Reluctance to use a tumble dryer is a British quirk

[User3735]

I've noticed that there is a lot of shame around using a tumble dryer, and even people who have one are reluctant to admit it, and make excuses why they have one and say they use it rarely. The claims of them being extortionate and terrible for the environment seem exaggerated to me whenever I look at the latest energy uses and cost. According to Which, the average tumble dryer costs around £150 per year to run (and less than £60 per year for a newer heat pump dryer). Yet people will buy expensive heated airers, rails and dehumidifiers to probably a similar value.

I have observed this tumble dryer reluctance from people from all financial backgrounds. The only pattern I have noticed is those who had one in their home growing up are more likely to use them, and those who didn't think they are to be avoided at all costs. I wonder if they did cost significantly more when they were new, and it is a misconception of running costs?

I have always had one, and when they have broken I have replaced asap. Our current dryer broke down this summer, and I put off replacing while the weather was better, but I now seem to have been influenced by the tumble dryer haters and I have a strange sense of satisfaction of powering on through winter without one. Whilst I get an utterly pointless sense of satisfaction that I am winning, the time spent shaking out, hanging and turning clothes takes up quite a ridiculous chunk of time compared to tumble drying and I am very time poor. Given our wet climate and issues with damp, I really can't understand why so many people are against them?

Don't need tumble drier or dishwasher but it's not something to be proud of as such is it

I have a washer dryer but rarely use the dryer. I've found a lot of our clothes can't be tumble dried. Also, not sure if it's the machine I have but the drier doesn't seem as good as a separate tumble dryer so I find I end up hanging stuff up anyway. I'd love to have space to have separate washer and dryer

@TheFairyCaravan my kids do look like Victorian orphans but that's nothing to do with the tumble dryer... the buggers keep growing like weeds!!! 🤣

No - I just fumble dry on an appropriate setting for the fabric. It's not like there's only one setting for drying clothes

Not sure its a British thing?

I dont tend to tumble outerwear as I think it shrinks jeans / hoodies etc and damages the fabric.
No issue with tumbling underwear bedding towels etc.

I've no room for one. Have heated airer as I can't dry clothes outside in the summer either so it means I can use as a normal airer in the summer too

Serious question as I've never had a tumble dryer - where does the warm damp air go if they no longer have those tubes that you stick out of your window to vent?

No, we chuck absolutely everything in together except woollens. The only items which we have found to shrink gradually over time are swimming costumes. Sports bras etc are totally fine, as is Lycra. Try it! It’s fine. Life really is too short to be doing endless different washes.

I don’t think we own any t-shirts with logos on. I can see why you’d leave these out.

Ah sorry, I had misunderstood and assumed the room was unused overnight. Does it not make the room (and the atmosphere in the room) damp overnight though? I'd always recommend turning on the dehumidifier as soon as the washing is put on the airer.

Mine does shrink stuff a little bit, but honestly not that much more than just washing them did. It's hard to tell if it's the WM or TD. I had no TD for the first 14 years of parenting so I am quite familiar with how things shrink! H&M and Primark are the worst for shrinking in an ordinary 40 degree wash.

We just buy larger sizes to account for shrinkage.

I find most shiny prints are OK even if they say they aren't. Again, I have found that the washing machine has destroyed more prints than the tumble dryer. What you do get is the dye fading out of the print so it fades to white. But in the amount of time DC wear clothes for, this is negligible and if I notice it happening I stop tumble drying that item.

I try to separate out the ones with those colour changing sequins but I've dried them a few times by accident, and other than fading the colours a little bit, they seem unharmed.

My TD has a higher capacity than my washing machine, so I can transfer a full load over no issue.

Because I have ADHD I have issues with getting started on tasks and I used to find it difficult to get the motivation to hang up washing knowing that it was going to be a 15-20 minute task (because I would have to take the old load down too, plus lots of tiny children's items) that I couldn't stop once I started. It would often take me days to work up the motivation for this, which was a problem because it caused a backlog and everything to get really creased and horrible from sitting around in the machine. It has made a huge difference to be able to simply open one door, pull everything out into a basket if necessary, and then transfer from one machine to another and switch it on. I know this sounds silly but it was a real challenge for me!

