To think that tumble driers ruin your clothes?

[Loveheart13101]

It’s a bit pathetic really, but a relative tried to get into an argument with me over a flipping tumble drier.

We have a tumble drier but we only use it for a few things. Bedding in the winter/bad weather, towels in the winter and for emergencies.

It’s too expensive to run all the time, and when we were using it regularly we noticed that clothes were getting holes in and sometimes shrinking/fading.

Relative picked a fight over why we have got washing hanging around and argued that the tumble drier isn’t expensive and doesn’t ruin clothes.

My grandsons (both adults) said their mother shrunk their clothes. I never put items like Tshiirts in mine as I found they definitely do suffer.

Houses are for living in. Drying clothes doesn't necessarily mean untidiness.

They do cause more wear and fading to clothes but I use ours a fair bit, just not for anything “nice”

all the fluff you clean out must come from somewhere. It comes from the clothes.

Because it's ruining the bloody planet that's why. It's a terrible use of resources when the weather is perfect for drying.

-It uses energy unnecessarily,
-it causes clothes to shed fibres into the atmosphere,
-it shortens the life of garments, and encourages people to unnecessarily wash clothes when stains can be sponged or aired
-washing unnecessarily uses water, energy and contributes to global warming.

I am lucky in that I don’t need to hang laundry in the main living area or kitchen so the house doesn’t feel cluttered or untidy

i orefer line dried and don’t even have a tumble drier as I have been so underwhelmed by them in the past that when the last one broke about 10 years ago I couldn’t face buying another

They can ruin some types of material, so for those I'll hang them up, but I use my dryer a lot for the amount of people I've got living in my house. I'd have washing everywhere otherwise. If I can get stuff dry outside on the line I will.

Honestly the way people go on about tumbler dryers being expensive you would think it was a tenner a wash!
I don’t tumble dry excessively as obviously it speeds up the wear of clothes, but so does over washing. I’ve never put things in the tumble dryer and had them come out ruined or with holes.

Of course tumble dryers age clothes. Anything that heats fabrics to intense heat and rubs them against one an other for an extended period of time will cause premature aging, shrinking and bobbling. It’s a matter of degree and the payoff of convenience.

I tumble towels as it makes them soft and fluffy and I throw in duvet covers and sheets once they are mostly dry to get the last moisture out

things like PJs, jeans and old T-shirts that have done all their shrinking and fading go in too

anything with Lycra/elastine or synthetics like bras or anything wool or new or expensive I don’t

Both washing and drying will wear clothes a little, due to the agitation. Excessive heat may well cause shrinking or fading.

Honestly, the way some folk don't realise that some other folk really have to follow a strict budget and an extra few pounds a month just isn't affordable.

I use it for towels and bedding but try to avoid it for clothes. It definitely shrinks socks

Heat pump dryer for 90% of laundry. Costs very little or often nothing due to solar panels.

Drying outside in spring and summer is bad for the hayfever sufferers in our family, so if I do, the items go in the dryer afterwards to remove the pollen. It removes pet hairs, plus gives a massive saving as no ironing time or expense.

I have a dehumidifier for the items I don't tumble dry.

I find it extraordinary on MN that so many people have issues with tumble driers. I was born in the 70’s and have always had one.,sure there are some things I don’t tumble such as shirts, dresses and some tops but I would say I tumble 90% of our clothes and can get them washed dried and back in the cupboard within 2 hours. Underwear, socks, towels, sheets, pyjamas, school uniform, why wouldn’t you tumble it?

I use mine in the winter for most things spring and summer I line dry haven't noticed it shrinking anything I put in there though some things like dresses jumpers etc I don't put in there it makes towels nicer though much softer

can't bare to have wet clothes hanging round the house they end up smelling funny and creating condensation and mould etc

Yes I agree.
love mine.
had it 10 years.
would be lost with out it

I don't need to, it's a waste of energy, it's a waste of money.

A dehumidifier will stop that. 👍

Tumble drying is bad for clothes as well as the environment.

They have high energy consumption (often second only to water heaters in household energy use).

The energy used often comes from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Drying synthetic fabrics (like polyester) can release microfibres into the air, contributing to microplastic pollution.

Frequent drying wears out clothes faster, leading to more frequent replacement and more textile waste.

Tumble drying clothes can be bad for clothing, depending on the fabric and how often it’s done.

Heat can cause natural fibres like cotton and wool to shrink.

The mechanical action can break down fibres over time, especially in delicate or synthetic fabrics. High heat and friction may cause colours to fade more quickly. Heat can degrade elastic bands in waistbands, socks, or underwear. The agitation can cause some fabrics to pill.

Add to this the cost to run - between 42p - £1.46 per load. It’s bad fir your pocket to.

I don't, it sits in my garage unused.

This is the only reason I would have one again. I ditched mine years ago as it always made the clothes smell strange (condenser) unlike my very first one which had an extractor hose going outside. I now have 3 hairy pets and feel a tumble drier is on the cards again I'm interested in the PP who said she only saved £10 pw in the summer; I was always led to believe they cost a fortune to run?

Yes, clothes definitely don't last as long when tumble dried. Obvious really - when you clean out the lint filter, that fluffy stuff is bits of your clothes. I just use the dryer for sheets and towels and put clothes on airers. I have a spare room that's nice and warm so can shut the door on the mess.

I have used a tumble dryer for over 30 years but I am selective as to what gets put in it - in my case towels, t towels, pants, socks, sheets, jeans. Everything else goes on a rack in the utility room as I use a humidifier to dry it out.