If you’re looking for a small dehumidifier, then the Russell Hobbs RHDH1061G Portable Dehumidifier is about as compact as it gets, measuring just H22 x W14 x D14cm and weighing in at 0.9kg.

The alternative is a Peltier dehumidifier, which, although not specified, is likely the method the Silentnight 39899 600ml Dehumidifier uses. In contrast to a compressor dehumidifier, a Peltier dehumidifier uses a far quieter thermo-electric process to extract moisture from the air. The MeacoDry Arete One 12L dehumidifier is a great buy for apartments or small to medium-sized houses, and it’s easy to move from room to room thanks to the extendable handle and castors, and compact enough to store easily when not in use.Larger homes, or those with more serious damp issues, may benefit from opting for the MeacoDry Arete One 20 or 25L which offer the same great functionality with an increased extraction capacity. For comparison, Pro Breeze's most energy-effecient comprssor dehumidifier, the Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier, uses 220W to the MeacoDry 12L Arete One's 151W, and costs roughly 6p per hour to run.The Pro Breeze Low Energy dehumidifier also has several other issues that the MeacoDry 12L Arete One does not, as you'll find out in my Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy dehumidifier review.This dehumidifier is really easy to move around. It’s not light, in fact, it weighs 10.9kg, but there is a handy retractable handle situated on the top of the machine, which makes lifting it a lot more comfortable. Rated a Which? Best Buy, Arete is the perfect solution to dealing with condensation, mould and damp problems either in the home, in a garage, in an unheated basement, on a boat or in a caravan. The end result is our quietest, most energy efficient dehumidifier range yet, with a host of special features to make living with Arete a pleasure. The only dehumidifier I've found that does a better job at clothes drying is the Pro Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier with Special Laundry Mode. This powerful 20L dehumidifier made fast work of drying wet washing in my tests, although, it's likely its increased extraction rate helped it in this regard. I haven't tested the 20L MeacoDry Arete One which would likely perform on a par.

The MeacoDry Arete One dehumidifier's Smart Laundry mode also makes it one of the best dehumidifiers for drying clothes that I've tested. There are also hidden castors on the base of the dehumidifier, so rolling the unit from room to room is also an option. I found it rolled well on both hard floor and carpet, unlike many other dehumidifiers of this weight that struggled on carpet. Maintenance All Arete One dehumidifiers come with a medical grade H13 HEPA filter which is 75% larger than the filter on our popular Low Energy models. It can be used to clean the air during dehumidification and as a stand-alone air purifier throughout the spring and summer months. If you’re looking for a dehumidifier that can clear moisture in a larger space or deal with significant damp levels within the home, then you need a dehumidifier with a high extraction rate. 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.Most dehumidifiers are noisy, averaging decibel levels of between 34-48dB. That's because they draw in air via a fan and then use a compressor and refrigerant to cool and condense the air to extract the moisture from it. The downside of the Arete One’s hassle-free approach is that you don’t have as much direct control over fan speeds, timers or noise levels that you get with some other dehumidifiers. As far as I’m concerned this isn’t really a problem, as the Smart controls work so well, but if you’d like to tweak things up and down yourself, then you might consider something else. MeacoDry Arete One review: Should I buy it? If you want to control the humidity in your home without distraction then the Arete range is the market leader for exceptional humidity extraction at a super quiet operating volume.

We should point out that I took these sound readings using a smartphone app inside a home with wooden floors, and that sound levels will vary depending on your carpet, curtains and furnishings. Meaco’s own noise measurements, taken in a sealed chamber using calibrated microphones at 1m from all four sides, measured noise levels at between 38dB and 40dB for the 20L model and 40 and 42dB for the 25L model. The water extraction rate will depend on the temperature and relative humidity. At 10ºC and 60% relative humidity, the dehumidifier can remove 3.4 litres per day; at 20ºC and 60%, it can manage 8.5 litres per day. Beyond that, this dehumidifier is very easy to use, the controls are all really well laid out, and there’s not too much to get your head around when it comes to operating it.That extraction level may not sound like much, and this certainly isn't a dehumidifier that can cope with large damp problems or help to dry washing. But, in practice, our tests found it worked well when left running in the bedroom overnight in our tester's single-glazed Victorian terrace. It reduced the build up of condensation around windows in the morning, and the air in general also felt fresher whenever it was running. It also did really well to help eliminate steam and fumes in the kitchen whilst cooking. Whilst this dehumidifier doesn't offer a specific laundry drying function, we still found it helpful at drying wet washing, although it took longer to do so than the MeacoDry Arete One Dehumidifier or Pro Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier with Special Laundry Mode which both offer a speedy dedicated laundry-drying boost mode. The cheapest and smallest dehumidifiers on the market can often only extract 0.5L of water from the air per day – in many cases even less – but larger and more powerful dehumidifiers can extract up to 25L per day which can make a huge difference to your home's health if you struggle with damp issues and condensation. The water tank is placed at the front of the machine, so if it is pushed up against the wall, you can still access that easily. A dehumidifier isn't the most exciting of household appliances, but it's obvious that attention has still been paid to the MeacoDry Arete One dehumidifier's design. The unit looks both sleek and modern, with simple monochromestyling that blends easily into a room without standing out too much.

Power requirements change, too. The first example draws 179W, while the second one requires 211W. At the maximum draw, the MeacoDry Arete One uses 235W of power. That isn’t unusual for a compressor-based dehumidifier, working out at around 3.3p per hour. I tested the MeacoDry Arete One dehumidifier in a couple of different areas throughout my home to get a good feel of exactly what it could do. For context, I live in a Victorian terrace, so as you can imagine, dampness and mould can be an issue, especially when it’s been raining a lot.

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All that said, the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L dehumidifier still impressed our review team during testing. So, if you’re looking for a powerful dehumidifier with a cheaper upfront cost, the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L is well worth considering.