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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to use my tumble dryer for all washing now?

120 replies

EmptyTheFrickingBins · 24/08/2026 14:39

I bought a new tumble dryer on Sat after using a really rubbish one for a few years. It didn't work well and I ended up with laundry on clothes horses all over my flat. Even with a decent dehumidifier running 24/7 it led to mould in some places.

Finally decided I'd had enough when it took 7+ days to get a pillow dry and ordered a condenser tumble dryer. It's amazing and gets stuff dry in no time at all. My laundry also doesn't smell faintly musty any more.

I can technically hang washing out but the washing line is by the bins and there's rats in the courtyard too.

Aibu to ditch the clothes horses and just use my tumble dryer exclusively? It'll be about three loads a week including bedding.

OP posts:
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Original poster
EmptyTheFrickingBins · 28/08/2026 10:50

Nothing has shrunk so far. Then again I wash everything at 60 so if it was going to shrink it would have by now 😅😅😅

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 27/08/2026 23:25

friedaklein · 24/08/2026 15:45

How do you all keep it from shrinking your cotton clothes? It shrinks all mine.

Yep! I can only tumble certain items (towels, leggings, jeans etc) and wouldn’t dare risk my handmade skirts or my kids shirts and dresses. I cannot stand it when things I love shrink.

BananaPeanutToast · 27/08/2026 23:16

godmum56 · 27/08/2026 21:38

no shit sherlock?

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She said AIBU to tumble dry ‘all washing’ - so yes, it’s unreasonable, as you’ll ruin some of it 🤷‍♀️

godmum56 · 27/08/2026 21:38

BananaPeanutToast · 27/08/2026 14:03

You will ruin clothes that have the ‘do not tumble dry symbol’. I have friends that insist on tumbling everything and their clothes don’t last. Even cotton things that say tumble on a low heat do tend to shrink. A lot of man made fibre will effectively melt at high temperatures.

no shit sherlock?

Original poster
EmptyTheFrickingBins · 27/08/2026 16:19

CarbootJunction · 26/08/2026 16:31

I bought our first tumble drier for 20 years, at the weekend. I've been drying everything outside on the line, or indoor on the clothes horse, or radiators, for all of that time.
I used it for the first time this morning, because it's pissing down. My life has changed. I adore it. The towel are fluffy. Uniforms are soft and not crusty. I had everything processed and put away in a few hours.
YADNBU.

Right?! I can have stuff washed, dried and out away in a couple of hours rather than a couple of days and it's been a massive relief. I feel so much more organized and my flat isn't full of half dried washing constantly.

OP posts:
TwinklyRoseTurtle · 27/08/2026 14:07

Haven’t rtft but try a dribuddi

BananaPeanutToast · 27/08/2026 14:05

A heated drying rack with a cover can be the answer to more delicate things (you can vary the temperature). Lakeland does good ones.

BananaPeanutToast · 27/08/2026 14:03

You will ruin clothes that have the ‘do not tumble dry symbol’. I have friends that insist on tumbling everything and their clothes don’t last. Even cotton things that say tumble on a low heat do tend to shrink. A lot of man made fibre will effectively melt at high temperatures.

Mamabear487 · 27/08/2026 13:58

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 25/08/2026 12:27

How on earth do you generate so much washing?!

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Honestly I don’t even know although I don’t do washing on the weekend and it piles up. 2 little people, 4 beds to change weekly towels and it’s just a crazy amount 😂 my husband can’t wear anything twice either which is annoying!

tartyflette · 26/08/2026 16:41

I use mine for absolutely everything. Take clothes out when dry but warm and fold them immediately — the only things that need ironing are DH’s cotton shirts and he irons them himself. (They are actually fine but he’s fussy. I never iron anything. )
It’s excellent, a Miele, not cheap but I've had it since 2010.
When we bought it the salesman said to DH - ‘this will see you out!’ And it might just happen…

CarbootJunction · 26/08/2026 16:31

I bought our first tumble drier for 20 years, at the weekend. I've been drying everything outside on the line, or indoor on the clothes horse, or radiators, for all of that time.
I used it for the first time this morning, because it's pissing down. My life has changed. I adore it. The towel are fluffy. Uniforms are soft and not crusty. I had everything processed and put away in a few hours.
YADNBU.

