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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want a tumble drier. Total first world problem.

143 replies

Discopanda · 07/04/2016 00:36

We've recently moved into a new house, garden is big with one of those long, extendable washing lines. DP (who doesn't do the laundry) wants to get a 2nd hand tumble drier despite us living in the south of the UK and getting plenty of sun. I think it's a waste of money!

OP posts:

MrsDeVere · 07/04/2016 10:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alltouchedout · 07/04/2016 10:32

I don't have one and I have 3 dc (the youngest 16 months) and live in rainy Manchester. The reason we don't have one is mostly cost (and space- we could get one in the shed but it would not be secure and whilst I don't think it would be easy to steal due to bulk and weight you never know). I have a heated clothes airer though. It makes a massive difference when it's been raining for days and you desperately need a set of school uniforms dry by morning.
I'd get one in a bigger house with no worries about electricity bills though.

diddl · 07/04/2016 10:37

Well that's me corrected!

I'd probably find loading/unloading a dryer harder work!

lljkk · 07/04/2016 10:41

I am ecofreak & object to TDs on environmental grounds, as well as cost. YANBU.
And it's handy how washing lines don't tend to burst into flames.
I grew up with TD in the house in 1970s, still very annoyed with that (hot dry climate... where they now have regular energy crises & STILL only poor people hang laundry out, sigh).
DH does 90% of our laundry, mind the sexist stereotypes.

MrsDeVere · 07/04/2016 10:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TattyDevine · 07/04/2016 10:47

This thread amuses me.

It's one of those have one, don't have one type arguments like the humble toilet brush, but possibly capable of the same controversy, but only on this forum of course.

I would say my friend who has no tumble dryer is rather obsessed with getting her washing on the line and strangely triumphant when she manages to get a whole load dry without it being rained on. She is constantly glued to her weather app though.

Sanchar · 07/04/2016 10:49

How can carrying a basket to the machine and tipping it all in be harder work than bending up and down, holding arms up and clipping stuff on over and over again

I love my dryer. Only use it in the winter though as drying in the house sets dds asthma off.
Glad the drying weather is finally on its way, bit too hit and miss at the moment though, my sheets have been on the line for days now as they keep being rained on.

YakTriangle · 07/04/2016 10:50

If you have banisters and airers and drying space it's not needed. If you don't have space to dry stuff, then I guess you need one.
I don't like them TBH, I think they shrink clothes, make tshirts very strange shapes and cost a lot in electric.

MrsDeVere · 07/04/2016 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LunaLunaLovegood · 07/04/2016 10:51

Hanging out washing is shit. I got the DC to hang some washing out on Sunday as it was sunny. Then it rained while we were out. Since then, whenever I have been at home, it has been rainy or dark or both. So the washing is still on the line.

Tumble dryers are great. Put washing in, switch on, it switches off when everything is dry and then it stays dry until you want it. Plus not covered in pollen from being outside.

imip · 07/04/2016 11:00

I have 4 dcs 9, 7, 6 and 4 and have never owned a tumble dryer. I've never had one (though my mum did), but we manage just fine. It did all get a bit tricky once we had 3 dcs, but getting a heated rail from Lakeland saved us. I can hang 2x7kg loads and it will be reasonably dry overnight. I stay pretty much on top of laundry really well. I have fussy dds, a couple (with asd and suspected asd) needs to change there pjyamas every night, which adds to my washing enormously.

Sometimes I feel like my loads consist entirely of only female knickers.

I have admirable skills in keeping on top of my laundry, I'm am absolutely shit at everything else!

NickyEds · 07/04/2016 11:01

They cut down ironing too, my MIL irons everything, underwear, towels, bedding, tea towels...The lot. I'm sure a lot of that is just to get it fully dry. She talks with great fondness of having lines full of Terry towel nappies but I'm guessing she spent half her life dealing with bloody laundry.

bluejasmin · 07/04/2016 11:01

I finally caved and got a tumble dryer last year , for drying sheets , towels , and all the annoying small things like socks and pants etc it's brilliant.
If it's sunny I do hang things out as I love the smell of washing that's been in the fresh air but I live in Yorkshire so sunny days are few and far between .
I haven't noticed my electric going up in price I think most modern appliances are pretty good these days .
If he gets one you don't have to use it but once you've gone to the dark side with the warm fluffy towels ....

imip · 07/04/2016 11:01

I'd prefer hanging clothes out, it comes naturally as I am Australian! But I have a small London courtyard...

