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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to use the tumble dryer?

55 replies

TimeAtTheBar · 31/10/2022 07:44

DH is a bit funny about it. Well, a lot funny about it. It’s weird. I think it comes from his parents but he acts like the tumble dryer costs millions of pounds each time to run and gets shitty with whoever uses it.

We have a teen and 12yo at home and a constantly overflowing wash basket. The kitchen is constantly and I do mean constantly home to at least two racks of drying washing. We are also both rubbish at putting clothes away when dry so there are usually a couple of baskets of clean washing hanging around. I’m also seeing condensation and mould on the patio doors more and more.

We both work full time plus. I literally do not have time for this shit.

I bought the tumble dryer a few years ago, it’s a highly efficient modern one and I used it for ages without complaint and it made the washing process so much easier. Then we had a temporary downturn in finances and it was the first thing dh vetoed. And he’s never really relented.

We have no real money concerns although we have a hefty mortgage and energy bills have doubled. But I’d happily forgo a meal out a month to run the tumble dryer and I don’t understand why he is so adamant it’s never to be used. He is absolutely not right in any other respect. He just has it in his head that the tumble dryer is evil and expensive.

Oh, he does most of the washing btw as he wfh and I don’t. But we never get anywhere near the end of it. The laundry basket is in our bedroom and is always full/overflowing. I think with a weekend and the TD I could get through it but he won’t hear of it.

OP posts:
Intru · 31/10/2022 08:12

LizzieSiddal · 31/10/2022 08:09

Does your H do his fair share of washing/during and putting away the clothes?

I suspect you do it all, in which case just use the tumble dryer: you’re entitled to as you’re doing the job for yourself and 3 other people!

She says in the OP that he does most of the washing, yet you assume that she does it all?

Why? You are accusing her of lying?

lifeinthehills · 31/10/2022 08:12

I tried to cut costs a few years back by not using the tumble dryer. I was very surprised to find that it made no difference to the power bill.

Original poster
TimeAtTheBar · 31/10/2022 08:14

at least the light the winter months

THROUGHOUT. Jesus wept fat fingers.

OP posts:
Original poster
TimeAtTheBar · 31/10/2022 08:15

He absolutely does do the vast bulk of the laundry. I may chuck a load on when I’ve got a day off but he does 90% of it. I mainly put it away though.

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 31/10/2022 08:15

Well done ! I’m using mine too.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/10/2022 08:15

Getting most of mine dry outside still buy finishing off in the TD, well worth the money. I don't want a damp house as we haven't got the heating on yet and the amount of water in the drier container that would be up the house walls orherwise is staggering!

LizzieSiddal · 31/10/2022 08:15

Great outcome!

Sparklfairy · 31/10/2022 08:17

I kept an eye on mine yesterday and calculated it costs me about £1.40 to dry one load.

It sounds like he has no idea how much yours costs to run, he just thinks it's 'expensive'. Possibly if you work out actual cost per wash, between you you can come to an agreement where it's factored into your budget?

Disneyblueeyes · 31/10/2022 08:18

Just use it.
I hang my woolly jumpers and bras, but everything else goes in the TD.
An easier life is worth paying a bit for right?

mushroomdecoup · 31/10/2022 08:19

Mine is a B rated Beko condenser tumble dryer, it uses around 2.4kw each time I use it but it is a 9kg so I dry a large full load of laundry in it. I had it plugged into a Tapo plug which monitors usage so I have a good idea of cost.

Maybe show him the usage in real time and ask him if he is quibbling over this small amount of money in the grand scheme of things, maybe he spends money on stuff you think is unreasonable like a bought lunch or a coffee. You are paying for the convenience and time saving, not faffing around putting items on a dryer each time. I would not be without mine. My washing machine used 1kw to wash for a 9kg.

BlueRidge · 31/10/2022 08:24

We have an issue with condensation in our house, and racks of damp washing hanging around would make it even worse - and arguably more expensive to fix, long-term.

AgentJohnson · 31/10/2022 08:26

He doesn’t get a veto. Buy a smart plug with energy metering capabilities to give you both an insight into the cost of running a tumble drier. That way you can argue the facts rather than personal opinions.

I have a washer drier but I only dry bedding and towels because tumble driers isn’t good for clothing and makes ironing harder.

superplumb · 31/10/2022 08:57

My husbands the same. Now I just use it when hes at work and pretend I hung it out. Cant be arsed to argue with him anymore.

girlmom21 · 31/10/2022 09:02

superplumb · 31/10/2022 08:57

My husbands the same. Now I just use it when hes at work and pretend I hung it out. Cant be arsed to argue with him anymore.

Or you could just tell him when he does the washing he can choose how to dry it?

BertieBotts · 31/10/2022 09:08

It's only old style tumble dryers that drink energy. He's out of date and I bet there are things that he uses which use more electricity.

Would he be persuaded by a smart meter reading or one of those energy measuring plugs?

Our biggest expenses are things that funnily enough my husband likes to do - run his high powered gaming spec computer all day, run a games console for the kids to watch youtube (Hmm) - we replaced this with a chromecast and it uses much less BTW - and using the grill to make cheese on toast every day for lunch plus the oven to make 3+ separate dinners because nobody can be arsed to get together for family dinner.

The tumble dryer is peanuts compared with all that.

Megifer · 31/10/2022 09:09

Trying to imagine my DP insisting I don't use ours and me listening to him.......nope can't do it 🤣

Outtasteamandluck · 31/10/2022 15:53

I won't give up mine. I don't have the time or mental capacity to hang sodding pants up!!!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/10/2022 16:07

I just got loads of bedding nearly dry on the line today and have just finished it off in the drier for 10 mins. All folded and no ironing ,win win 😊

hattie43 · 31/10/2022 16:13

Tbh if you are both working the last thing you want to come home to is wet laundry hanging everywhere.
I'm in your camp OP use the tumble dryer .

MrsMacnair · 31/10/2022 17:01

Am glad he’s come to his senses!

I had to do without my dryer for 18 months whilst the whole hot point recall thing was going on, they never did contact me for the repair. It was a nightmare trying to get clothes dry through the winter. My house was like a laundrette

My current tumble dryer is on the way out and am just about about to purchase a new one. There’s no way Im ever doing without again.

Goldencarp · 31/10/2022 17:10

I worked out mine costs 61p for 2 hours. If you know the wattage you can work it out or use the calculator.

www.sust-it.net

To want to use the tumble dryer?
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/10/2022 19:11

Mine is barely anything for an hour using that calculator,fab!

BertieBotts · 31/10/2022 19:15

That wattage calculator might not be correct for things like washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers. Just because it's 900w, doesn't mean it's pulling that load at all times during the cycle. This may be especially true for eco cycles, which tend to be longer but use less electricity.

You can use it for something simple like a lamp, toaster, kettle, that is doing one thing and one thing only, but if an appliance has any kind of programming which means it does different things e.g. sometimes heating water (v energy intensive), sometimes operating a pump, sometimes spinning a drum, sometimes performing calculations (not v intensive) then it won't be pulling the full wattage at all times.

andmostofallyouletyourselfdown · 31/10/2022 20:30

Another husband who "gets shitty about" something. What else does he get shitty about?

MrsKrankyPants · 31/10/2022 21:00

I dried 3 lots over the weekend. Heating is still off and I'd rather not have washing taking days to try.

We have a good credit build up, so that will just come off that if needs be.

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