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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to want a tumble dryer rather than a dishwasher?

101 replies

GreenBaizePacker · 16/04/2016 13:16

Moving house soon and new house has space for one or the other. We currently just have tumble dryer.

DH wants dishwasher. He is chief washer upper.

I want to stay with tumble dryer. I am chief launderer.

The thought of doing towels and bedding without a tumble dryer in winter makes me want to cry.

So AIBU to want to stick with tumble dryer?

OP posts:
Wordsmith · 16/04/2016 22:00

My tumble drier died a few years back and I don't miss it - radiators dry faster and everything's out in the garden in summer.

On the other hand my dishwasher died a few weeks back and the 4 weeks before we got a new one were hell.

Unless you have a small flat with no garden I'd say dishwasher every time.

Original poster
GreenBaizePacker · 16/04/2016 23:54

Oh Lordy. Just shown (drunk) DH this thread and he had a massive paddy about how I don't know how HARD it is to wash up and how EASY it is to do laundry. Yes I fucking do, you knob. I may have laughed st him (also drunk).

He also claims that all washer-dryers are shit.

OP posts:
OutToGetYou · 17/04/2016 01:02

Claiming washer driers are shit is cutting off his nose to spite his face. If he can convince you that a w/d would be OK then he gets a dishwasher.
I conclude he's a bit dim.

MadameDePompom · 17/04/2016 01:09

Dishwasher for me. Without a doubt.

I can take or leave a tumble dryer. Especially since I presume you have a garden and therefore room for a clothes line?

BarbaraofSeville · 17/04/2016 04:18

Dishwasher every time and a decent airer, share the laundry equally with your dh.

MrsBlimey · 17/04/2016 05:41

Get dishwasher and then get heated foldable airer from Lakeland

www.lakeland.co.uk/21736/Dry-Soon-3-Tier-Heated-Tower-Airer

MUCH more eco friendly than tumble dryer and takes up less space.

HeadDreamer · 17/04/2016 05:45

Both. We had a slimline dishwasher and a washer dryer. Then we got a tumble dryer in the conservatory. We use the dishwasher a lot more. We managed to just dry sheets and towels in the washer dryer.

Janecc · 17/04/2016 08:15

Once you've nursed the hangovers Grin I would think he's being very unreasonable to refuse to entertain a washer/dryer and a dishwasher. You are giving him what he wants and you're taking the compromise. If he doesn't like the w/d idea, either veto his vote or get a slimline dishwasher. I'm not the only one unthread that said slimline dishwashers are pretty good and get lots in. Can't remember, do you have kids and how many? That should be a factor in your decision, shouldn't it?

Janecc · 17/04/2016 08:16

Zzzzzz as poster sits and waits til 4pm because op slept in and doesn't have kids.

Therealyellowwiggle · 17/04/2016 09:57

I sold my three tier air dryer and bought a tumble dryer. Just saying.
I've never felt the need for a dishwasher and there are four of us, maybe if your family is bigger.

YesThisIsMe · 17/04/2016 10:06

Drying clothes in the house is really bad for it unless you have a dehumidifier. I had a stroke of genius last year and realised that I could just about fit a condenser tumble dryer into the tiny space under the stairs if we got an electrician to fit a new plug socket. It's been a lifesaver this winter, and because it's just outside the downstairs loo emptying the condenser is a piece of cake. So I'd say you should go round the house with a tapemeasure and look for anywhere - bathrooms, spare rooms, landings - where there's a spare 60cm of space.

lostscot · 17/04/2016 10:13

Got to be a tumble dryer! We moved 18mths ago and as we are renovating the house I'm still waiting on a dishwasher, can honestly say I don't miss one at all! I hated unloading it.

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/04/2016 10:15

Washing up is a hateful job though. Our slimline Bosch held 10 place settings and I could easily fit a days worth of plates and saucepans in it.

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 17/04/2016 10:32

Never had a dishwasher and I like washing up. Music on and I can spend a good hour or so washing up what feels like 3 things haha.

