To ask if I should get a spin drier? (a winter laundry thread)

[MagnaTiles]

It's raining here and my mind has turned to drying clothes this winter. Our dehumidifier is broken, and whilst I was looking at replacements, I came across spin driers. Apparently you put in the wet laundry, it spins round at 2800rpm for a couple of minutes, the water drips out into a bucket in a satisfying way, and much reduces drying time/humidity and mould issues. The one I looked at said only 30 watts for a cycle which I find hard to believe?!

It's hard to find out much about them online (which is making me a bit suspicious), and the only person I know who has had a spin drier was my grandma in the 1960s. Does anyone have one, and if you do, does it work? Does it damage your clothes? Could I spin hand-washed wool jumpers in one?

Our house doesn't have damp issues except for wet laundry, so I'm wondering if I could get one of these instead of replacing the dehumidifier, and get the laundry much drier at a greatly reduced energy cost.

Thanks very much!

I didn't even know these existed! Currently lost down a spin dryer review rabbit hole online.

I've been debating buying a dehumidifier but I've been reluctant because I don't/can't dry washing in one place - my airers get carried between the upstairs landing and the patio dependant on weather and I have hangers spread out on several upstairs curtain rails. There's not really one room I can bung it all in and shut the door on.

I'm now seriously considering a spin dryer as it would fit in our (tiny) utility. Thanks for the thread op!

I have one it was my MILS and its amazing in the winter time. Summer time we just dry outside as much as possible.

We also have one at work (i work in a retirement development) it gets used a fair bit and reduces drying time a lot.

It is not the same as doing a extra spin on the washing machine. for starters the extra spin are often 10-15 mins and I don't find it spins it as well as the spinner does.

I wouldn't be without it when ours goes Im getting a new one they are about £200-250 new

They were really common in the 70s before front loader washing machines came along. Also, early noughties when I used to frequent expensive gyms, they had small ones for swimming costumes. Used to come out practically dry. The spin is vastly superior to a front loader spin.

Yes you can spin soapy clothes though I never felt all that comfortable doing it for woollens. The machines used to be designed so you could squirt water onto the clothes through a hose from the kitchen tap, then spin, and repeat. I have never done that though. You can rinse in the sink, spin, rinse again, spin again. Soap certainly doesn't damage the machine, they are really basic.

You do need to balance the load for heavy items like towels (and occasionally hold it steady as it leaps round the kitchen!) but I find my washer drier more scary as it bangs about and runs on forever if the load isn't right.

I am getting spin drier envy! I wonder if we have space....

I have a spin dryer and would not be without it. On a mixed load of washing, I usually get about a pint of water spun out of the clothes. Those of you interested in size, mine is 37cm by 34cm plus the spout which sticks out about another
5 cm

My nana had one back in the eighties, and I'd completely forgotten about it. We were thinking of putting a drier in the shed, but I'm worried about the fire risk. A spin drier sounds perfect!

I’ve just bought a nearly new one on Facebook. So much for not impulse buying 🤣

I have a washing machine that spins at 1400rpm and my spin dryer spins at 2800rpm.

If the drum diameter of the washing machine is larger than the drum in the spin drier, it doesn’t have to spin as fast to achieve the same results.

Hi OP. I'm afraid it would be more effective to spin your washing again in your washing machine. If you calculate the angular force bearing in mind the smaller diameter of the machine, and the fact that you'd have to put less weight (items in at one time) in, even with the increased rpm your force is actually lower in the spin dryer.

I would take your washing out of your machine, shake it about to expose hidden pockets of water and put it back in to spin again on the highest setting.

My mum has one, but she doesn't use it anymore for various reasons, so I'm thinking of borrowing it for a while. It is very satisfying watching it wring out extra water! But I wouldn't use it for knitwear or cotton jersey. Great for jeans, towels, bedclothes etc.

We have one at work, it’s brilliant and cuts down drying time

I’ve just picked mine up. It’s been very useful for drying the washing I left on the line earlier. 🤣

Everything is so much drier than when it comes out of the machine, even after an extra spin

My mum has one and loves it. She's always telling me I should get one too but I don't have space for it. They really do work and are much more effective than an extra spin cycle on the washing machine. Definitely save money on tumble drying.

They are narrow.

Mine is this brand -

Sorry a youtube link as I can't find a picture without linking to a seller

Proper test today. After a wash and long spin cycle in the machine my spin dryer took 350ml of water out of my laundry. No towels or heavy things, mostly cotton shirts. It dried on the line in pretty murky weather in 40 mins.

I’m very impressed. Thanks for posting this thread and to all the contributors sharing their experiences