For years, the house I used to rent crumbled every autumn and winter when the wet weather arrived and the dampness kicked in.

I never thought it could get any worse but it did, and every year I tried to find the best hacks to mop up the condensation as much as possible, from Mrs Hinch's advice to viral TikTok finds.

So last year, I was determined more than ever to get ahead of the game to stop the mould coming back as soon as possible – and I think I cracked it without breaking the bank.

How does a plastic £1.39 dehumidifier compare to the electric £200 Swan alternative?

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I went hunting online in early autumn to see what people were reviewing on social media, from home renovation accounts to cleaning and organising influencers (in my opinion, that’s a dream job).

This was mainly to see if I could find a cheaper alternative to my electric Swan model which was bought for around £200 a few years ago, but in all honestly, the horrific cost of energy bills recently put me off using it completely until recently.

Firstly, I discovered a five-pack of 1 Above plastic interior dehumidifiers (500ml) now priced at £6.99 on Amazon, which work out at just under £1.39 each.

They are filled with “hydrophilic crystals” in the tub which help to absorb moisture from the air and last for approximately three months.

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I also came across the Absodry Duo Family Moisture Absorber on Dunelm which was recommended by a couple of lifestyle content creators I follow on Instagram.

This is currently priced at £25 for a cylinder container which holds a 600g bag of moisture-absorbing crystals and also lasts one to three months, depending on the humidity where it is placed.

I was mostly drawn to this because it has a Scandinavian design and minimalistic shape, which reminded me of a sleek smart speaker or radio.

This means you can’t see the stale water or crystals inside as well as any ugly labels – plus, it comes in a variety of cool-toned colours from a dusky pink to olive green and grey.

When you need to empty it (you will see the water line reach “full”), you simply twist the top to open the spout at the side to drain the water away before removing the bag and putting it in the bin.

The Gazette: I have never come across a budget-friendly dehumidifier that works well and looks stylishI have never come across a budget-friendly dehumidifier that works well and looks stylish (Image: Newsquest)

Although the refills cost £10 for a pack of two, this dehumidifier is more eco-friendly compared to the 1 Above version.

I set them both up in the worst rooms of my house along with the Swan appliance.

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To my amazement, I found that the Absodry Duo Family Moisture Absorber completely dried one of my rooms after a few weeks of setting it up, mainly around the window ledge which at one point was just a giant puddle.

The uncontrollable water never returned.

I was still using the same bag for around a month which only began reaching its capacity in one of the dampest parts of my house after four weeks.

The Gazette: This Absodry Duo Family Moisture Absorber should cost around £45 to run per yearThis Absodry Duo Family Moisture Absorber should cost around £45 to run per year (Image: Newsquest)

It did take a while to get going but after some research, I realised that by giving the bag a shake, it helped things speed up.

In total, as well as the first cost of £25 for one bag and a cylinder, buying two packs of two bags each (£20) should last around a year (maybe more due to the summer months) and will cost around £45 - although you may need multiple depending on your situation.

The 1 Above dehumidifier gathered a decent amount of water but nowhere near as much as Absodry did.

It also took a long time to get going and I was aware that these would just get chucked in the bin again and again without being fully recyclable due to the crystals inside.

Whereas with the Absodry Duo Family Moisture Absorber, I felt slightly less guilty not having to replace the actual container every three months.

However, if you are on a budget and not in a hurry, they do eventually work and I would recommend giving them a go.

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I also think an electric Swan dehumidifier is worth investing in if you do have the money and only want to use it on a restricted basis in extreme circumstances.

This is because they are so powerful and work fast for large areas in your house at once.

But it’s no surprise that I saw my electric bill increase.