Tumble dry Vs ironing: which is cheaper?

sharonr

Hi All

After spending ages hanging out the washing, I was wondering if it would be cheaper just to tumble dry. If I hang washing out on the line, most of it seems to need ironing, but much less does if I tumble dry.

Which do you think works out cheaper? I certainly know which is the least labour intensive!

BitterAndTwisted

I don't have a tumble-drier and really don't iron very much of my laundry either. This is because I take them out of the washing-machine immediately the spinning finishes, give them a good shake, then I hang as much as possible on hangers and then air-dry. It's really only the 100% cotton items which need a quick press once they're dry. I never, ever iron bed-linen, they just don't need it if they're hung to dry neatly.

In answer to your question: I suspect that a tumble-drier would cost 50-100 times more to run than an a iron for the same period although someone numerically-literate might be able to work it out if they know what the wattage is on each appliance. Or perhaps run each appliance for an hour and check your meter-readings? Perhaps a not-so-expensive option might be to line-dry until very slightly damp and then finish off in the tumble-drier if money's no object?

carriebradshaw

I know a tumble dryer is less labour intensive but it doesn't get the creases out well enough for me,so I'd iron as well anyway. I don't use my dryer anymore, I shake, smooth and fold as much as I can when it's dried off the line or clothes airer and only iron the things that really need it like shirts, blouses etc.

carolinejane_2

I hardly use my tumble dryer now after reading how much electricity they use so I would say ironing and hanging most things straight from the line would be much more econmical

lisawood78

Most economical for me is tumble drying pretty much everything, because i'm so lousy with an iron i'd burn the clothes, or the house down or some equally expensive disaster!

sparrer

I agree with BitterAndTwisted. I don't have a tumble dryer and only bring the iron out a couple of times a year (when the mother visits, she's so fussy about her pillowcases being ironed :eek:). I shake out and and fold everything before hanging it to dry, then take it off the line/radiators/hangers and smooth it as I fold it again. Stubborn creases drop out if you hang the item in the bathroom just after a bath or shower.

Emm-in-a-pickle

I agree with Bitter&Twisted and sparrer. I don`t have room in my kitchen for a tumble drier, but never felt the need for one. I only use an iron to press seams after sewing, but back in the daft old days when I used to iron I wrecked a few garments over the years! Ironing, IMHO, contributes unnecessarily to global warming so is ecologically unsound practice. Just quote that at the fussy folk!
My guide for a crease-free life :-
1. Roll loosely, or fold items waiting to be washed, don`t scrumple them into the laundry basket.
2. Don`t overfill the washer, that`s a false ecinomy.
3. Don`t use a hot wash unless you REALLY have to.
4. As Bitter&Twisted said, take stuff out , shake, and hang it up as soon as the washer has stopped.

Agapanthus

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

In answer to your question: I suspect that a tumble-drier would cost 50-100 times more to run than an a iron for the same period although someone numerically-literate might be able to work it out if they know what the wattage is on each appliance. Or perhaps run each appliance for an hour and check your meter-readings? Perhaps a not-so-expensive option might be to line-dry until very slightly damp and then finish off in the tumble-drier if money's no object?

I don't think it would be that big a difference. It depends very much on your tumble dryer and your iron, though. An A rated tumble dryer is supposed to use 2.5kwh of electricity to dry a full load of washing - for which it would need to be running for two hours.

My iron is 1.1kw, so if I ran it for two hours continuously it would consume 2.2kwh. However, it doesn't run continuously - the thermostat cuts in and out. If it were heating for half the time it would use 1.1kwh - so just under half the consumption of the tumble dryer.

I'd use a lot more of my energy ironing, though!

cyclingyorkie

i hang as much as i can on the line - pegged out carefully.

when i get it in i fold it carefully in the basket.

need for ironing is then much reduced.

i shake things before they go on the line - esp bedding. my 100%cotton bedding doesn't need that much ironing if done properly.

frosty

I line dry all the washing,then shirts,sweatshirts,tee shirts ect,I put in the dryer(just wet the end of a tee shirt) for 10 mins until the creases come out.Then fold or put straight on a coathanger.I donot iron anything at all.:D:D:D

agiaga

I don'y have dryer and don't need one.
Taking clothes out of washing machine shortly after cycle finished, shaking them a little and placing on the line just by its edge is enough for almost everything.
From time to time I have to iron few of my work shirts but I avoid wearing them too often