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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Relative told my to get rid of my dryer.

156 replies

User573836483737 · 01/09/2022 21:00

probably the most pointless post today...

I get, dryers are expensive. I'm not denying that and many people are trying to save energy, if you can do without a dryer - excellent, I wish I could use mine less. Mine is a relatively new and should be a more energy efficient model compared to older models . Not sure how much it's costing exactly though. I line dry as much as I can. Getting a smart meter in soon so be interesting to see.

Relative is generally hot on not using much energy anyway, even before all this energy crisis. For years they've not turned on heating or used a dryer (despite owning one). Over the years she's come over when it's tipping down with rain and told me to turn the dryer off and put the washing out on the line - in the rain. Or on another occasion she came over when I was recovering from major surgery and told me to stop being lazy and put my washing out on the line despite that I wasn't meant to do be doing much, it was easier to shove everything in the dryer.

now she's telling me I won't be able to afford it this winter and get rid - if only. She seems to hate on dryers.

for me a tumble dryer is a life line, due to the lovely weather we've had I've not been using it much but come winter I will be for sure.

I have two kids, they are both disabled and create a lot of laundry. drying everything indoors on airers is not feasible, for one the amount of laundry I have to do each day (full load at least every day) and we don't have a lot of room and already have a damp problem. Our heating system is on the blink - need a boiler so it would be impossible to dry and would remain damp and smell.

I don't put everything in the dryer. Many things aren't suitable or I don't want to shrink so I use an airer for quite a lot of it, just not all. It's ideal for pants, socks, PJS etc. things like school shirts etc I air dry!! Jeans I usually put on airer for a day or so then finish off in the dryer!

I get the whole 'well we coped without years ago'

but yes anyone else rely heavily on a dryer? And would find it impossible not to use one? Even in an energy crisis??

it's probably the worse thing that could go wrong in my house. Last year my old one went wrong on the coldest days of the year and no dryer for a few days was hell, nothing was drying. It's up there with the machine going wrong!

and yes I must be boring to post about tumble dryers 😅

OP posts:
User573836483737 · 01/09/2022 21:01

Told me **

OP posts:
EllieRosesMammy · 01/09/2022 21:03

Like hell would I ever get rid of my dryer. We are a family of 4 (about to be a family of 5) ours is on basically every day 🤷‍♀️

skittlesrainbows · 01/09/2022 21:04

Tell her to bog off and mind her own business.
I'll still be using my dryer even with everything that's going on. With 3 kids it's an essential item in my household, especially over winter.

womaninatightspot · 01/09/2022 21:04

Ugh I’d just ignore, polite smile, that won’t work for me and move on.

MrsDanversRidesAgain · 01/09/2022 21:05

Does your relative pay your electricity bill? if they do, fair enough. If they don't then thank them for their opinion and ignore it.

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/09/2022 21:06

womaninatightspot · 01/09/2022 21:04

Ugh I’d just ignore, polite smile, that won’t work for me and move on.

Not after she called post op OP lazy?! She sounds like a right piece of work. Are you related? She sounds boring, hectoring, critical and unpleasant.

I use my drier as little as possible but when it’s raining and the linen needs drying I’m using it.

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/09/2022 21:07

Sorry, you literally say she’s a relative 🤦‍♀️

She needs to stop giving you grief or I wouldn’t be having her over.

InChocolateWeTrust · 01/09/2022 21:07

I'm the same OP. I've tried really really hard to cut back using it but in winter we'd just end up running the heating loads to dry things on radiators. I have an energy efficient heat pump dryer which hopefully helps.

I know people didnt have driers in the past but expectations were different and lets face it people were less clean. I'm by no means washing towels every day (I'm at the other end of the spectrum!) Yet as a family of 4 we still get through at least 4 loads of washing a week including bedding, towels, tea towels.

Lcb123 · 01/09/2022 21:08

I’ve never had a dryer but find it so bizarre that your relative cares so much about you using yours? Great if it works for you!

SnackSizeRaisin · 01/09/2022 21:08

We have a dehumidifier instead but I don't know if that uses less energy than a dryer. It is very effective and helps with general damp as well of course. Stuff dries in about 24 hours and we do 2 loads a week (family of 4).
Only use it in winter.

Chakraleaf · 01/09/2022 21:08

I have 4 kids
Not used a dryer in a year.

However....I do think its none of the relatives business. I'd stop inviting them over.

Singleandproud · 01/09/2022 21:08

On my smart meter last winter on days I'd run my dryer all the electric came to just over £4 - not much different to using a launderette I would expect, probably be £6 a day for me this winter

I aim to do my washing in the evening, air it overnight and pop it in the dryer to finish off if necessary in the morning which will heat the place up too. To be fair, I've bought DD uniform for everyday and extra pe kit which are the things I normally have to emergency wash so I should be able to do a big uniform wash on a Friday and it'll be dry for Sunday (hopefully) on the airer.

A580Hojas · 01/09/2022 21:10

Are you an adult? Why is this other adult even telling you what to do? Why are you taking any notice?

ODD!

LateAF · 01/09/2022 21:10

I didn’t have a dryer until 3 years ago and now we have one it’s hard to remember how we managed. One of my children wets the bed quite frequently, so we have bedding that needs washing and drying almost daily. It would be one of the last things I got rid of as I view it as essential for keeping the home running in winter.

Aquamarine1029 · 01/09/2022 21:10

You're unreasonable because you haven't told her to fuck off yet.

Dotcheck · 01/09/2022 21:11

You don’t have to listen to her. I’m assuming mother/ mother in law ?

GrandSlamFinalee · 01/09/2022 21:13

I don’t have a dryer, don’t see a need for it personally and I cope just fine with the washing.

But. I would never tell someone else what to use or not use in their own home. YANBU.

Hotandbothereds · 01/09/2022 21:14

I don’t have a dryer but I couldn’t care less if anyone else does - your relative needs to mind her own bloody business!

Next time she brings it up just shut down the conversation, say I really don’t want to keep discussing the dryer, I’ve heard what you have to say but you won’t change my mind and it works for my family, and refuse to discuss it again.

Orangesare · 01/09/2022 21:14

I have a dryer but I’m very mean about using it. I also have a back garden that almost always has a stiff breeze blowing in.
We have a wood burner and numerous winter dykes but even I resort to the dryer at times between November and February.
To successfully dry washing in the winter you need a wide open space not small back yards.

MrsDanversRidesAgain · 01/09/2022 21:14

Say you'll run the washing over to relative's place for them to do.

Frazzled2207 · 01/09/2022 21:14

I too struggle to understand why she’d be that interested
just ignore
fwiw wr are a very energy conscious family. Dh is very “anti-dryer”. We haven’t used it since we moved -March, it’s still in the garage.
i will be very conscious this winter for obvious reasons but I still guarantee at some point(s) it will be on!

BooksAndChooks · 01/09/2022 21:14

Family of 6 here. We have a dryer but very rarely use it. Hang everything up inside on airers and over the banister etc, or out on the line. I don't think I'd really notice if the dryer packed in.

But I agree with everyone else, it's none of your relative's business.

ivykaty44 · 01/09/2022 21:15

You'll be looking at a tumble drier costs approx £2 per cycle - so if you dr your clothes in the machine one load per day every day that'll set you back £14 per week

£56 per month

Yellowblanketofdoom · 01/09/2022 21:15

I never used to have a tumble dryer until recently. I could manage easily without one and we do a full machine load of washing a day.

That being said, I have plenty of things I am not prepared to cut back on or sacrifice in the name of 'saving' a couple of quid.

Cheeselog · 01/09/2022 21:15

Are you complaining about your energy bills to her?