My bedding and towels dry in 2 hours with nifty dehumidifier-is it worth the investment?

I've used a dehumidifier for my laundry in the winter for as long as I can remember. I started out with an affordable one from Argos, which did the job, but it wasn't the best. I then upgraded to Meaco's Arete One mode, which completely changed my life, and I've been using it consistently for a couple of years. I was excited to see a new launch from Meaco, as I love their dehumidifier and fans a lot, so I wondered what more this new launch could offer.

The Meaco DD8L Pro Desiccant Dehumidifier not only cleans the air but also features a specialised laundry mode to dry your clothes. Adding to its expansive range of dehumidifiers, I recently tried it out to see if it was as good as the Meaco Arete One I've been using for a couple of years. The new device features a special laundry mode that dries clothes faster than ever, while saving energy and maintaining a clean and dry air environment.

Combining heat, airflow, and automation, the Meaco DD8L Pro Desiccant Dehumidifier directs air at your washing, allowing your clothes to dry quickly. This is perfect for indoor drying during damp UK winters or in unheated rooms.

Whether you prefer full performance or minimal consumption, the dehumidifier offers different settings, including Smart Energy Mode, which allows you to adjust between low, medium, and high power depending on how far your room's humidity is from your target setting.

Stay within 5% of your chosen level, and it runs quietly on low fan speed, keeping costs down. However, if the humidity rises to 20% over your target, the Smart Energy Mode automatically shifts into high gear for fast, powerful dehumidification.

You can also connect via WiFi and monitor and control your device from anywhere with the Meaco app, which is compatible with Google and Alexa. It allows you to switch modes, adjust settings, or track humidity in real time, enabling you to keep it on while you are out.

Night mode keeps the display lights and sound alerts off, while continuing to work to clean the air in your home. It's engineered to run quietly so you can keep it on all day long.

I loved the smart cable tidy, which enabled it to sit flush against the wall, and I loved the sleek look, which ties in with all of Meaco's dehumidifiers. You can also purchase a bracket, which saves on floor space.

The DD8L Pro's built-in antibacterial sterilising ioniser was also impressive to me. It neutralises airborne bacteria, mould spores and allergens as it removes excess moisture. This means it doesn't just dry the air, but helps to sterilise it, creating a cleaner and healthier home for everyone

It also worked incredibly well, and I was super impressed with the laundry setting. My wet laundry, including bedding and towels, dried within three hours on the laundry mode.

On top of it all, I've never seen a spot of mould or damp in my home, and my bathroom doesn't have an extractor fan, I dry washing indoors, and I cook every day. I put it down to Meaco's dehumidifiers. This is extremely impressive as it's the same time it takes in the tumble dryer, without running up my energy bills.

A couple of downsides I found to the dehumidifier are the placement of the water tank. It sits on the side compared to Arete One, where it's on the front. This makes it slightly tricky to reach, and it's also quite a small tank. Considering it's a powerful appliance, I felt the water tank could have been much bigger, as I felt like I was constantly having to empty it.

The £259.99 model has already got reviews on the Meaco website, with a current 4.48 rating out of 25 reviews.

One review read: "Having had many dehumidifiers over the years, I feel I can offer a few things that could be improved. The water tank level isn't easy to see, and an actual level mark in the app would be handy so you know if it needs emptying before leaving it for a while."

However, there were also many positive reviews. One read: "So far I've only used it a few times, but I am very happy with the result. The laundry programme works well. Just after a few hours, it collects a lot of water in the tank, and the laundry is drying much quicker...the app is a great addition."

Another said: "Love this model. Can't believe how powerful it is for drying laundry. It's fabulous."

The dehumidifier can be purchased for £259.99 on Meaco's website. It can also be purchased from B&Q or Amazon. An initial investment, but they're built to last and are definitely worth it.

There are also many other dehumidifiers on the market, at varying prices, including Bush's 16L dehumidifier, Argos's Challenge 10L Dehumidifier for just £84, or the Princess Smart 20L Dehumidifier.