How to ditch my tumble dryers

Q_Who?

Hi all. I am wanting to stop using my tumble dryer altogether, apart from the occasional emergency. So far I am succeding except in one area, towels. My wife and daughter complain that towels not dried in the dryer have the texture of sandpaper! They have a point, but I can live with it, find it kind of stimulating.......
I use Bettabuy washing powder and don't use conditioner as the other half is allergic to it.
Anyone got any ideas?
Cheers
Q

MrsB_2

Use vinegar as fabric conditioner, it'll soften the towels but your OH wont react to it (unless she's allergic to vinegar too!! )

Jay-Jay_4

Hiya, welcome to the forum :wave:


How about starting the towels off on the line or clothes horse and sticking them in the dryer to finish them off? I do this in summer and if you catch the towels before they're 'dry' then they still soften but only take 10 minutes.

Hermia

Are you mad?! My tumble dryer broke down last week and I am eagerly awaiting my new one. One week of wearing knickers that feel like sandpaper is quite enough for me. I try to be economical with mine though. I put the clothes on the line/airers until they are almost dry and then just finish them off in the tumble dryer.

MATH

I like soft fluffy towels but Mrs MATH like em rough and scratchy:eek: So I do as Jay Jay suggests and tumble mine for a few mins. I have an American dryer and it has a dedicated 'FLUFF' cycle which gives 10 mins tumbleing with no heat. HTH

bestyman

If running costs are the issue why not invest in a gas tumble dryer . I have one and much cheaper to run than a leccy one.

catznine

I have a combination washer/dryer but only use the dryer for about 10 mins on the towels (it really does keep them soft) then everything goes on line or airer.

Q_Who?

WOW! I didn't realise the replies would come so thick and fast!!!
This is a money saving situation. Isn't the vinegar going to smell a bit? Certainly will try giving the towels a quick 10 minute zap. Never heard of a gas tumble drier. Can you fill me in please?
Thanks all
Q

gooismeid

If your family is anything like mine, who regularly leave heaps of damp towels on the bathroom floor, you could try incentivising them to put their damp towel on the radiator to dry out after they've used it.

I mean - you've just stepped out of the shower, you're probably the cleanest thing in the house, and you've just towelled yourself off - how dirty can that towel be?

This means you'll have to wash (and therefore dry!) the towels much less often, and once they've lost that first "sandpaper" feel by getting a bit damp they don't feel half as rough next time you use them. I've cut the number of washes I do by about 20% since the central heating's been on - of course I wouldn't advocate putting on the CH just to dry your towels, I'd be drummed off this forum for moneywasting! Because the towels are only a bit damp they don't seem to cause any extra condensation, and in the mornings you get the benefit of a lovely warm snuggly towel. The kids get stickers for each time they put their towels on the radiator after their showers/baths (kids under 10 will do anything for stickers). If only I could think of an incentive for hubby...

I know this is not a complete answer to getting rid of the tumble dryer but every little helps.

MrsB_2

No - promise you wont smell the vinegar at all.

Best way to use it is to make up a bottle of your own 'conditioner' there's info on it on the cleaning index somewhere, but I use:

An old 2 litre water bottle and fill with 1 bottle (think it's 500ml) of white vinegar (46p in Asda), about 2/3rds of a tub of bicarb of soda, and then 2 vinegar bottles worth of water. Give it a good shake and use just a little less than you would of conditioner.

Result - lovely soft clothes, fresh smell, and bonus - clean washing machine!!

PS - if you're worried about the smell (and I really really promise you wont smell vinegar on your clothes) you can add a few drops of essential oil to the mix.

calleyw

I don't have an airing cupboard so use a tumble drier to just air everything for about 5-10 mins. It is a rare and mean hell freezes over do I ever use it to dry.
As it cost an arm and leg to run.

Gas tumble driers cost more to buy in the first place but the running costs such be low. I have a feeling the driers in a laundrette are gas ones.


Yours

Calley