InsufficientlyCaffeinated · 07/04/2016 11:10

I don't have one and wouldn't have one. Love hanging out washing at this time of the year, just those 5 minutes out in the garden in the sun with the birds singing while I hang out is a nice part of my day.

Not so pleasant in the winter but I make use of the radiators, have drying racks. It's easier if you live near to a launderette in winter as then you can take a load to the drier. Used to do that in my old flat. Takes quite a few runs before you're anywhere near the cost of a good drier including electricity to run the thing anyway

SwedishEdith · 07/04/2016 11:15

Our bills have goes down since we got a dryer.
Cannot rely on line drying in the north west.
I can breathe clearly since stopped having wet clothes around the house.

Think you're getting worked up about nothing OP.

NickyEds · 07/04/2016 11:18

My dryer costs something like 32p a go to run so, whilst not free like the wind, it's not so bad and definitely cheaper than having to switch heating on specially to dry washing. Last week my kids both did spectacular vomits in their cots, as they were both at it several times in the night, I had to take a fresh bedding set straight out of the dryer. I was very grateful for it then!!

FinallyHere · 07/04/2016 11:33

We have space for drying , in a house which is kept pretty warm so drying seldom lasts longer than overnight. I still use the tumble drying for lovely, fluffy towels ( wash, no conditioner and tumble dry is the only way to get the lovely, fluffy towels that some in fancy hotels) and very,very occasional emergencies when something needs washing but i want to wear it again right away.

It's the towels that justify the dryer...

parmalilac · 07/04/2016 11:46

I resisted getting one until about a year ago, got a bit fed up with washing all over the house in winter. We don't use it for everything, it can be hard on some clothes, and can shrink some things, so be careful with settings. I agree with others that what you use in electricity you save on ironing! Even just 10 mins in the drier then hanging stuff up in the utility room can mean ironing isn't necessary and things dry much faster having had that initial blast.

Voteforpedr0 · 07/04/2016 11:48

To those that say it's more expensive, it costs more to use central heating as a way to dry laundry, not to mention the wet washing on rails indoors significantly contributes to mould and damp problems. Wouldn't be without my dryer, I use it for at least 2 loads a day.

foragogo · 07/04/2016 11:51

Can I just say again to the ecofreaks - heat pump condenser dryers:

"What is a heat pump condenser tumble dryer?
A heat pump dryer is a type of condenser dryer. These dryers are extraordinarily energy efficient, as they recycle heat in the process of extracting moisture - resulting in energy efficiency ratings of up to 6 stars (the best possible)."

Not cheap but prices coming down

lljkk · 07/04/2016 12:03

MrsDV: you're the one who wrote
"I dont get the tumble dryer hatred. IME it usually comes from men who object to their wives 'wasting money' on one"

if that's not gender role stereotyping, then what is??

Never mind the feigned pity for women unfortunate to fall on certain dicks, the recurrent descriptions of how everyone's mother handled the laundry (never a dad), etc.

diddl · 07/04/2016 12:04

I'm not saying that it is harder work to use a tumble drier.

I personally don't find hanging washing up/out hard work, just a bore as is all housework

Once a load of washing is out/up, I can forget it for a few hrs/days.

Sorry for the misunderstanding MrsDeVere.

I've always thought of a chore more as "a difficult or disagreeable task"

oliandmimismummy · 07/04/2016 12:15

I have also never had a tumble drier. In the winter I hang my washing up in the garage as there is enough air circulation. I actually saw my MIL do that and decided to try it out. Everything dries from one day to the next, no more than 24hrs even thicker articles.

cozietoesie · 07/04/2016 14:28

I try to dry outside in the garden if it's possible - in our climate, sadly, it often isn't. I guess that before dryers were invented, people didm't wash clothes as much?

I start to use it in the dog days of Autumn when the rain means that laundry doesn't dry. I also use it to 'finish off' stuff that's more or less dry but might eg need some cat hairs removed/ just need some help. It's a pig on the power bills but then I don't need the dehumidifier so much to prevent condensation. If you're halfway draft proofed, just think how much water drying inside is putting into you air.

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