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 live in the north of Scotland. If I don't tumble dry my clothes over winter, some clothes will just never dry.
I tumble dry nothing until the weather turns because it is far too expensive.

I think the tumble dryer thing is only on here, irl people do use them

IMHO they just aren’t very good. I have no room for a sep one in the cottage. We had a washer dryer and it was ridiculous. Ages to dry anything and they come out kinda steamed. Wash it, hang it up in or outside, wait about a day, done. No worries

I use mine as little as possible as I don't want the cost of the electricity.

I dry outside wherever possible or on an unheated airer by a radiator.

I grew up in Australia and hanging clothes on the line was preferred. Almost all clothing labels there say do not tumble dry. I now live in America and nowhere I’ve lived has an outside line. Almost all clothing labels say tumble dry is ok. I really do think it’s cultural. I use the dryer for everything now

All the energy saving has killed the dryer, a good basic vented one is best, simple in construction, lasts for years, not some big heavy heat pump thing with loads to go wrong and takes ages to dry and has to be sited a warmish place to work properly

Washer dryers are AWFUL, they are no comparison to using an actual tumble dryer though. Completely different ballgame.

I’m a Brit and grew up with one in the house that was used full time in the winter (80s onwards) and have always had one since setting up my own home 30 years ago. I see it as just as essential as a washing machine - what’s the point of washing clothes if you can’t dry them properly? I use it full time totally unashamedly from November to March.

The condenser dryers nowadays don’t ruin clothes IMO. I love my current one. Dries an 8kg load in 45 mins including towels with a short timer function for jumpers, shirts and slinky stuff. Everything is soft and crease free (but I iron school shirts and trousers anyway). Very time efficient. I couldn’t tolerate wet washing hanging around the house picking up smells and making the house feel damp.

Most people I know have one. DH’s large extended family are not from the UK and none of them will use one as they think they’re too expensive to run. We even gave one to SIL and BIL (3 DC in a flat) but found out they’d shoved it in their store room as afraid of using it. They’d been hanging washing on radiators and in the bathroom for years at that point. You’d have to fight your way in to use the loo. Different priorities I suppose.

Adult DD has had a few bfs who have never had them and has been shocked at how drying inside makes clothes smell. Her last bf was a bit upset when she moved out and took her dryer with her!

I use my Miele washer dryer regularly- it’s the best! Clothes come out dry and don’t need an iron. I’m so lucky the previous owners left it for us… I’m dreading it breaking as the price tag for a new one is way beyond my means!

We have a washer dyer and I use the dryer about twice a week.

We don't have space in the kitchen for seperate washer/dryer and we live in a top floor flat with no garden access. If I didn't use a tumble dryer I'd never get anything dry.

My. Tumble dryer takes 8kg. My washer claims to but I can't fit that much in it

I had no idea this was a thing other than among ardent environmentalists.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a dryer nor have I ever encountered any angst other than environmental.

just got a dehidifier , with laundry setting, seen reviews my kitchen is small with a clothes airer,no heating on during the day, going to try it, costs a small amount an hour, i have allergies and think it might help that as well, .fingers crossed i put outside untill weather was to bad, i finish off stuff like sheets and towels in tumble dryer ,

Maybe a higher proportion in some other countries live in flats and can't dry outside? Which countries do you know about where they are acceptable?

Ideally we use as little electricity as possible for the climate and now for cost of living too.

Tumble dryers are meant to be good for getting rid of scabies and bedbugs so they could get more popular in future.

My family in the U.K had one in the garage and it was mainly used during Autumn and Winter.

Now that I’m in Canada it’s pretty much essential. We live in a condo townhouse that doesn’t permit washing lines higher than the deck railing. Even though it gets super warm
in summer, it can also be surprisingly dusty.

In the depths of winter it can be -40.

We lived in the US a decade ago. There was a sep dryer there but I still felt it took too long.

I use mine all the time. It's a heat pump one and dries pretty quickly.

I’m interested to know which washer dryers are good? A lot of reviews for them are mixed but if there was a decent one I’d buy it.

I only use for bedding towels and underwear. Most the other clothes I put on radiators jeans and jumpers on a clothes horse. I can't hang out on washing line because of my son and daughters allergies. Pollen gets on clothes outside which makes their symptoms worse.

Never had one so don't know how I would feel about it. However I don't trust them not to ruin my clothes.

Washer dryers are slow and get hot but are useful hen no room for separates. My condenser dryer is a whole world of difference from one.

Wow - 8 blimin pages on tumble dryers 😯

well if you must know. I use mine all winter, I put it on at night when the power is cheaper. Rarely in summer

I have a washer dryer (sold with the house). I moved it upstairs to be nearer the bedrooms and it's great. Occasionally I have to give it more time for the dryer cycle but no way am I going to be going up and down the stairs and then rushing out as yet another rain shower passes by! Plus I find the clothes dry stiffer outside rather than soft from the dryer.
I grew up in America though and don't know anyone who hangs their clothes out so maybe it is a British thing!

Other nationalities apart from Americans where they are very normal, also dislike them

They are or more like were very expensive to first buy and then run, take up precious space, and damage and reduce the life of clothes. Also had a rep for being potentially dangerous.

Now with an energy efficient combo these are mute points but the habit of norm isn't there

Yanbu. It's almost seen as decadent and indulgent in the UK.

But we're a wet, cold, dark country with cold damp houses. Tumble dryers are sensible.