Finally, a compact dehumidifier that can handle family homes - and it's under £100

Dehumidifiers have a reputation for being big, bulky and a bit of an eyesore, which is why so many of us end up hiding them in a cupboard, or not buying one at all. The Vonhaus 10L Slimline Dehumidifier makes a different proposition. It's sleek and compact, sits on four wheels and has two recessed carry handles, so you can roll it from room to room or carry it up and down the stairs.

What sets it apart from even the best dehumidifiers is how much it packs into that small frame. The 10L in the name is how much moisture it can draw from the air in a day, and my tester Liz found it far more powerful than she expected, working brilliantly in a large open-plan kitchen that would usually call for a much bigger, more expensive unit.

So, if you're battling condensation, mould or washing that never quite dries in the shoulder seasons, this is one to have on your radar. I've asked Liz to put it through its paces in her busy family home, from an extractor-fan-less bathroom and a mould-prone box room to airers full of washing. Here's how it secured a spot in her home.

Vonhaus 10L Slimline Dehumidifier review

• RRP: £99.99 – though on offer for £84.99 direct from Vonhaus at the time of writing
• Dimensions = 27cm wide, needs 30cm clearance for operation
• Weight:
• Speed settings: high and low fan
• Special features: Timer, 3 modes – auto, laundry and sleep, child lock
• Power: Mains powered
• Returns period:
• Guarantee: free 2-year warranty through Vonhaus
• Designed for: 10-15 sq m rooms
• Noise level: up to 44dB

How we test dehumidifiers

Liz, our tester for this dehumidifier is part of our tester network. It's a group of women, just like you, who want quality products that work hard in their homes. She followed all of our guidance for how to test dehumidifiers to give us this review. Here's a little bit more about her and why she's the perfect fit for the Vonhaus 10L Slimline Dehumidifier.

Liz Morrell

"I previously attempted to tackle excess condensation in my home with a basic 2L dehumidifier that cost around half the price of this unit, but it was never very effective," says Liz. We looked at her needs, both for getting rid of mould in the bathroom, but also for drying clothes in her laundry room and decided on the Vonhaus. Here's how it went.

Who would the Vonhaus 10L Slimline Dehumidifier suit?

• Family homes that need power without clutter
• Shoppers looking for excellent value - this is under £100
• Anyone who will use their dehumidifier in communal spaces and bedrooms

Most of our favourite dehumidifiers with this capacity sit around the £150 mark, so at under £100 this one is really good value. Liz spotted that straight away, and she found it "really powerful, especially if you have problem areas of condensation in bedrooms or bathrooms, as I have." She tested it in her open plan kitchen and dining room as well as her damp bathroom with great success, and I'd give it a big tick for tackling medium-sized problems in the average family home. It's definitely one of the best dehumidifiers for bathrooms.

Liz also noted how quietly it runs, which makes it a brilliant choice for bedrooms too. Some dehumidifiers announce themselves with a constant whirr and buzz, but this one is easy to forget about, so you can happily sit it in a room where you eat, sleep or want to have a conversation.

Its compact size also makes it unobtrusive and well suited to smaller homes. When you don't need it through the summer months, it's easy to slot away.

What is the Vonhaus 10L Slimline Dehumidifier like to use?

Dehumidifiers can look fiddly and a common mistake that people make with dehumidifiers is going for the one that looks the most techy. In my experience, straightforward is best - and this one is super simple. Liz found it mostly intuitive: "You simply turn it on, press the power button, select your mode and it's collecting water within seconds." The controls are soft-touch, so go gently. Liz admits, "I was a little heavy-handed with the soft-touch operation buttons at first, not realising they demand a much gentler touch than the firm press I was giving, so initially thought it wasn't very responsive."

There's more to it than it first appears. The humidity level is pre-set to 50%, but you can change it, set a timer, switch between high and low fan speeds and choose from three modes. Auto mode runs the unit when humidity climbs 3% above your set level. Continuous Laundry mode runs regardless of humidity, which is handy for drying clothes. A longer press of the button activates sleep mode, which silences alarms and hides error codes.

It's also easy to live with. Liz says, "It feels well-built and durable and hopefully will withstand the daily use it now faces during the autumn and winter months."

Drying clothes
Damp washing left to dry indoors in spring and autumn, before the heating is on full-time, is a classic recipe for a musty smell. A dehumidifier can help to dry clothes quickly, but it needs to be up to the job, and Liz's open plan kitchen is a big space for the 10L slimline. On paper, she thought she needed something larger. In practice, she says, "Instead, the Vonhaus worked brilliantly."

The proof is all in the performance as Liz cites the example of how hard it had worked on the morning of writing her review. "It pulled out 500ml of water from slightly damp washing and reduced the humidity from 89 to 79 in 45 minutes of operation." Liz is honest that she can't say exactly how much quicker the washing dried, but she noticed the difference in the air: "There was certainly a noticeable difference in water hanging in the air, which given the moisture also created by cooking in the space, was a welcome relief."

Damp areas
Box rooms are notorious for condensation, especially with night-time breathing and limited ventilation. Liz bought her original dehumidifier for exactly this reason, as her son's room has an occasional damp and mould problem in extreme cold. It hadn't appeared during testing because the weather wasn't cold enough, but she's optimistic: "Once it does, I'm now confident I can clear the room quickly, without the effort it took before."

Bathroom condensation
Bathrooms without extractor fans are among the trickiest rooms to keep dry, and mould-resistant paint and a window vac can only do so much. Liz tried both, and the window vac still meant work for her afterwards. With this dehumidifier, "The bathroom is clear again in less than an hour and it's so satisfying to pour the water down the sink, knowing it would otherwise have settled and created more mould."

Cleaning, storage and maintenance

One of the things that it's good to know before buying your dehumidifier is that the 10L in the name refers to how much moisture it can draw from the air in a day. The reservoir holds only 1.6 litres, so in very damp conditions you could be emptying it up to five times a day. Emptying is simple, though, and Liz says, "The drawer slides out and you pour the water away." The unit beeps and pauses when it's full. In sleep mode it won't sound an alarm, but the full-tank light comes on.

If you'd rather not empty it, the 1m drainage hose allows continuous drainage. That's useful for drying washing, for running overnight in a very damp room, or for when you're out. Liz's biggest surprise was its power: "Underestimating its power was my biggest learning, because it drew far more water, much faster than my previous dehumidifier had ever done."

Maintenance is minimal. The filter should be cleaned every fortnight, either by vacuuming the dust off or washing it in mild soap and water and drying it fully before reinstalling. Liz reports, "In all my testing this didn't get dirty at all."

It's compact and mobile too, on four wheels with two recessed carry handles. Liz says, "I found a spot next to my bathroom and a plug socket, allowing me to quickly and easily roll it into action."

Should you buy the Vonhaus 10L Slimline Dehumidifier?

If you live in a busy household in a small or medium-sized home and battle condensation, mould or slow-drying washing, this is a strong pick. Liz agrees: "I would definitely recommend this product for anyone living in a busy household in a small or medium-sized property who wants to tackle condensation or rid their home of that damp feeling in the air when drying washing inside, especially if they have problems with mould, as I have." She sums it up simply: "It has become an essential in my home and is in daily use."