Modern ones have a sensor so they don't over dry. I did prioritise a well rated sensor. If it's not dry when it finishes (rare) I just put it on for another 10-20 minutes.

I don't have to deal with "umpteen programmes" as I just tried one of the programmes which sounded good (cupboard dry) and it did what I wanted, so I use the same one every time, plus the manual time one if I need any extra drying.

It doesn't take forever, it takes about 90-120 minutes depending on what the material is. I do find it does better if I don't mix materials, which is the only learning curve/bugbear but I can also just shove a mixed load in too and it does fine 90% of the time. The last 10% it just needs a bit of extra time on a few items.

Well, pretty much most things people have in their homes they don't need.

Ok then I don't want one because I don't see that it would enhance my life notably, is that better ? I see no personal benefit but I do see an economic and environmental cost ?

My Mum always had a tumble dryer, and so have I. I do line dry if the weather is good,although I rarely hang undies and socks out because it rakes bloody ages! But if the weather is bad, then I tumble dry. I cannot be doing with damp washing hanging around- I work from home anyway so it just gets in the way, and it causes condensation on the windows which I absolutely hate!

I’m looking forward to having one for the first time in 10 years and intend to use it over winter as drying washing indoors is terrible for damp and I’m hoping to keep our new house mould free. At the moment we have to run a dehumidifier constantly which is not great for the environment either and the washing takes up so much space in our tiny flat. I still intend to line dry whenever possible which it’s just not an option over winter, especially when we are out if the house 8am-5pm weekdays. The last time I tried to line dry it took more than a week as it kept raining unexpectedly when we were out.

I'd love one but there is literally nowhere in my house to put one. I'd love a dishwasher too but again there is nowhere to put it.
I'm sure my towels wouldn't feel like cardboard if I could tumble dry them.

I would not be without a tumble dryer. Just seen my neighbour has hung out her clothes now only for it to start raining. I have zero time for the dicing with UK weather and trying to get my clothes dry. Also a house full of damp clothes everywhere gives me the absolute rage. I am not widow twankey.

Before holes in walls or in rented houses where people couldn't put holes in walls the hose got put out the window. Must have made the houses freezing.

I googled for photos but all I could find was seals from Amazon to help seal the gap when you'd put the hose out. So there must still be people who have the vent hose out the window.

@JFT heat pump ones just need a plug socket. I've always had a TD and they've never been vented.

We have a very small one and just dry underwear. Life’s too short to peg out socks and pants. Everything else goes on the line or inside on a clothes 🐎.

My husband seems to view use of a tumble drier as some sort of moral failing. He is in charge of the laundry though so happy for him to crack on as he pleases.

Meant to say he's British, I'm not.

I think they make clothes nice and soft

Either they collect in a tank which you can empty or drain into a drain (plumbed in) sounds more complicated an it is - as ours is next to the washing machine it just goes into the drain for that.

A lot of those window vent things on Amazon are mainly for mobile air conditioners nowadays, we put the pipe of ours through the window but DH is going to make something to fit the gap as the Amazon ones aren't the right for the window size. I don't think many have the vented dryers nowadays, the only reason we still have ours is because DH has replaced parts on it, most people have condenser dryers if they haven't a suitable wall to drill through or rent their house. I looked to see if I could still get a vented dryer and AO had just one.

I love hanging clothes out in the summer, but everyone complains about crispy pants! Always tumble towels for the same reason. Pants, Sox, shirts, tshirts, polos, hoodies, towels and bedding are tumbled in the Winter, always on the cool setting, so no shrinkage or damage. You do get a lot of fluff in the filter though, and that obvs comes from somewhere.

I hand wash jumpers and bras, so they, and jeans and gym wear, all go on a clothes horse in the bathroom.