends checking water levels and emptying it before it becomes difficult to handle. The test also does not establish how the appliance performs across all room sizes or temperatures. Its listed operating range is 5°C to 35°C, and the manufacturer’s recommended room size is 30 to 40 square metres.
Check Price and Household Fit
The review does not announce a product change or a new testing phase. Readers considering the appliance can check its current Toolstation price and availability, since the £158.99 figure is the price reported in the review and may change. They should also compare tank capacity, noise, room-size guidance and the availability of continuous drainage with their household needs.
For anyone using the unit, the next practical steps are to follow the manual, leave the recommended clearance and monitor the tank rather than waiting until it is full. Whether it reduces laundry-drying time or running costs in another home remains a question for use under that household’s own conditions.
Key Questions
How much does the Wessex Electrical 20L Dehumidifier cost?
Ideal Home listed it at £158.99 at Toolstation when its review was published. Prices and availability can change.
How quickly did it dry clothes in the review?
The reviewer said bedding dried within a few hours and jeans took about six hours. Those timings reflect the reviewer’s home test and may vary with load size and conditions.
Can it drain continuously?
Yes. The listed specifications include a continuous-drain option and a one-metre hose attachment. Without the hose, collected water goes into the 5.5-litre tank, which needs emptying.
Does the review prove it will cut energy bills or prevent mould?
No. The reviewer described those as potential benefits of reducing indoor moisture and using less tumble-drying, but the report provides no measured bill savings or long-term mould-prevention results.
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