To think putting clothes in a dryer is a complete waste of money unless it's raining outside

[emmeline25]

I have a lot of laundry to do each week. I bought a large washing machine and dryer so that I could do one load of washing a week. I do my laundry every Friday morning.

Friday morning, as I was putting my laundry on the line, my new neighbour mentioned that it was only 10degrees celsius today. I explained that as long as it's not raining, my laundry goes out on the line. When I got back from work my clothes were completely dry. It was only 10 degrees but the wind had dried them.

If I know it's going to be raining on Friday I put the wash on, on a different day. If the forecast is for rain all week I use the dryer. The dryer has been used about 10 times in the two years I've lived in this house.

Even in very cold weather , clothes will dry. It doesn't have to be a hot sunny day for them to dry. Yet among my friends and neighbours the dryer is used weekly and clothes only put out in the summer. Some of my friends use the dry on very hot days!!!

I lived in a flat for two years and had no choice but to use a dryer then. I hated it and ended up putting a communal washing line in the grounds.

I find when I do use a dryer, even on the lowest setting it can shrink and damage clothes. Clothes definitely don't last as long as when line dried. Driers also cost money. Okay it's only 30p-50p per load but still, if you can line dry I just wouldn't bother. I also absolutely love the smell of line dried clothes. I have always been brought up with line drying though.

So, AIBU to think if it's not raining and you have a garden with space for a clothes line, putting clothes in the dryer is a waste of money?

i dry quite a bit indoor. have set of lines put up quite high in utility which does the work beautifully. no mould or anything, its a new house with great ventilation. there is even an extractor fan in utility if need be. thats where i used to dry cloth nappies when required (except summer of course when i line dry). bits and pieces like towels, beddings, certain work clothes etc will go in dryer. wouldnt put karate/judo gi in dryer as i find it shrinks them and damages them and my mother has never put mine in dryer :) i have a washer dryer which i think is pretty perfect for my use and i use soap nuts so very cheap and cheerful LOL to each their own. definitely couldnt be bothered to line dry in winter with working FT and whimsical weather!

Towels, sheets and jeans in tumble drier. Everything else on Lakeland heated airer with cover on and window of room open a crack. Job done.

But line drying is our go to in the summer.

3 loads a week?

You're cute, OP.

I have about 60kg of laundry a week. That's a lot of stuff to potentially have to chuck out prematurely because I can't get rid of a musty smell. Drying as quickly.as.possible is far cheaper

You're starting a few controversial threads, aren't you OP?

I use drier for towels, bed sheets and when I'm in a hurry. It's also not a great idea to dry really big wet stuff inside as it makes the room damp.

The Op is being deliberately provocative imo... Does she really think we all have time and inclination to plan our washing and drying around the UK's weather in autumn and winter? It only really works if you don't go to work, and base your life and diary around washing...

Line-drying even if you work and have lots of children is perfectly possible if you keep an eye on weather forecasts. ( I worked with someone who had six children and always hung laundry out). No harm in leaving it out overnight and collecting in next day. And even if it does rain, it will dry eventually.
It also lessens need to iron as creases fall out in breeze. And nothing beats the smell of air-dried laundry. It is also good for the environment.

Line-drying even if you work and have lots of children is perfectly possible if you keep an eye on weather forecasts.

I don't think relying on the weather forecast works that well. If it is only going to rain for 15 to 20 minutes it often won't register on the forecast but will still soak clothes.

My dryer gets used every day unless it's properly sun shining (which it rarely is, even in summer) - it costs far too much in electric and we are struggling financially but I see it as my treat because it makes life so much easier - things that can't be dried in dryer I hang on airer but lots of people hang washing out in the colder, but dry, weather - your washing, your business

I don't see the problem if you have a green energy supplier so there's no eco guilt. My family of 4/5 needs at least three 9kg loads a week just to keep on top of things and the weather is not reliable enough for the majority of the year. My tumble dryer means everything is ready again in 30 minutes and the condensing tank means I don't have to worry about sticking a tube out of the window. I love my dryer and soft soft towels

I can do around 38 washer loads per week. I don't have time to not only peg every item on a line. I don't have a line long enough.
I also don't iron anything.

Just 1 bed will take up 1-2 washer loads, (4 beds= at least 4 washer loads per week). How do you manage with only 2 washer loads per week

38

how do you cope with nearly 6 loads per day.

the sheets and covers from one bed dont need to be washed separately unless they are emperor size.

Before having tumble drier we have lovely high ceilings in Victorian flat so I could hang and entire massive load up high though it did get a smell from cooking. Also had to put extra stuff usually socks on radiator.

Now in a modern house I have limited space to hang clothes inside to dry. I do washing in evening so cannot hang outside therefore tumble drier is only option

During summer I will hang outdoors at weekend

38
you must have the tiniest mashine available or do you run a b&b?

I am more amazed you can do your washing on one day. I do 2 loads at least every day (5 of us)
I leave mine out on the line all day but this time of year it never dries. So it all comes in and gets hung in front of my Aga at night and dries while everyone sleeps. I'd love a tumble drier though.

Completely with you OP. I have three boys, husband and job. Dry outside as much as poss, hate laundry hanging around the house and gave away our condenser drier (given to me as a present when oldest was born 13 years ago) as I never used it

I use my dryer each time... Downstairs in the garden is a perfectly good whirlygig ... Said whirlygig belongs to my downstairs neighbour who I share the garden with (maisonette so no one else on our side) when I moved in she was very quick to lay claim and let me know I was not allowed to use it and made it clear there is no room to put another for me. I've lived here 3 years now and she's used the line twice so I grudgingly load the dryer each time whilst looking longingly at the unused line so for that reason I think yanbu. I do get a little twinge of satisfaction each time I turn it on though and the thing rattles away on my tiled kitchen floor for a couple of hours

38 loads of washing per week? you fool.

I can do around 38 washer loads per week

No you don't.

I've found a whole new realm of people on this thread I have to say. I've never considered not having a dryer. I thought it was a hardship when our dryer was in the garage not the utility room as there wasn't a ventilation hole thingy. I hated lugging washing baskets a whole 10 metres and into the cold. When FIL made a hole for us, and the washer and dryer sat side by side for the first time, I swear I nearly cried tears of joy. And then I come on here to find people with families of 5 don't even own one at all

Mind. Blown.

Still love my dryer. Think I'd probably give up DH before I give up my dryer

Pinky with these new fangled condenser dryers, you don't need a hole. You can have a dryer in the living room or bedroom with you, if that floats your boat.

A friend of mine had the choice of either a dishwasher or a tumble dryer. They didn't have space for both. I was astonished when they picked a tumble dryer over a dishwasher because I'd never had one and couldn't see the point. I thought dishwasher would save you a job every day, whereas a dryer would save you a job a couple of times a week maybe. I, too, only had space for one and picked the dishwasher.