So of course Id say tumble dryer. Ours is in the dining room with the vent going out the window when in use. Before we moved it was in the bathroom.

AlpacaLypse · 17/04/2016 10:36

Haven't read whole thread so not sure if anyone else has suggested this - but could the tumble drier (and indeed the washing machine!) go upstairs somewhere, near the bathroom? After all, where do you normally dress/undress/make beds/need towels for baths?!

5minutestobed · 17/04/2016 10:44

I have a Smeg washer dryer, it is brilliant. Can do a wash and dry in under three hours. It's fantastic.
I don't however have a dishwasher anymore and I miss it so much. I would definitely get a washer/dryer and a dishwasher if I was you OP!

stopfaffing · 17/04/2016 11:09

I'm really interested in this thread, OP.

When I got my new kitchen (seven years ago now) I had a dishwasher put it and it was used daily (kids still living at home). I also had a tumble dryer (in conservatory).

Kids left home four years ago now and since they left we don't use the dishwasher except at Christmas. We cook far less, (and eat out at least twice a week now) use less implements and tend to wash as we go iyswim. If I got a new kitchen now (never gonna happen) I would not have a dishwasher.

However, I love my tumble dryer even though I don't use it regularly. Why? Because of what you originally said in your opening post "The thought of doing towels and bedding without a tumble dryer in winter makes me want to cry."

I live in Scotland, where it rains a lot even in summer Hmm. I don't want to have towels/bedding draped all over the house and have to have heating on to dry it all. Condensation is awful and it looks a mess Angry.

So, tumble dryer beats dishwasher EVERY TIME. Also, they are pretty light and manoeuvrable so you could stick it somewhere (bathroom) and move it elsewhere on the occasions you need to dry big stuff. Get those appliance wheel thingies so it is easier to move.

I sincerely hope you get your tumble dryer, OP. Good luck.

BarbaraofSeville · 17/04/2016 11:20

I suppose how much you value a dishwasher depends how much you cook. There is only me and DP and it still goes on full nearly everyday.

You still need the same number of pans, trays, utensils etc whether you are cooking for one or six and there is no way in hell I am washing up a full dishwasher's worth of washing up or doing a share of this nearly every day.

For washing, it goes on the line outside or on an airer. In winter we do have washing on the airer most of the time, but we do have space to put it out of the way. But yes, think outside the box on dryer location to see if you can get both. We lived for years with the fridge in the dining room so we could get the dishwasher in the kitchen.

RubbleBubble00 · 17/04/2016 11:32

3 kids and a vomiting bug in winter - I kissed my dryer (even more so when they gave it to me and I didn't have to try and hang washing out)

Marynary · 17/04/2016 11:36

I would much much prefer a tumble dryer. Our dishwasher broke a while ago and we haven't replaced it yet as didn't feel that it saved that much. If my tumble dryer broke in the winter I would replace it pretty quickly.

NewStartNewName · 17/04/2016 11:37

Tumble dryer - no contest! Dishes don't take long to do, but bedding and towers all over the house drying drives me nuts.

Catmuffin · 17/04/2016 11:42

Op. Decide which you and your dh hate most out of washing and washing up and buy what you need to help with that.

whois · 17/04/2016 11:45

I would much rather have a DW but it wouldn't be an either or decision.

I would get either an all in 1 washer dryer, or put the dryer somewhere else like the bathroom or the balcony or a spare bedroom.

whois · 17/04/2016 11:46

Claiming washer driers are shit is cutting off his nose to spite his face. If he can convince you that a w/d would be OK then he gets a dishwasher.
I conclude he's a bit dim.

Yeah. W/D aren't as good as separates, but they are better than nothing!

whathaveiforgottentoday · 17/04/2016 12:26

Tumble dryer definitely.
We have a slimline dishwasher for family of 4 and it's great. Put it on once a day but tend to wash saucepans by hand anyway.