Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Tumble dryer

29 replies

rosy16 · 06/03/2022 20:18

Hi! I hope this is an ok place to post/ask this question.

So I moved into a new flat where there is no reasonable space to put a clothes airer but there is a tumblr dryer. In my experience tumblr dryers always shrink the clothes though. The weather is improving so I can hang the clothes outside sometimes but I can't rely on that method because of the inevitable rain that happens here in Ireland no matter the season. So my question is how do I use the tumblr dryer without my clothes shrinking? There has to be a way because otherwise no one would buy them surely?

My tumblr dryer doesn't seem to have a low heat mode btw but I could be wrong

OP posts:
3001signon · 06/03/2022 20:22

I always find they shrink things, and they are expensive to use.

Get a few of these
radiator airer

krankykittykat · 06/03/2022 20:24

I always put mine on half heat
Usually the bottom is a circle half filled or it will say half heat

Original poster
rosy16 · 06/03/2022 20:27

@3001signon

I always find they shrink things, and they are expensive to use.

Get a few of these
]]

I only have one electric heater in my house so that radiator airer isn't ideal but I appreciate the tip. If it was just me in the house it'd be ok but my SO needs stuff washed constantly...
OP posts:
Original poster
rosy16 · 06/03/2022 20:28

@krankykittykat

I always put mine on half heat Usually the bottom is a circle half filled or it will say half heat
Mine just has a timer on it. And a cool setting, would that be any good?
OP posts:
PivotPivotPivottt · 06/03/2022 20:29

I'm just new to owning a tumble dryer and had the same confusion as you but I've found that nothing shrinks if it's on low heat setting so have a look online at your model and see if you can figure out if there is one. When I first got the machine i tested out drying some pyjamas but I had it on high heat so they shrunk😂. I also only put in stuff that the label says can be tumble dried. Although all my leggings say they can't be and I put them in with no issues. The only stuff I don't risk is anything with prints on or anything that is particularly nice that can't easily be replaced.

I also find it cheaper to run compared to having heating on for hours to get everything to dry which is how I dried my washing before I got the dryer! I am looking forward to the sunny days to hang my washing out though.

PivotPivotPivottt · 06/03/2022 20:32

Mine is also just a timer and a button that you press in for high heat or leave unpressed for low heat.

Original poster
rosy16 · 06/03/2022 20:33

@PivotPivotPivottt

Mine is also just a timer and a button that you press in for high heat or leave unpressed for low heat.
oh i don't think i have that button :( sorry I'm being awkward
OP posts:
Original poster
rosy16 · 06/03/2022 20:35

@PivotPivotPivottt

Mine is also just a timer and a button that you press in for high heat or leave unpressed for low heat.
Mine seems to just have a timer for hot air, and a cool air setting. I'll look at the manual but I am just crap at these things.
OP posts:
Maireas · 06/03/2022 20:36

I've always had a tumble dryer, I've never had clothes shrink.
Follow instructions for the fabric, don't overload, and remove when they're iron dry, as opposed to cupboard dry (that's on my settings).
I couldn't live without one, living in a rainy part of the UK.

user1488622199 · 06/03/2022 20:42

We have a pulley maid that is attached to the ceiling, everything is tucked neatly away and we can get a full load on it. Very handy but does involve drilling into the ceiling so might not be an option if you’re in a rental flat.

www.pulleymaid.com/

Alternatively there’s a wall dryer, but again involves drilling so might not be possible.

www.stepup-uk.com/100-cm-woodlook

Original poster
rosy16 · 06/03/2022 20:49

[quote user1488622199]We have a pulley maid that is attached to the ceiling, everything is tucked neatly away and we can get a full load on it. Very handy but does involve drilling into the ceiling so might not be an option if you’re in a rental flat.

www.pulleymaid.com/

Alternatively there’s a wall dryer, but again involves drilling so might not be possible.

www.stepup-uk.com/100-cm-woodlook[/quote]
landlord will defo say no, but thanks anyway. :(

OP posts:
Maireas · 06/03/2022 20:52

Just use the tumble dryer. Try out the various settings with some towels.

LightSpeeds · 06/03/2022 20:56

Yes, my tumble dryer shrinks my clothes (I buy knickers 3 sizes too big).

You could get a dehumidifier to dry your clothes on a rail. They dry clothes quite quickly and a dessicant dehumidifier also heats the air so will warm the room in the winter.

PriamFarrl · 06/03/2022 20:59

I’ve never shrunk anything. Make sure you don’t run it on hot.

NellyDElephant · 06/03/2022 20:59

The Lakeland heated airer is what you need - honestly it’s epic! Whole load of washing fits on there,put cover on and it’s all dry within a couple of hours. Cheaper to run than a tumble dryer too.

Original poster
rosy16 · 06/03/2022 21:11

@PriamFarrl

I’ve never shrunk anything. Make sure you don’t run it on hot.
I only have a timer on mine
OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 06/03/2022 21:14

I only put things in that I know won’t shrink, like jeans, towels , bedding, T-shirts.
I use a maiden for the rest.

CharacterForming · 06/03/2022 21:14

Read the manual maybe (Google it)? Also read the labels on the clothes.

As long as you're careful you should be able to tumble most stuff.

BertieBotts · 06/03/2022 21:15

I only got a tumble dryer this year. It hasn't shrunk anything so far but it's a heat pump one and runs at a low temperature.

Socks and pants shrink through washing, not drying IME. They always shrunk for me even before I got a dryer.

Prestel · 06/03/2022 21:25

Clothes that are suitable to dry on high heat have two dots in the tumble dryer symbol (usually jeans, towels etc), low heat just one dot ( most synthetics) while a cross through the symbol means not suitable for tumble drying. So you could check labels and try drying things that can be dried on high heat to begin with and see how it goes.

nearlyspringyay · 06/03/2022 21:38

There's a lot of things I don't tumble but it's a godsend for towels, bedding etc.

Cynderella · 06/03/2022 22:24

I had a tumble dryer that lasted over twenty years. I used to buy cotton tops etc a size larger because I knew they would shrink. Print on T shirts would melt and crackle. But it was efficient and lasted. Now I have a newish condenser tumble dryer and nothing shrinks. Everything takes forever. I do use it when the weather is bad, but I try to time loads of towels, jeans etc so they can go on the line even if they come in damp.

I had a Lakeland heated airer and gave it to my daughter. She used it all the time. I found it was a faff moving everything around to dry, but it did work. It also took up a lot of room when up.

worriedatthemoment · 06/03/2022 22:36

I use tumble dryer a lot but not everything can go in
If space is an issue i once hand a ironing hanging stand it takes up less room than an airer and fits in a corner and folds down
I used to hang things in that to dry got it from argos i think

worriedatthemoment · 06/03/2022 22:38

You can also get some compact telescopic airers in wilkinson
So can just open it small and all folds Away small

jazzandh · 06/03/2022 22:44

Dry to iron dry then most stuff is ok however I too wash to the weather where possible.

Swipe left for the next trending thread