And, whilst this Russell Hobbs number is cheaper upfront, running costs are higher, with the 20L dehumidifier using 440W of energy compared to Meaco's 20L Arete One which uses 216W on average. Plus, the Arete One offers a built-in air purifier which this model does not. It's fair to say that most dehumidifiers aren't the most stylish of appliances, which is why the De'Longhi Tascuigo AriaDry Multi Dehumidifier is something of a breath of fresh air amidst the usual boxy white plastic designs. If you're wondering how to get rid of mould in a poorly ventilated room, or trying to combat excess moisture or humidity inside the home, then a dehumidifier can be a useful tool in your arsenal. The Russell Hobbs dehumidifier has four wheels on the bottom so is incredibly easy to move around the home. I could easily roll it around between my bedroom, the spare room where we dry the laundry. Unlike a compressor dehumidifier that passes air over a cold coil to condense the water from it, a desiccant dehumidifier uses a 'desiccant chemical' to absorb the moisture from the air. As a result, desiccant dehumidifiers are the best option for rooms that are likely to fall below 15°c, as at lower temperatures compressor and Peltier models can struggle to work efficiently.

That said, if you find the Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier on offer, and are willing to accept its flaws in exchange for its lower price point, this can be a great value buy that does the job and will make a big improvement to general damp issues. The Fresh Air Mini Compact Dehumidifier is not noisy at all. At 35 decibels, it is just above a whisper (which is 30dB, in case you were wondering). Thanks to this, the Silentnight 39899 dehumidifier has noise levels of just 25dBA, and as our reviewer says 'when I say it’s whisper quiet, I mean it. I couldn't hear this dehumidifier whilst it was running at all. That makes it perfect for anywhere you want to maintain peace and quiet' – like the bedroom. A desiccant dehumidifier differs in that it uses an absorbent material or chemical dessicant to extract moisture from the air. This means they can operate efficiently in lower temperatures, down to just 1°C, and are useful for garages, basements, conservatorys, or unheated rooms in the house over winter. However, they're usually more expensive both upfront and in terms of running costs than a compressor dehumidifier, so unless you're looking to remove damp at cold temperatures you're generally best off with a compressor model. That said, overall, the Smart function did work well and helped us minimise the dampness and mould returning to our flat over the winter.It also cut down on how frequently I needed to empty the tank, usually taking around two days to fill up completely.The EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier can extract up to 7.5 litres of moisture per day in cold temperatures as low as 1ºc, so it's a very useful option for conservatorys, basements or garages that don't have dedicated heating, as well as unheated rooms in the home during winter months. Overall, the Russell Hobbs Fresh Air Mini Compact Dehumidifier is an excellent little dehumidifier that will help to keep damp at bay, and your electricity bills down, through the winter months and beyond.

I began testing the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L dehumidifier by using the Continuous mode after I'd been in the shower to help clear the excess humidity in my flat. As the dehumidifier requires connection to mains electricity it obviously isn't safe to use in the bathroom itself, however, I positioned it in the small room facing the bathroom so it was safely away from any splash risks. However, to help give an overview, here are some key facts it's useful to know before searching for the best dehumidifier for the task in hand. What are the main types of dehumidifier? For more details, you can read our full Russell Hobbs RHDH1061G Portable Dehumidifier review. How to choose

How does a dehumidifier work?

If you want a dehumidifier of a similar power and price point, the slightly more expensive ProBreeze 1500ml Mini Dehumidifier remains our best budget buy, offering a better extraction rate of 0.5L and a larger 1.5L water tank, which means you won’t be emptying it quite so frequently. That said, the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini Dehumidifier is also larger in size, measuring H30 x W22 x D16cm compared to the Russell Hobbs' H22 x W14 x D14cm frame. And, the ProBreeze 1500ml is twice the weight, weighing in at 1.85kg.