Use a dehumidifier or heater to dry clothes?

Percypeeved

I have a separate spin dryer that removes much more water than a washing machine spin dryer. Alternatively, give your washing a 2nd spin in the washer, washing comes out feeling a little dryer.

70sbudgie

This conversation is so enlightening! I hadn't realised that tumble drier technology had moved on so much.

I have a 12 year old washer dryer that I am keeping going as best I can. The electronics controlling the door catch have gone, so I have to use the emergency door release 9 times out of 10. Other than that, it seems to function ok. (I'm touching every bit of woord within reach at this moment in the hope that I don't jinx it now I've said it "out loud"!)

The washer dryer is in a smallish utility room, that has plenty of drying racks - just about enough for 2 loads. There is underfloor heating, but in the shoulder months when it is too wet to dry clothes outside and too warm for the heating to operate much, clothes take days to dry.  I started reading this post because I was feeling inspired down the dehumidifier route as a solution. But given the state of my washer dryer, I'm now wondering whether a heat pump tumble dryer might be a better investment. I have only used the dryer function for emergencies and recently towels as my current machine doesn't seem to have a temperature control.

Do modern dryers specify if they are heat pump and is that technology available with washer dryers?

Alnat1

70sbudgie said:

Do modern dryers specify if they are heat pump and is that technology available with washer dryers?

Yes and yes.

gefnew

Something like this may give you an idea of cost of replacing.
Samsung DV90T5240AE 9kg Series 5+ Heat Pump Condenser Dryer – WHITE £599 with code @ Appliance City | hotukdeals

PennyForThem_2

This may have been discussed:

If you have any outdoor space that you can hang clothes - do it!  Even on a non windy day it can take out moisture.  And do not worry if it rains - yes may take longer to dry depending, you have to make decision whether to now use tumble dryer or humidifier.

I hang on line outside, always have even when working 8am/6pm  -  used basic tumble dryer maybe 10 times a year.  If mostly dry - aired indoors.  If not dry, hung out next day.  No harm done.

I always fold before hanging out and fold again when taking in.  Lessens creases = no ironing (never done ironing, waste of time)

70sbudgie

PennyForThem_2 said:

This may have been discussed:

If you have any outdoor space that you can hang clothes - do it!  Even on a non windy day it can take out moisture.  And do not worry if it rains - yes may take longer to dry depending, you have to make decision whether to now use tumble dryer or humidifier.

I hang on line outside, always have even when working 8am/6pm  -  used basic tumble dryer maybe 10 times a year.  If mostly dry - aired indoors.  If not dry, hung out next day.  No harm done.

I always fold before hanging out and fold again when taking in.  Lessens creases = no ironing (never done ironing, waste of time)

I dry outside when I can but unfortunately have a north facing garden in the western foothills of the Pennines - one of the wettest parts of the country. My laundry would have rotted before it dries if I hang it out in this weather. 

Even inside I hang my washing in a way that minimises creases and so only iron children's school uniform and a few shirts.

gefnew

You could try something like this.

poppellerant

I used to have a dehumidifier a few years ago, but I found my Ebac one noisy and sucked away at my electric bill.  Yes, it did get rid of moisture in the air, but I find opening the windows achieves the same results for a fraction of the cost.

However, I've not been putting the heating on and have yet to do so this half of 2022.  So opening windows lets cold air into an already cool house.  Also, I'm finding drying laundry a bit of a nightmare right now, especially with neither a dehumidifier or heating running.

So do I bite the bullet and just put the heating on and set it to say 18.5c? Or do I buy a dehumidifier to leech away at my electric? There is of course going to come a point where I put the heating on and it will probably stay on for a few weeks, as my body learns to appreciate the newly founded heat.

70sbudgie

gefnew said:

You could try something like this.

Would that actually work? If the air is <10 degrees and the humidity is high from the rain, (and assuming the rain is only vertical) would clothing really dry?

QrizB

70sbudgie said:

Would that actually work? If the air is <10 degrees and the humidity is high from the rain, (and assuming the rain is only vertical) would clothing really dry?

It might stop the laundry getting wetter during showers, and it could then dry in-between showers? Perhaps?