Do you use a tumble dryer?

Wouldn’t be without it but not everything goes in it.

Yes.

Dog towels. Daily people towels. Sheets.

Airing cupboard for some items.

Always had one and always use it. Very rarely hang things out nowadays, too much hassle to get rotary dryer out of garage and don't want to leave it there permanently on the lawn, bit of an eyesore. for things like sweaters or non-tumble items I put them on a clothes airer in spare bedroom where I do my ironing, they're usually dry enough to iron by the next day.

I had one when the children were young. Then I found that my son, then 16, was putting his DRY school trousers in it, just to warm them before he cycled to school. Just one pair of dry trousers, sometimes his (dry) jumper too, for the 45 minutes I was outside seeing to animals. It developed a fault and I got rid of it 20 years ago, my electricity bill plummeted, I’ve never bothered with another and wouldn’t consider one again.

With five of us in the house and the weather we have had this winter, our tumble drier has been a workhorse. