Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to buy a tumble drier.

93 replies

alistron1 · 04/04/2014 22:20

I have been without a tumble dryer for 17 years. I have 4 kids and work full time.

Bear in mind that I am well tight, but I have a dream that a tumble dryer will make my life better.

Should I loosen my purse strings, or continue living like a Victorian?

OP posts:
wowfudge · 05/04/2014 09:20

Joysmum - I'd have sent it back ASAP! Vented dryers are quicker and only need the lint catcher cleaning - no emptying water out. If you clean the lint catcher after every use that makes the dryer more efficient.

If you can afford the higher outlay gas tumble dryers are the most energy-efficient. Sounds weird having a gas TD, but my friend swears by hers - her DH is a gas fitter and insisted on it apparently.

Disagree with the comment on Hotpoint TDs - our first was inherited and lasted over 25 years. Replaced it with Hotpoint because it had great reviews, no particular loyalty, and it's performance is impressive. Has a large capacity too.

invicta · 05/04/2014 09:21

Cost of tumble driers running times

www.sust-it.net/energy-saving.php?id=41

wowfudge · 05/04/2014 09:22

Oh and I forgot to say that I really think the cost of running a TD is worth it because of the benefits. It won't double your electricity bill or anything daft like that. It will, however, improve your life Grin

ParkingFred · 05/04/2014 09:25

Get one, definitely.

We use ours every day, all year round. Couldn't be without it.

mizu · 05/04/2014 09:32

Never had one either and debate it every winter.

scarlettsmummy2 · 05/04/2014 10:02

Get one . I have three and can't imagine not having a tumble drier !

Original poster
alistron1 · 05/04/2014 10:06

Is it worth getting a vented one with a condensor collection kit thingy?

OP posts:
ArtFine · 05/04/2014 10:13

I have a condenser dryer and couldn't live without it. It is fab! Get one, you won't regret it Smile

GoblinLittleOwl · 05/04/2014 10:27

Yes , yes , yes! They should be standard issue, free, along with hoovers and dishwashers, from the government to all working mothers. It means you can iron school clothes at eleven o'clock at night instead of waiting until six o'clock the next morning when they have dried. Go for it.

wowfudge · 05/04/2014 11:05

I've read that the condenser kits perform very poorly and affect the efficiency of the TD. Can you put a TD where the vent hose can be put out of the window? TBH if you can position a TD against an outside wall it is not a big job to get a brick taken out and a vent cover put on the outside.

Failing that, buy the best rated (for energy efficiency/performance) condensing TD you can.

Friends bought a TD years ago and didn't have room in their kitchen for it. It went in the shed instead which was wired up (properly!) to the electrics.

Original poster
alistron1 · 05/04/2014 11:32

The gap in my kitchen is too fucking small. So I am going to get a condenser one for the upstairs landing. In your face washing basket. I've also cleaned my washing machine and am doing a service wash. I don't have a life do I?!

OP posts:
Morloth · 05/04/2014 11:45

Biggest condenser you can manage is my advice.

You can always do a small load in a large machine, but you can't do a large load in a small one.

specialsubject · 05/04/2014 12:02

get one if you need one. The unreasonable thing is using it when you have a line outside and a good drying day.

there's been a lot of complaining about pollution over the last few days. The pollution is due partly to excessive energy use.

we all need to use as little power as possible.

BackforGood · 05/04/2014 14:01

Looking at invicta's link - even the most expensive ones are only tipping in at 50p a cycle - my labour costs are worth considerably more than that if you factor them in, before you start on the savings through less time on radiators, the damp penetrating your house, the iron being on, etc.

MrsDavidBowie · 05/04/2014 14:09

Use mine for towels and bedding...it's been on 5 times already today!

MegaClutterSlut · 05/04/2014 15:42

4 dc's and you don't have a tumble dryer Shock how the fuck do you manage without one?!

HypodeemicNerdle · 05/04/2014 17:06

Buy one! I have just got one after two years with 3 kids and no dryer. It was bloody awful. I adore my new (well second hand but new to me!) dryer. The first load of towels out were just divinely fluffy!

sadsaddersaddest · 05/04/2014 17:14

YANBU.
In summer I only use it for bedsheets and bath towels, but it is so convenient!
Ours is in the bathroom and I also use it to warm up the DCs towels when they have a bath.

expatinscotland · 05/04/2014 17:16

We live in the W. Highlands in a flat with no garden. I love our tumble dryer. DS has a vomiting bug and has already done through two lots of bedding and a load of towels.

Original poster
alistron1 · 05/04/2014 17:40

Well, we went out to get one. DP decided that it wouldn't fit in the boot of our Volvo and suggested buying a rotary airer. Lets just say that his idea went down like a sack of shit.

He's now worked out how to fold down the boot seats. The tumble dryer is being purchased tomorrow.

OP posts:
PeanutButterAndMarmite · 05/04/2014 17:51

I live in a fairly hot part of the world and use my tumble dryer even when it's 40° + outside. Life's way too short to waste hanging out washing and then having to iron it. Just make sure you empty it and fold everything quickly so it doesn't crease.

I bought an 8kg condenser and it uses up very little electricity, it's a Bosch and was bloody expensive I have no regrets at all.

motheroftwoboys · 05/04/2014 17:53

Ours died the other day and we replaced it immediately. Hotpoint condensor drier. Only cost 199 including delivery and removing the old one. costs about 45 a year to run - hardly think it is excessive. Dry most things outside in the summer (when we have one) but towels are always tumble dried.

susiey · 05/04/2014 17:56

I also have 4 dc and work buy the tumble drier now it will be amazing!

I tumble all the bedding , towels and kids clothes and now only wash all day on a Saturday and top up wash on a Thurs.

Also kids need less clothes due to having it so cheaper! Also sickness bugs are no longer such a nightmare!

Original poster
alistron1 · 05/04/2014 18:02

At the moment I do 2 small loads mon - Thurs and then spend all weekend doing uniforms etc. The thought of being able to wash and dry and put away in one go is intoxicating.

OP posts:
ContentedSidewinder · 05/04/2014 18:04

What spin is your washing machine?

I have always had a tumble drier (two babies with reflux) and I now have a Beko, 9kg condenser that drains into the same drain as the washing machine (I know yours is going on the landing) and I have a 8kg washing machine.

I had a 1200 spin washing machine but a few years ago I got a 1400 spin washing machine. It made a huge difference!

The amount of time the dryer is on is less than 1 hour per load. So for normal t shirts stuff definitely around 45-50 minutes, for a couple of pairs of jeans in with the rest of the wash it may take 1 hour.

But I put the washing machine and tumble drier on at the same time, so the washing machine is 1hr 55 mins and I leave the stuff sitting in the tumble drier in the heat till I empty the washing machine.

I increase the drying setting up one to do the wash with jeans in.

This is my tumble drier £240 from here

Oh and I find it makes ironing much easier. Enjoy!

Swipe left for the next trending thread