Will you grab Aldi’s £9.99 radiator reflector this week: 85% heat back, dates and real running costs

Households search for simple ways to keep warmth where it matters.

Aldi’s latest Specialbuys week lands just as thermostats edge up and budgets tighten. The headline draw is a £9.99 radiator reflector kit in the “heat the human, not the home” mould, the very kind of low-cost fix MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis has long urged people to consider for winter. It joins a raft of small appliances and insulating add‑ons designed to trap heat, target the body, and trim reliance on full-blast central heating.

What arrives in Aldi and when

Radiator reflectors arrive in UK Aldi stores on Thursday 23 October at £9.99. More heat‑focused gear follows on Sunday 26 October, including heated blankets, mattress pads and two types of heated airer.

Aldi says the reflector sheet has a high‑emissivity surface that bounces up to 86% of infrared warmth back into your room. The pack includes self‑adhesive strips for quick fitting and a foam‑bubble core for extra thermal performance. One pack can cover up to three radiators, depending on size and positioning.

£9.99, in stores 23 October. Aldi claims up to 86% of infrared heat is reflected back into the room.

Dates at a glance

• Thursday 23 October: Radiator reflectors, ceramic heaters, insulation wrap, dehumidifier
• Sunday 26 October: Heated airers, heated blanket, heated mattress pads, winter warmers

Why radiator reflectors matter

Most radiators on external walls waste heat into brickwork. Reflective panels reduce that loss and nudge more warmth back into the space you actually occupy. They do not add new heat; they make better use of the heat you already pay for.

MoneySavingExpert guidance has highlighted them for years as a cheap insulation boost. The biggest wins come on radiators mounted to external walls, especially behind furniture or in draughty rooms. Bedrooms and lounges with radiators under windows are prime candidates.

Fit reflectors behind radiators on external walls. If you must improvise, kitchen foil is a stop‑gap, but purpose‑made sheets work better.

Fitting in five minutes

• Measure the radiator panel sections you want to cover. Avoid blocking valves or controls.
• Cut the reflector to size. Leave a small margin at the edges and top for airflow.
• Stick the supplied adhesive strips to the wall side, not the radiator fins.
• Fix the sheet flat to the wall behind the radiator, shiny side facing into the room.
• Keep a small air gap if possible. That improves reflection and prevents trapping moisture.

Check pipes and valves still move freely. Wipe away any condensation you notice in the first few days, then leave it in place for the season.

Do the maths: costs and savings

Aldi lists running costs for two plug‑in heaters in the range: the oscillating ceramic tower at about 53p per hour, and the compact ceramic personal heater at about 32p per hour. These figures assume a typical home electricity tariff and full‑power operation. Real‑world costs vary with your unit rate, thermostat setting and duty cycle.

Work out your cost with a simple formula:

• Cost per hour (p) = appliance wattage × tariff (p/kWh) ÷ 1,000

Example: a 1,200W personal heater at 28p/kWh costs roughly 34p per hour at full power. Use a lower setting or cycle it for targeted warmth and the cost falls.

Radiator reflectors don’t draw power. The “saving” is the central heating you no longer need to burn to hold a room at the same temperature. That can be hard to pin down, because homes differ. Look for a quicker warm‑up and fewer boiler cycles as your cue that the panel is doing its job.

Key Specialbuys and prices

Other heat‑the‑human picks worth a look

MoneySavingExpert has long flagged wearable and point‑of‑use warmers that sip power. Items like these target your body, not the entire house:

• USB‑powered gloves or hand warmers for desk work
• Heated insoles for commuters and cold floors
• Microwaveable wheat bags for sofas and beds
• Extra‑large hot water bottles (up to 1.5L) for long‑lasting comfort
• Electric foot warmers and heat pads for static tasks
• Rechargeable hand warmers for prams, dog walks and stands

A quick word on dehumidifiers

Damp rooms feel colder. Pulling moisture from the air reduces that chill and can protect walls, wardrobes and windows from mould. Aldi’s compact unit suits small bedrooms, box rooms and studies up to around 15m². Aim for a relative humidity near 50–60%. Close doors and windows while it runs, and empty the 2‑litre tank before it hits full to keep extraction steady.

Safety and practical tips

• Keep plug‑in heaters clear of curtains and sofas. Leave at least a metre of space in front.
• Do not drape clothes over heaters unless the product is designed for drying.
• Use timers and thermostats to prevent over‑heating rooms and wasting power.
• For reflectors, target radiators on external walls first. Skip internal walls, where gains are small.
• Bleed radiators and balance the system so every room warms evenly.
• Shut doors to rooms you are not heating. Fit draught excluders where you feel a breeze.

Who gains most from the £9.99 reflector

Homes with solid external walls, radiators under single‑glazed or older double‑glazed windows, and cold north‑facing rooms see the biggest benefit. Renters can fit the sheet without altering the property, as the adhesive goes to the wall behind the radiator and removes at the end of the season with care.

If you already have deep foil‑backed insulation behind the radiator, or your home uses underfloor heating, this specific gadget adds little. In that case, focus on targeted warmth: a heated throw for the sofa, a mattress pad for the bed, or a small ceramic heater for a home office.

Want a quick savings check

Pick the coldest room with an external‑wall radiator. Fit the £9.99 sheet. Note the time it takes to reach your usual temperature and how long the boiler runs to hold it. If the room stabilises faster and the boiler cycles less, you’ve found a cheap win. Add weather‑stripping around the door and close curtains after dark to stack the gains.