Dunelm's 2p-an-hour heated clothes airer 'is so helpful' when doing laundry

Dunelm shoppers have been raving about a tiny appliance that "gives off great heat" and helps "dry clothes quickly" when the washing line outside and the tumble dryer aren't the best options. It got even more praise for being economical on energy bills, costing just pennies to run.

The Heated Ladder Airer runs on just 2p worth of electricity every hour, according to Dunelm. Made from 'sturdy' aluminium, the heated ladder airer has three metres of drying space and is suitable for up to 5kg of washing.

The homeware store's website claims the £40 "compact and slimline" gadget is ideal for "drying and warming towels." However, as shown in the photos, it can easily handle other items, such as socks, underwear, and more, depending on how it is loaded.

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Dunelm adds that the device is "perfect for saving valuable space in your home" because of its design, which is easy to put away when not in use. There are similar items available elsewhere, such as Amazon's Dry:Soon Heated Towel Airer for £59.99.

Argos has a similar product, the 11.5m Electric Heated Indoor Clothes Airer, on clearance for £30. It offers slightly more drying space, but shoppers will need to account for the extra space that is needed.

However, plenty of Dunelm shoppers were pleased with the Heated Ladder Airer and what it offered for a 'bargain' price. One said: "It's a smashing thing. You hardly notice it in the room, and yet it gives off great heat."

Another wrote: "Bought for towels after our morning shower as we live in Scotland and they normally don't dry fast, but this dries them so quickly!" A third put: "I bought this for our caravan, to dry off our bath towels after our shower when it is raining outside. It is perfect for that. It is small enough to store either in a cupboard or tucked away in the bathroom with the feet taken off."

Someone else said: "I haven’t had this very long, but I found a lot of use out of it. It does warm up very quickly, well worth the money."

But, there were a few with issues. A couple of reviews mentioned that the airer's feet were "fiddly" to install. Another claimed that it's not good for dealing with bigger loads of laundry, writing: "Not very good, does not hold much laundry. Only useful for very small items."

A third claimed: "After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase. Easy to set up, however, it is very disappointing in its drying power. On all night and socks and T-shirts still wet."

Despite some negative feedback, over 200 felt it deserved a five-star rating for its performance. One more shopper shared: " I am buying another, as it simply comes in handy and items dry if placed on properly." Someone else put: "Excellent value and economical to run and dries clothes really fast."

Another wrote: "Just what i needed to help dry washing through the winter months , but not expensive to run." One more said: "I bought one to help warm up my cold walk-in wardrobe. The second one is for my office and it really helps keep it warm. Really good at drying clothes but if you do want to use it for heat I think putting a blanket over it helps it to get even hotter and warms the room quickly. My smartmeter has hardly noticed both of them being on constantly."