Best way to use a tumble dryer?

Icey77

I've given up after my DS & DD clothes have been on an airer for 2 days and aren't dry yet! :mad:

We're having major building works here so the only room that has heating is the front room and it's also the only room we can use in the daytime so it's already cluttered and messy, no room for an airer full of clothes that in her lovely toddler way she'll want to pull over, empty or climb on.

My builders are going to drag the tumble dryer out of the shed for me and out it in the new bathroom upstairs that is currently a shell, the pipe can be vented out of the window easily.

My question is, what's the best way of using the tumble dryer in a MSE way? Do I do an extra spin on the washing then into the tumble dryer and then on an airer or just straight in the tumble dryer until dry?

I've never had a tumble dryer before, it's always been in the shed and so a right faff to use with extension cables etc but with the bad weather and potty training the washing pile has morphed into a monster and I'm overwhelmed

AnnieO1234

Add a dry towel and/or dryer (tennis) balls will reduce drying time dramatically. Maybe consider an extra spin in washer too. X

natlie

I do a spin in the washer, my tumble dryer switches itself off - sensor dry - when the clothes are dry - its great. I remember my mums tumble drying for 5 hours.


I always make sure my fluff filter is clean and the water tank empty as its a condenser it also has a filter in the bottom that I wash regularly, I find that small item e.g. socks will dry on an airer without the heating on so I just dry towels and urgent items in the tumble.


Nat

maman

AnnieO1234 wrote: »

Add a dry towel and/or dryer (tennis) balls will reduce drying time dramatically. Maybe consider an extra spin in washer too. X

What a great tip about the towel. Thank You.


I'd certainly recommend spinning on the highest possible setting before you use the tumble drier. Personally I try to dry things as much as possible first on a clothes horse but that might not be possible in your current state of upheaval. I would suggest you do put one lot to dry off in the front room overnight when you go to bed. Shut the door on it and you'd be surprised how much heat is left in the room.

PenguinOfDeath

natlie wrote: »

I do a spin in the washer, my tumble dryer switches itself off - sensor dry - when the clothes are dry - its great. t

So does mine, however I have noticed most of the time the clothes are dry but it keeps on going, and going until it decides they're dry...


I put my towel in after a shower, after 5 mins I stop the dryer and it's fine, left to its own devices it would be at least half an hour until it decides it's cupboard dry... Such a waste

bargainbetty

I've given in and put the heating on, but I've got an airer in front of it for double duty. I tend to leave things overnight to hang, and then chuck anything not quite there into the drier for a 'ready to wear' dry. Usually doesn't take long.

pigpen

few things in .. I put about 4-6kg in my 8kg dryer.. and run consecutive loads so you aren't heating the drum time and again.

I put socks/pants/tiny things in, then tshirts/leggings/schooluniform, then sweatshirt... while stuff like towels and jeans are hung on airers/doors/radiators until somewhat drier. I will not dry towels from fully wet.. they take forever!

maman

PenguinOfDeath wrote: »

So does mine, however I have noticed most of the time the clothes are dry but it keeps on going, and going until it decides they're dry...


I put my towel in after a shower, after 5 mins I stop the dryer and it's fine, left to its own devices it would be at least half an hour until it decides it's cupboard dry... Such a waste

Mine's the same. I'd never trust it to switch itself off soon enough for me. Pigpen's got a point about them warming up too. They need to be on for a decent amount of time to get the heat going.

JulieM

Do you have an airing cupboard where you could hang a few lightweight items to dry, so as to reduce the amount you put in the tumble drier?

Icey77

JulieM wrote: »

Do you have an airing cupboard where you could hang a few lightweight items to dry, so as to reduce the amount you put in the tumble drier?

Nope
Last winter I could use the 3rd bedroom and have the clothes on airers, now DS is in there and I'm not happy putting dampness into the air that he has to sleep in. The rest of the house is without heating and is a building site.

The tumble dryer was coming in anyway to go into the new utility room (soooo excited by this!!!) so it's come in a few weeks early. The Mount Washmore is humongous and Frog is in her last pair of clean and dry knickers, she has clean ones in the airer but they are still slightly damp

System

Is yours a condensor dryer or a vented one? I think the latter dry things more quickly and the clothes feel less damp when you remove them.