Now a budget favourite is returning just in time. Aldi is restocking its heated clothes airers and adding heated mattress pads to its cold‑weather line-up, promising a practical nudge to shrink bills while keeping homes comfortable.
What’s returning to shelves and when
Aldi will restock its Winged Heated Airer priced at £34.99 from Sunday 26 October. The freestanding rack folds flat, has an aluminium frame and comes with a protective cover for tidy storage. The retailer says the large drying area suits clothes, towels and bedding.
Back in stores on Sunday 26 October: the £34.99 Winged Heated Airer in the SpecialBuys aisle.
Also arriving the same day is the Upright Heated Airer at £79.99. It includes a cover, mesh shelves and a peg hanger. Both units are part of the supermarket’s seasonal Keep Cosy SpecialBuys range.
SpecialBuys are limited. Once they sell through, they rarely reappear quickly—shoppers who want one should move early.
How much could you save?
Heated airers use far less electricity than most tumble dryers, but drying times tend to be longer. Savings depend on your tariff, room conditions and how you load the rack. Here’s a simple guide using an illustrative unit rate of 28p per kWh.
| Option | Upfront price | Typical wattage (assumed) | Estimated cost per hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winged Heated Airer | £34.99 | 200–250W | 6p–7p | Often needs 3–5 hours per load |
| Upright Heated Airer | £79.99 | 250–300W | 7p–8p | Shelves help airflow, faster for small items |
| Vented/condensing tumble dryer | Existing | 2,000–2,800W | 56p–78p per hour | One cycle is usually 60–90 minutes |
Cost calculator example
Assume a heated airer at 250W for four hours: 1.0 kWh total. At 28p/kWh, that’s about 28p for a full load. A typical tumble dryer cycle at 2.5 kWh would cost about 70p on the same tariff. That’s roughly a 60% price difference in this example. If your airer finishes in three hours or you pair it with a dehumidifier to speed things up, running costs fall further.
Rule of thumb: a heated airer often costs pennies per hour to run, while a dryer can cost tens of pence per cycle.
Features at a glance
- Winged Heated Airer (£34.99): large heated surface, foldable aluminium body, free‑standing, storage cover included.
- Upright Heated Airer (£79.99): foldable frame, mesh shelves, peg hanger and cover for neater drying of smalls and tops.
- Both models: designed to handle clothes, towels and sheets; intended to reduce reliance on central heating.
Mattress pads join the ‘heat the human’ approach
Also landing on 26 October are heated mattress pads starting at £14.99 for single, plus options for double and king. The pads provide under‑bed warmth with three temperature settings and a detachable controller. There are four elastic straps to secure the pad, blue indicator lights for heat levels, an auto cut‑off and overheating protection. The pad can be machine‑washed at 30°C on a gentle cycle after removing the controller.
The idea is simple: warm the person, not the whole property—especially helpful in rooms you rarely heat for long.
How to dry faster and safer indoors
Heated airers work best with good airflow. Space garments evenly and avoid thick bunching. Flip heavier items halfway through. Leave a small gap around the airer to encourage circulation.
- Ventilation matters: crack a window or run an extractor fan to carry moisture out and limit condensation.
- Dehumidifier pairing: a compact unit set to 55–60% relative humidity can cut drying times and reduce damp risk.
- Safety: keep the airer clear of curtains and soft furnishings, and do not drape soaked items over the controller or cable.
- Fabric care: avoid high heat on delicate items; check care labels for tumble and heated drying symbols.
Pairing with a dehumidifier
Running a small dehumidifier at around 200W for two hours uses roughly 0.4 kWh (about 11p at 28p/kWh). That extra spend can pull moisture from clothes and the room, often reducing total drying time and preventing condensation on windows. Many users run a dehumidifier in the same room for the first hour, then switch it off once garments feel warm and part‑dry.
What else sits in Keep Cosy
Aldi’s seasonal aisle will also carry comfort basics aimed at lowering energy use by layering up rather than turning up the thermostat:
- Winter Clogs £11.99
- Padding Slippers £5.99
- Winter Felt Slippers (assorted)
- Fluffy Socks £2.99
- Cabin Socks £2.49
- Yoga Pants £9.99
- Knit Jacket £8.99
Will it pay back—and when?
Think in cycles. If a tumble cycle costs about 70p on your tariff and a heated airer load comes in near 30p, that’s a 40p saving per wash day. At that rate, the £34.99 model could pay for itself in around 88 uses. For households washing three times a week, the payback could arrive in seven months; heavy‑wash homes will get there sooner.
The upright model costs more upfront but may handle bulkier loads better and free floor space. If it trims an hour of drying time per load compared with an unheated rack, the reduced running hours can offset the higher price over a single winter.
Smart usage tips to cut costs further
- Spin speed: use the highest spin your machine allows; every extra 400rpm can shed notable moisture and minutes of drying.
- Room choice: small, warm rooms work best. A box room with a cracked window or a bathroom with an extractor keeps humidity in check.
- Layer strategy: place thicker fabrics closest to heated bars; keep synthetics and gym gear on outer edges to prevent over‑drying.
- Timing: start loads earlier in the day so garments finish before bedtime, reducing overnight humidity.
A note on moisture and mould risk
Indoor drying raises humidity, which can feed mould on cold surfaces. Watch window reveals and behind wardrobes. Consider a cheap hygrometer to keep indoor humidity near 50–60%. If readings stay high, increase ventilation or run a dehumidifier in short bursts. Wipe window sills each morning when drying indoors to remove condensate.
Bottom line for shoppers
For many households, a heated airer provides a low‑cost way to manage winter laundry without leaning on the tumble dryer or turning up radiators. Aldi’s £34.99 winged unit offers an accessible entry point, while the £79.99 upright adds capacity and tidier stacking. The heated mattress pads extend the same money‑saving principle to bedtime warmth, aligning with the “heat the human” approach popular across the UK energy squeeze.
If you plan your washing days, control moisture and keep an eye on running times, the savings can add up quickly. Factor in your tariff, the room you dry in and your wardrobe mix, then pick the model that suits your space and schedule.
At 28p/kWh this is definitly a no‑brainer for small flats—my dryer eats coins. Going for the winged one; cover + fold flat is perfect.
These guides always quote best‑case numbers, but what about condensaton and actual room temps? In my Victorian terrace, a non‑insulated box room gets clammy fast. If the upright pulls 250–300W for 4 hours, I’m adding a 200W dehumidifier for at least 1–2 hours as well—does that erase the savings versus a heat‑pump dryer? Real‑world load sizes and ambient humidity matter more than headline “60% cheaper” claims. Any independent tests comparing drying times and mould risk across seasons?