Tumble dryer advice

[EachandEveryone]

It’s just me at home but I have cancer and a horrible leakage so I am washing every day. I have no garden and the washing drying is getting me down now. I can’t get one plumbed in but I have a space in my kitchen for a free standing one it’s next to the window so I could put a pipe out there if I go for an old style or should I get a condenser? I’ve never had one before so don’t want to make a mistake. I wouldn’t be drying straight from the washing machine

In my last home I had a free standing vented dryer, it was brilliant and never damaged anything. When we moved I had less space so went for a washer/ dryer. The dryer is a condenser and even if I use the delicate setting it damages and shrinks lots of fabrics. I only use it for towels now and bought a dry buddy for everything else. I dont like the dry buddy much as it takes up space and I feel like it turns my house into a laundry- I need to keep adjusting hangers within the dryer. If you have space for a vented dryer I would definitely get one. I dont understand when you say you wouldn’t be drying straight from the washing machine though

Condenser or heat pump take longer to dry and need emptying but cost much less to run. The emptying is pulling out a long tank (you can try this in an appliance store) and tipping it into a sink.

Vented are faster but use more electricity. I would also think about the lost heat from having the window open for the pipe. But it's which of these you prefer.

We recently bought a vented dryer having never had one before and it’s been life changing - no longer have heaps of washing hanging round the house, can get a load dry in a few hours, can do an emergency load if I need to for any reason without worrying about how I’ll dry it.
Ours is in our garage so we had to go vented because it’s quite cold out there but I’m very happy with it.

A condenser is fine, but a heat pump is best if running costs are a factor, and they are much gentler on fabrics with the lower heat used.

PP is referring to their experience of a condenser in a washer/dryer. They are notoriously bad at drying.

What do you mean about not drying from the washing machine? Are the items hand washed? Can you run them on a spin in the washer to remove more moisture before drying?

Sorry you are going through a tough time.

I have a condenser for the last 2 years. I find it good. I haven't had any issue with my washing machine since

I will still hang up to get the worse water off it then I will finish off in the dryer. That’s what I’m thinking. I’m not too bothered about running cost but I don’t want to pay more than £500 for the machine

If you can manage to put a vented with long tube out of a window then that.
Condenser has the tank which you have to empty, if you can manage it tho?
If you've got anyone that could help as they do get heavy. Less so if you tip it out after every use.
Also if you get a condenser one make sure the tank is at the top of the machine not the bottom where you have to bend down.
With condensers you can plumb them in if your gap is near the kitchen sink.

If you could give me some brand names it would be great. I can’t get to a show room

In your situation I’d get a condenser dryer, one where the reservoir is at the top.
https://ao.com/product/dtlce70051w-beko-condenser-tumble-dryer-white-76378-18.aspx

You’d be better to give the washing an extra spin then straight into the dryer so you don’t have damp washing hanging round the house which can be very unhealthy unless you also have a dehumidifier.

I think you can get all types for less than £500, but the vented ones are the cheapest to buy.

I'm happy with my Beko one. There are not many manufacturers of vented dryers these days. (Mine is heat pump).

Sorry ignore what I said about plumbing in, just re read your question.
I have a very basic Indesit IDC8T3

I use it for smalls, towels and to finish off stuff.
I move things around alot from my rads to the dryer and vice versa.
A pair of jeans no id radiator dry as I can't afford any shrinking.
Wishing you well x

Bosc series 4 condenser
Fantastic
in your price range
i dry straight from washer (Also a Bosc)
Even a full towel load dry in less than 90 minutes.
love mine.

I have a heat pump one with condenser. It’s a Bosch. It has the water container at the top so it’s easy to empty.

I once managed to get a very basic condenser tumble dryer for £100 from Argos for a flat I was renting and it was fantastic. Because they don't need plumbing in you can put them anywhere sensible - just bear in mind that they are heavy, hot, and noisy. If you want to get things as dry as possible otherwise then dehumidifiers work really well, as does an oscillating fan pointed at the washing in a room with the windows open. Wishing you well 💐

Sorry about your cancer. we do a lot of washing

if you can manage a condenser then it would be better than putting pipe out the window which is a hassle and means for security you have to think about times window is open
vents are faster but more expensive
I always buy Bosch - don’t buy a cheap one we rent and all landlords cheap ones have needed call out visits.

£500 is a good amount for a dryer you’d easily get a Bosch for that

have a look at how many kilos your washing machine can take you can then consider the smallest size your dryer can be

A condenser tumble dryer is great. I’ve been using one for years. You can get one for about £250-£300. I put virtually everything in it straight from the washing machine. Clearly uses more power than having clothes hanging all over the house, but I couldn’t be without one!

Make sure the water collection container is at the top to easily pull out, and that the fluff collection container is easy to get out too.

I’ve had my current tumble dryer nearly 20 years.

I’ve never had an ‘old-style’ one. Seems a lot of messing about with pipes out of the window!

I have a Bosch one too.

get a heat pump where the water goes into the tray. You just empty it between each load. No need to hang the clothes up before putting them in. Make life as easy as possible for yourself. Feel better soon

I've used a condenser tumble dryer for at least the last 20 years and they are fine. My current one is a Bosch Serie 4. The water container is at the top on the left so that could help if getting down to floor level is a problem. The condenser itself though, which you do need to clear out and rinse now and again is at the bottom though.

Like you, I normally just use it to finish off the drying process and rarely tumble dry a full load from start to finish. It's fine.

I just need the treatment to start working it’s been three years now. I feel like I stink and my bed clothes especially.

I find my Nordmende one good. It's a budget brand but works great. Has an A+ energy efficiency rating and a big drum

I have one with a tank that you empty. It's brilliant. You can put it in any room you feel like. Ours is in our spare room.