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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Tumble drying Yes or no way!?

50 replies

skyebluepink · 02/08/2011 23:14

Is it really expensive and bad for environment or is there an economical and practical answer to my washing woes. Small flat, nowhere to dry stuff etc etc. I want a tumble dryer but when I say this people look at me like I'm a terrible person.

OP posts:

FernandoBanjo · 02/08/2011 23:17

I've never had one, but if you have no room for a clothes horse, then of course you need one.

ilovearnold · 02/08/2011 23:17

I have one - but balance out other things enviromntally were pos...i also think ironing uses a lot of energy which you an avoid if tumble !!!

Meglet · 02/08/2011 23:21

yes. I have a small house and things like jeans / towels / sheets take ages to dry on the airer then they get all smelly.

I'd never get towels dry without a tumble dryer. And they are worth their weight in gold during D&V bugs.

I suspect that using a tumble dryer sensibly is cheaper than whacking up the heating to get things dry on the radiators.

And before anyone says I'm single handedly melting the ice-caps I do hang clothes on the line all year round, even leave them out all night in the winter and rain if there's no rush for them.

Twinkiesmum · 02/08/2011 23:27

Do you really not need to iron?? I remember someone saying you had to do such a lot of precise folding that it wasn't much less hassle than ironing. Put me off, but if it isn't true.....

AmberLeaf · 03/08/2011 02:55

I wouldnt be without a tumble dryer ever

I also dont iron anything

Get one...it will change your life

caramelwaffle · 03/08/2011 03:02

Absolutely what Amber said ^

mnistooaddictive · 03/08/2011 03:38

I have read in more than one place, that the average tumble dryer costs £30 a year to run. I imagine it is a bit more now that energy prices have soared, but even at double this it is £5 a month. I would have to save a lot more than this to give up my tumble dryer!

mathanxiety · 03/08/2011 06:30

I will never be without one either, Amber.

I get away with having far fewer clothes, sheets, towels, etc., for the family -- and this is a real boon when storage is tight and clothes are pricey (and goodness knows how the materials for the clothes are produced, what cost to the environment, what the human cost is in the far flung places where the clothes are made)

I can keep the heat fairly low in winter and we can all move around our small home without tripping over laundry drying everywhere

I never iron -- I fold fairly neatly, use fabric softener to prevent wrinkles

I do my laundry when I feel like doing it regardless of the weather.

I have a small flat and the washing machine and dryer are in the basement, shared by the othe neighbours above and below me -- and it is still handier than all that faffing around trying to get things dry by other means.

Thumbwitch · 03/08/2011 06:42

I don't think it would be fair to say "no way" - everyone's circumstances are different. Up until moving to Australia I had no need of a tumble dryer because my bathroom had an enormous double airing cupboard and was big enough to house an A-frame airer as well (the sort you can no longer buy for some completely inexplicable reason ) so all my washing was hung to dry and aired. But Australian houses (mine certainly) don't tend to have proper airing cupboards, the water cylinders tend to be outdoors - and last winter was the pits with trying to get stuff to dry. I ended up having to have an electric heater on in the laundry room, which was way more expensive than the tumble dryer - so now I have one. Admittedly I don't like using it for all clothes, and never wools, but it's jolly useful for linens, towels, DH's work shirts, jeans, sweatshirts etc. The airer now lives in our bedroom, where there is an overnight heater on anyway, to cut down on power costs (you think it's bad in the UK, you should see the costs out here!)

Original poster

skyebluepink · 03/08/2011 07:53

My god this is brilliant- I now have a strong argument as to why I should get one!

I only have one DC but DP has a job that means his clothes are get really sandy and dirty and I often have family staying so sheets and towels etc.

I never iron and I do sometimes have to put the heating on to get stuff dry. And I spend £12 every couple of weeks on a laundrettte service wash when I get really overwhelmed.

So far no D&V touch wood but of course that is only a matter of time...

Thanks for giving me the right answer!

OP posts:

LargeGlassofRed · 03/08/2011 08:02

I wouldn't be without mine, have 5 Dc's. I don't iron either.
My mum and mother inlaw are shocked I don't Even have a washing line.
I do use an airer for the odd thing I can't tumble dry but that's it.
It really saves hours, no hanging, no ironing.
Btw I only use value or supermarket own non bio, and never bother with softener and the clothes come out fine.

Original poster

skyebluepink · 03/08/2011 08:07

largeglass, 5 DCs?? Gosh I am v impressed. I am psyching myself up for number 2!

OP posts:

eatyourveg · 03/08/2011 08:23

After the fridge and the cooker its the most useful thing in the house - agree with all the other pro tumble dryer posts, go for it

Original poster

skyebluepink · 03/08/2011 09:31

now I am going to have to do a whats the best tumble dryer thread which could be painful!

OP posts:

caramelwaffle · 03/08/2011 10:30

A condenser dryer, to start.

starfishmummy · 03/08/2011 10:39

Yes, get one. It will be better for your flat (and sanity) than haviong wet washing draped over radiators.
There are three of us (ds wit SN and incontinent) and I manage with a compact dryer with a front vent.

orangehead · 03/08/2011 10:43

couldnt live without mine

gorionine · 03/08/2011 10:47

We (2 adults 4 children) lived without a tumble drier until last winter and TBH after a week of having it I was really wondering how I got through the previous winters without one. Oh yes I just remembered how, total nightmare of having things hung in conservatory and not drying because conservatory not heated, having all radiators of the house covered with laundry all the time and having wall paper coming off because of humidity and then having to go tho get them to dry at the nearest lauderette anyway costing an arm and a leg. No as much as it surprises me I would definitely not get rid of my drier now. I do not use it in the summer obviously and do not know anyone who does.

mousymouse · 03/08/2011 10:51

I have a washer/dryer.
I only use the dryer part to fluff up towels and to dry bedding in winter when it would otherwise take ages to dry.
I don't do ironing at all, mainly due to only buying clothes that don't need ironing and due to "stragegic airing".
would survive perfectly without dryer.

An0therName · 03/08/2011 12:14

if you had a small flat with no where to dry stuff then get one - I have one put don't use it v much but have space inside and out to dry things
for a flat agree a condener dryer

PuppyMonkey · 03/08/2011 12:16

I wouldn't be without mine in winter - it will really, really cut your ironing down. I do washing lines in summer though to make up for my evilness.

Purplebuns · 03/08/2011 12:23

I have this tumble dryer Beko 8kg, and a B energy rating which you hardly see! I have had it about 6 months and it is great. It is the same width as my washing machine, however the depth is bigger, minimal when you consider the capacity.

startail · 03/08/2011 12:27

How do you use a tumble drier to reduce ironing, mine puts unremovable creases into non-iron trousers!

Pekkala · 03/08/2011 12:28

I bought one after drying all our washing on airers in the spare room, then after several months opening the wardrobe where all our stored clothes were to find them covered in mould (bleugh).

Purplebuns · 03/08/2011 12:30

Startail I think if you have too much stuff in the dryer, it leads to more creasing. I find if I leave my clothes in too long after it finishes that has more creases.

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