Relative told my to get rid of my dryer.

[User573836483737]

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 😅

I mean....she could kindly offer to do your laundry for you couldn't she 🤷‍♀️

In your situation with disabled children, you should do what you can to make your life that little bit easier

We didn’t have one in the U.K. but did have a conservatory we could put the washing on a airer to dry. But good god, always having washing hanging around and putting more moisture into already damp houses can’t be good for the house or people.

we have a dryer where we live now, ironically the weather is so good we can dry outside but housing associations don’t allow it. I’ll sometimes put sheets along the fence and get them dry then bring them in before someone complains

Also, drying on a rack indoors day in day out can cause condensation in a small house. Ever see the volume of water in your reservoir in a condenser dryer? Does your smug relative sit in candlelight watching a black and white television?

Family of 5, love my dryer in winter and will give up many things before I give it up. Drying indoors is bad for lungs and quite frankly I don’t want to be surrounded piles of drying laundry! I have a newer one that’s cheaper to run. And it’s my business if I want to use it. Tell her to F off

As an adult you don't need to justify your appliance choices. Or frequency of use.

If your house is damp and you can afford it get a dehumidifier as well, and see if you can sign up for Economy 7. We mostly use ours between 1am and 8am, and its a third off the day rate.

I don't like dryers and don't use it (perosnal hangup). It's weird to be so invested if someone else uses their dryer.

I wouldn't get rid of mine. Pants, socks, pjs, towels, bedding - all much better in the drier. Also 90+% of my 3 yrs olds stuff goes in the drier. Life is too short to hang out socks! We've got the most energy efficient model we can and we have solar panels so I've made my peace with the energy side of it but even without the panels I'd still be using it.

We didn't have space for one in our previous house and it was fine in summer when we could put things on an airer outside but it was a nightmare in winter and damp weather to get things dry. It could take days and then they don't smell amazing either.

Don't let her guilt you OP, especially with disabled DCs. The comments when you were recovering from surgery would make me discount anything she ever said to be honest.

Your time is also of monetary value. It's a waste of a life to be hanging everything up and taking it down all the time.

We have a gas one larger drum, cheaper to run. I line dry when possible but might have to finish off heavy stuff that's still a little damp. They've lasted around 12 years. I wouldn't feel bad about avoiding damp and mould in my home

Your drier, your decision. Simples.

True they are one of the costlier appliances in most peoples homes - amount they use combined with length of time they are on - but they do have a use.

Sadly a smart meter won’t make it any cheaper to run - or anything - despite the hints that they will.

Well next time she 'tells' you to get rid of your dryer. Tell her you won't be doing that.

Why are you even giving her opinion head space.

You need your dryer. You don't have to justify your use of it to her or anyone else.

I don't have a tumble dryer now because I live on my own and can dry my washing on a clotheshorse when the weather is bad, otherwise it's dried outside. But when I had children living at home I would never have been without my tumble dryer.

I can remember my mother bringing washing in from the line in the winter that would be frozen - I was born at the end of the 40s - everything took forever to dry in winter.

Ignore your relative, she's talking rubbish.

I honestly do not get how people live without them if they are in a country that rains most of the year and a house that is never truly toasty. How?!? (Actual question, I try to use as little as I can but in winter it’s so difficult) I honestly think a lot of people are lying when they say they rarely use it. That or they own tons of clothes so can leave them out for days at a time!!!

Are you struggling with cost of living.if not she can leave her advices at the door thanks.
mid you can afford it your relative should be bloody happy for you.relieved.bloody joyous for you in current climate.
the thought of those that won’t be able to dry there clothes is terrible.the damp,even illness rhat will come from that is saddening to say the least.
my relative can’t afford it.but can afford many spares of clothes either so can’t wash and wear on rotation.
her clothes are damp.often smell like it.and having clothes even slightly wet on your skin is both bad for your health and uncomfortable.

the only aside is to do with your boiler.are you not getting a new one due to affordability? If not I’d look into that.an efficient boiler will help both cost and efficiency.

It's none of her business.

FWIW I do have a dryer but rarely, if ever, dry anything from 'straight from the washing machine'.

Unless it's raining, snowing, or foggy, I line-dry.

I try to organise my laundry so large items like bedding and towels are washed on a 'good drying day'.

Even if they need changing, I will put them in the laundry basket and wait for a dry day. We have enough bedding and towels not to need to wash them instantly.

I never put sheets or towels in the dryer unless it's for a quick 10-minutes after a line-dry.

Small items like socks and pants for on the clothes horse in the utility room.
I hate putting clothes on radiators to dry as it creates damp and condensation = opening windows, letting it out and cold air in.

I fucking LOVE my tumble dryer!! It's going to pain me trying not to use it as much!! 😭😭

@stayathomer My Mum is 90 and lives independently. Never had a tumble dryer. Lives in the same house where I lived with my sister till we left home. Everything is line dried, or put on an overhead clothes pulley in the kitchen, which easily takes sheets and bedding. Like me, she avoids doing large laundry items until the weather is right.

I'd been married for several years with 2 toddlers before we got a dryer.

I’m very anti tumble dryers from an environmental point of view. But I wouldn’t tell someone else what they should or shouldn’t do! Very rude of her.

@User573836483737

It's your mum right?

Me and DH both work 50+ hours a week. I leave the house at 5am and by the time I get home I can't be bothered with hanging out washing. We bought a heat pump version but I couldn't cope without it. Line drying is great if you are a homemaker but for those in full time work it isn't feasible.

If you started a conversation about energy usage YABU
if you didn’t YANBU

I use my dryer every day. I’d be telling her to fuck right off!

"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"
She's completely cuckoo! Ignore her completely 🤦🏼‍♀️

Does this relative of yours help you financially with anything? If not, tell her to mind her own bloody business

I have always used a dryer but do hang out in warmer months. I was told by paediatrician to not dry clothes indoors because of youngest ds lung issues.

I am going to try and hang out more in winter on good days and finish off in dryer.