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?

I ignore most of the do not tumble dry labels, just as I ignore most dry clean only ones. 90% of our laundry goes in the dryer and it’s absolutely fine.

Same.

If suspect if I lived in Australia though I would use the tumble dryer less. I hang washing out in the Summer.

Do you have a carpeted house?

Live in a climate where it's hot and humid year round?

Live in a huge country where essential destinations like a supermarket or post office or school might be miles away, with no other way of getting to them but to drive?

There are millions of Americans who do not own a car, who choose to live in areas where there is public transport and where they can walk or bus to the shops. They use heating in winter and AC in summer because - different climate from that of Britain! They probably also use tumble dryers, because they tend to run on natural gas in the US, and because millions and millions of Americans live in apartments with no way to dry clothes outdoors ornin a basement, and for some reason that I can't imagine object to having their homes constantly festooned with the family's wet knickers.

When we lived in the US the uni apartment (one of the perks of the job, as was subsidised nursery place for DC) had a washing machine identical to the one at home plus a dryer (both Bosch) No clothes airer. I bought one at a hardware shop. I did sometimes use the dryer, it was ok but it takes so long to dry clothing that way and it’s no fresher. We had a spare bedroom. One load fills an airer, it dries in a day. It was no bother at all.