Another electric one (might be helpful)

[Singlebutmarried]

Hands up if you’re super lazy and tumble dry everything?

I experimented and went a month with only using it for towels and bedding.

Comparing the kWh Aug-Sept then same period Sept-Oct we’ve used 150 kWh less.

On our current tariff that works out to be £52.59 less (we’re on a fix of 35.06p per kWH). I was actually surprised as I’d never added it up before.

When we looked at our yearly useage it’s above average so we stand to save 1800 kWh just by ditching the dryer. Our useage is currently 6412 per year (based on last year)

We’ve also invested in an airfryer (1 month of not tumbling as much has covered the cost on that) so oven useage will be a lot lower too.

It’s a challenge now to see how low I can get it.

This month will be not using the dryer at all to see if I can improve on that at all. I’m aware gas useage may go up to help with the drying of clothes - I can heat only the room with the clothes airier in rather than the whole house (compared to the same period last year we’ve used less though 11 units of gas this vs 18 units last year) I’m thinking last year was colder as according to FB we’d already lit the fire by now too.

I’ll admit to never really thinking too much about it before, but now I’ve set myself a goal and I’m going to get useage down even more.

I only tumble dry sheets. The rest goes on the radiators as our gas bill is low and it is just me and 17 year old ds. Even towels go on the radiators.

Why do you think doors were invented? For hanging sheets over the top

I've only ever tumble dried bedding, towels and underwear - not because of cost but because we are a family with long arms and long legs so can't afford for our clothes to shrink when drying! Everything else goes on the washing line or clothes maiden.

In an attempt to cut electricity usage now I am trying to dry everything on the washing line and if necessary just finish off in the tumble drier for a quick 10 mins (still got vented drier which dries very quickly).

I'm glad I don't have a tumble dryer! Our electric is less than 1200 a year for the two of us. We dry bedding and towels over the banister or bathroom radiator (overflow radiators so always on when heating is on) when they can't go outside. An extra spin helps when it's not good drying weather.

I can't remember the last time I tumble dried a load straight from the washing machine. Mine's either out on the line or over radiators.

I use it for 10 minutes or so to soften towels or finish off stuff from outside if it's not quite dry. It does take more time to peg the clothes out though.

I’ve just folded my first lot of non tumbled towels and they’re actually not scratchy (over the bannister airers so they can dangle a bit more)

Actually thinking about it, I’ve also changed the way I wash. Quick setting on 30 for clothes and 60 for towels/bedding with an extra 1600 spin.

Bedding today. The excitement is almost palpable 😂😂

I have never had a tumble dryer and am glad to hear that others use the doors for hanging sheets over!

I’m also thinking getting rid of the tumble dryer will give me more cupboard space. Or perhaps a second freezer (would make batch cooking an awful lot easier)

Someone posted this recently, showing the relative power consumption of different white goods.

I tumble towels and DD’s clothes, as I got complaints about crispy clothes off the line !
I do make the effort to reduce my use, but I’m not going to create damp by having all the washing on radiators.

I’m lucky because I prefer (as I call it) and “exfoliating towel” - I hate soft towels and DC have just grown up that way inclined. Our tumble drier is in the shed and it’s been raining heavily where we are so I’ve not been arsed to run out to it with the million socks I seem to have in every wash which are a pain to hang - especially the really small trainer socks that DD and I wear all the time. I usually also tumble pants and sleepwear. This winter tumble drier will not be on and everyone will just need to live with the “industrial laundry” look of clothes permanently drying on radiators - if the gas is being used for the heating, it might as well dry the laundry.

we were on a fixed which ends tomorrow and got our new tariff yesterday - electric nearly double and gas nearly tripled. Standing charges also massively up. Todays task is fuel comparison site to see if I can get better. Keeping everything crossed for a mild winter. 🥶

I tumble underwear plus all the big stuff - towels, sheets/blankets/quilt covers.

In summer I sometimes throw towels over doors when the line is full. But I cba with doing it in winter when it takes far longer to dry.

Plus, when it rains through winter - all of our downstairs doors are usually draped in various coats air drying before going back in the understairs cupboard!

But how long does everything take to dry on banisters and radiators? Towels must take days on a banister, and if on a radiator it blocks the heat from warming the room?
I'd love to save money, but can't bear the thought of clothes being all over the place, and ending up crunchy.
And I find if things dry very slowly, they end up smelling musty.

I think octopus are taking new customers again now. They also do no exit fees on their deals so you can jump ship if something better comes along.

My towels were doubled over and took about 15 hours to dry (no heating on here at the mo) but I do dry them on airers over the stairs so the stairwell is probs the warmest place in the house.

It is a massive energy user. I’ve been hanging my laundry on an airer in the greenhouse when it’s raining. Doors open either end to create a through breeze and it gets everything pretty dry. Hang it up in the kitchen on the pulley. Towels and sheets get a quick blast in the dryer. My energy use is down by a third on last year over the last three months.

I do heat my water by immersion though and am making kids wash at the pool four days a week to get value out of membership.

Airers and a dehumidifier in the spare room is my solution. Things dry quickly, much cheaper than tumbling and no damp. Also makes the room smell nice!

I've been using a slow cooker to make tea while we are out at work.
It costs about 50p a day to run.
So way cheaper than anything else.

I’ve an instantpot too. So between that and the airfryer I can cook most things without using the oven or the hob.

Just takes a bit more planning than usual.

I read somewhere (possibly here) that putting a dry towel in with your tumble drying helps the load dry quicker

Not using energy intensive appliances reduces your energy bills?

Every day is a school day

@Singlebutmarried I've done some lovely curries, Chinese and pasta dishes.
I've actually enjoyed getting creative with it.
Plus saving energy/money is a bonus

I have done a fair bit of research and have decided on using our regular fold out airer with the dehumidifier on (we already owned it)

Dehumidifier costs 6p per hour, so 60p over night roughly and it definitely makes a difference to how quickly the load dries.

I think I'll still use tumble for bedding and towels - I have children who do wet the bed occasionally and I can't bear the house covered! Obvs washing line first if sun is out.

Did think about a decent (Lakeland) heated airer but the £200 outlay would take over a year to recoup

A whole 48 minutes before a totally pointless post.

Thanks for your feedback now you can scroll past.

Looking at previous energy type threads there’s no quantitative information, just talk of direct debit payments and money out.

I thought it might be useful to have an actual figure to put things into perspective rather than saying I’ve stopped using a tumble dryer - after all that in itself won’t alter your direct debit will it.

I'm aware of the cost of my drier but would genuinely rather spend the money than have to hang laundry and potentially get a damp problem and be organised enough to spread laundry through the week so I have enough hanging space.

But hats off to you ladies, I do feel bad about the energy consumption (but am very planet friendly in other ways).