How much does tumble drying cost? - and other ways to dry laundry

thegiraffe

Everyone says tumble drying is 'very expensive' but I can't find actual costs for drying a load (I know this is going to vary depending on what tarrif you're on/what energy rating it is, but I'm having trouble finding even an average cost in actual money... )

Any advice appreciated, as I'm fed up with my home looking like Widow Twankeys and considering getting one.

Also, what about heated airers, etc? Does anyone have one and find them useful?

Many thanks

thegiraffe

myhooose

We find a dehumifier works well, dries most clothes in at least 24hrs.

liam8282

I read something recently that said the average cost for a tumble dryer cycle was about 60p.

This will change depending on your tariff, your dryer, etc. But is useful as a starting point.

Drying in my house (at this time of year) usually consists of tumble dryer, clothes on radiator airers, and airer (but I think our last one broke?)

LandyAndy

We have a tumble drier. However, I dry stuff outside if I possibly can. Unfortunately I have six or so loads to do and get dried and ironed over a weekend so the drier starts to come in useful around now regardless of cost..

ormus

a 3kw dryer will cost about 50 per hour.
(at say the average 15p per unit).
you unit cost may differ slightly. depending on your tariff.

Dognobs

I have been looking into gas tumble dryers my friend swears buy them cheap to run.

bedpotato_2

I have never had one.

Not only are they expensive to run, but they're also quite bad for your clothes.

Yolina

Never had one either my stuff goes on an airer in the bathroom and is usually dry in less than 24h

WestonDave

Although they are more expensive to buy upfront, you can now fairly readily get heat pump based tumble dryers, which use the heat from the room - picked one at random off the internet - Bosch one at Debenhams for £729, will do a 7kg load from a 1400rpm spin washing machine for 1.61kwh so about 30p for a load.

TimBear

I don't have one either but my mum says hers costs around £1 a go - eek!

Seems so much money to me, bearing in mind we could easily do a load of washing a day, or at least every other day.

I have a rotary airer which, weather permitting, is great and I can get about four loads of washing on it.

On rainy days we have an indoor airer, which doesn't hold much but dries my clothes within a day.

daveyjp

The cost to run a tumble drier is only an issue if you need to be using one for hour after hour day after day.

We use ours 2-3 times a week (one drier load is two washing machine loads) and it costs no more than £2. Well worth it.