Drying washing - heating vs tumble dryer?

pulliptears

BallandChain wrote: »

How do you find it cost wise? I used to use the tumble drier a lot when electric was cheaper. I'm all electric here and it's costing a fortune just with the heating.

To be honest, its not bad. Our bill this time wasnt a great deal more than usual. I have never sat down and worked out exactly what its costing, but as I say my bills havent been much different, and I used it all summer as well seeing as we had no bloomin sun

I cook on gas though, and our heating is only on for a couple of hours in the evening. The house is empty most days, and the dryer used 2 or 3 times, for 45 minutes a time.

The belt snapped on it last weekend and I was in panic mode! I couldnt not have one now, yet I have been married for 12 years without one

clairehi

my tumble dryer is my guilty pleasure. everything comes out nice and soft, (not crispy or sandpapery) most things dont need to be ironed - saves lots of time.

geek0

I find i dont need the heating on when i have the tumble dryer going, i only have 2 rooms downstairs and it warms the whole place up while its on that means 3 or 4 nights a week i can get away without using the heating, if i find its still a little chilly the gas fire on its lowest setting for an hr works a treat.

iceicebaby

I have a tumble dryer but I dont use it. I have those airer thingies that hook over the radiator and find things dry really quick on them. the only inconvenience is bedding as have to keep turning them and unfolding and refolding to make sure all the wet bits are dried!

Primrose

Rather than use the tumble drier I often find that if I iron items like shirts as soon as they come out of the washing machine and then hang them up in the bathroom, they dry more quickly. It's also easier to remove the creases when items are still damp. (Not that I iron any more than I absolutely have to). However, I suspect the energy used by an iron is far less than that of a tumble drier.

maman

I try to avoid using my dryer as much as possile. Fortunately I can wait for good drying days most of the time (no uniforms any more!). However I hate hanging clothes over radiators as it really discolours the wall above over time and then we have to redecorate-even more expense!

pulliptears

maman wrote: »

I try to avoid using my dryer as much as possile. Fortunately I can wait for good drying days most of the time (no uniforms any more!). However I hate hanging clothes over radiators as it really discolours the wall above over time and then we have to redecorate-even more expense!

Yeah, I know what you mean, I used to dry a lot on my bedroom rad and the wallpaper behind it has gone all wrinkly.

This works in my favour though as I have been nagging to have that room sorted for 10 years

windra

I don't have a tumble dryer and it is a nightmare. If i hang my clothes in front of the storage heater they get very hot and shrink, and if i leave them on a clothes horse upstairs they are wet for 2-3 days in the winter!

If its an option of putting the heating on for 1 hour, or the tumble dryer...there wont be much in it in the cost as they both use alot of electrisity.

skintchick

Does anyone know how much a modern tumble dryer costs to run? I never use mine as I hang my clothes on ariers but now there's two of us it really does seem to take over the whole house (OH only wears things once before throwing them in the wash) and I hate having washing hanging around all the time.

Also we are trying for a baby and then there will be a LOT of washing!

So does it cost that much to run one?

Kazza04

I like to peg clothes out wherever possible however, I get them in when they are slightly damp and put it in the tumble dryer for 20 mins as this reduces the creases and therefore requires less ironing, thus saving on time and cost of heating the iron BUT does anybody know where you can get a tall rotary drier as my kittens think it's great fun to climb up drying trouser legs and sheets - our lawn is raised so can't have the old fashioned type with a clothes prop which would be ideal