Elsvieta · 26/08/2026 14:03

Yeah, perfectly normal for flat-dwellers. Or people with hay fever who don't want pollen on their clothes, or people who aren't home for at least one full day a week and able to be there to bring it in if it rains. Or people who just can't be fagged hanging it ALL out and then bringing it ALL in (me). Just clean the lint filter regularly and never leave it running when you're out.

caringcarer · 25/08/2026 13:03

I used mine everyday for everything except knickers.

Laurmolonlabe · 25/08/2026 12:51

It will add a lot to your electricity bills.
Pillows always take days to dry,surely that's only a once every 6 months or so job.

Asmileisworthathousandwords · 25/08/2026 12:31

I don't have one for various reasons, cost being one of them, but I admit it's a pain in the winter getting everything dry. ☹️

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 25/08/2026 12:27

Mamabear487 · 24/08/2026 19:51

I do atleast 3 loads a day and 2 go in the tumble dryer. We only got it in Feb after having clothes lines for YEARS. I’ll never go back 😂

How on earth do you generate so much washing?!

maybethisyear · 25/08/2026 11:55

Boomer55 · 25/08/2026 09:19

Other than for stuff that doesn’t tumble dry well, I use mine all the time. I’m not having damp laundry everywhere. 👍

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And for stuff that doesn’t tumble dry well, I tend to lie such stuff on the top of the dryer - the warmth from the machine is enough to get a cashmere jumper dry from damp and enough to dry off trainers that have been around the washer.

Isittimeformynapyet · 25/08/2026 11:25

Catza · 24/08/2026 16:26

Unfortunately, I have a smart meter and can see exactly how much each cycle costs so no way I'd be using it in summer. I'd probably put close horse in the garden (if there is one). But if you are not bothered about the cost, have at it.

CLOTHES horse 😄

I love a good mishearing - I do it a lot!

user1476613140 · 25/08/2026 11:16

Sherararara · 24/08/2026 21:18

You really shouldnt use it on children and pets.

They shrink terribly.

Edited
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Thank you for the laughs I needed this today.❤️🤣 Had the crappest day yesterday.

user1476613140 · 25/08/2026 11:14

Lilyargin · 25/08/2026 08:11

It’s a clothes horse, not a close horse! @Catza

And after the clothes have dried on the close horse don't forget to put them folded up in the chest of draws. 😆

yamsam · 25/08/2026 11:12

I’d definitely use the tumble dryer rather than having clothes on an airer indoors if I couldn’t use the washing line. Clothes take forever to dry inside, especially in the colder months, and I hate that slightly musty smell they can end up with.
Three loads a week doesn’t sound excessive to me either. Enjoy your new tumble dryer!

BertieBotts · 25/08/2026 10:26

AgentCustard · 24/08/2026 16:10

Please tell us which TD you bought- I hate dryers which take 10 hours to give you a sad damp load of washing when you’ve been looking forward to warm soft dry things!

Beko heat pump one (I am in mainland EU so model number is different to UK)

It dries everything soft and warm and without creases in about 90 mins on the cupboard dry + setting.

APurpleSquirrel · 25/08/2026 09:21

I use ours all year round & only hang out stuff that can’t be tumbled or if I want the sun to bleach stains on whites.
We all have hayfever so line drying isn’t advised & we had solar panels fitted last year so high energy bills/usage isn’t an issue.

Boomer55 · 25/08/2026 09:19

EmptyTheFrickingBins · 24/08/2026 15:01

Thank you!

Yes omg my towels are so soft and fluffy now!

My sheets are in now and I have a feeling they're going to be so soft 😁😁

Other than for stuff that doesn’t tumble dry well, I use mine all the time. I’m not having damp laundry everywhere. 👍

Thegreatwhitestillalive · 25/08/2026 08:24

Pistachiocake · 24/08/2026 22:03

In other countries, they call us weird for hanging washing. The only thing is they're meant to be getting rid of some types of tumbledryers, but as long as you have it, enjoy!

Which countries? Only one I can really think of is US? Because afaik Europe mainland and many other areas are mainly hanging washing. Isn't UK right behind US with number of dryers?

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