Is a tumble dryer worth it?

vintagebrighton

I love my tumble dryer and wouldn't be without it. Living in a flat, I don't have the space to have wet washing hanging around for days. 3 adults and we probably use it 4 times a week..... worth every penny

Alisha2008

I've never own one and don't feel I need it at all, so it seems very personal... my clothes all dry in 24 hours and we have plenty of space so it's not an issue. Of course clothes are lovely warm and fluffy, but it's something you don't miss if you don't have.


Ocasionally I've got that problem with damp smell, but I think it has happen once or twice in 4 years, so not really an issue. If that happened more often or clothes took more than 24h to dry, I would consider one.

Angelina1

I use my tumble dryer for bedding and towels only in winter. Clothes get put on the inside airer as I think the tumble dryer shrinks them and generally ruins them.

tanith

I had one but used it so little I gave it away... I dry outside even in cold weather as long as its not actually damp/raining washing will dry then I finish off on the airer..

PlymouthMaid

I have managed my whole life so far without and can't say that I have ever felt deprived. I wouldn't out most of my own clothes through it anyway and usually manage to dry either outside (in the warm months) or on the radiators (in the Winter). The only time it is more tricky is a week like this when it is too warm for the heating and too damp outside.

cajef

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

on the radiators (in the Winter).

Have you seen how much water comes out of wet clothes when drying them in a condenser dryer, where do you think all that water/damp is going when you dry the them on a radiator?

tanith

I agree drying on radiators isn't a good idea, when I have washing on the airer I either have windows open or stand it in the kitchen near the open back door... I don't have any trouble drying my washing all through the Winter..

jenniewb

I bought myself a tumble drier with some money I was given last year at Christmas. I think it has been one of the best purchases I've made in a long time.


I had lived for over 10 years without a drier as a single person, I was economical about what I wore, rotated clothes so I could fit everything onto one of three clothes horses which were permanently up on my very small studio flat. I lost about 1/3 to 1/2 of my entire floor space due to clothes constantly needing to be dried- I have such poor ventilation that it would take up to a week for example for a pair of jeans to dry, certain types of clothes I just gave up wearing as a direct result. I have radiators which are not supposed to be covered as they need ventilation or will catch fire and have no space at the back either so using radiators was never an option.


I knew that a tumble drier would be expensive to run, but you have to weigh up what is important to you. There are benefits such as not needing to have the heating on when the drier is going, being able to have what feels like a whole new room due to the floor space I've since gained and just not feeling like I'm living in constant clutter. My clothes dry softer due to being thrown around whilst drying which makes them so much easier to iron I can't begin to tell you, and the idea that if I desperately need to wear something and it needs to be washed I can have it ready within hours rather than days or even over a week.


I also like that my flat doesn't feel so clammy or damp all the time due to the washing drying and the psychology of not constantly feeling I have x work/ironing to do. It somehow looks a lot less once in a pile straight from the drier rather than hanging up covering 3 large scale clothes horses. I don't feel so embarrassed if a guest visits unannounced now due to various forms of underwear hanging up everywhere! (That being said, some underwear items should not be put through the drier).


I got a fairly cheap drier but if you can afford it, look for the additions that would suit you. My drier was £200 from AO but the one I really liked the look of was over £400. It's about working out what you need and what you can afford and if you will use the extra functions, the likelihood of it breaking down and how easy it is to maintain and clean.

DUKE

For years I'd put washing out in the dark mornings before work, then get it in when I got back from work in the dark, & still having it hanging around the flat for days. Then I treated myself to a tumble dryer. Now the only thing I dry on the line these days are sheets & towels, & that's only on really good days. So no more washing hanging around the place like in the olden days, no having to wash it again because it took so long to dry & it absolutely stinks! No damp home, or bad health due to chest problems, & what you spend on tumbling, you'll save on ironing. Go on treat yourself!

Luckystar

Another condenser TD owner here, I only use it in winter for towels, bedding and heavy items but definately wouldn't want to be without it. Drying a king size duvet cover in winter takes forever otherwise. I use a clothes horse for smaller items and keep it in the dining room in front of the radiator.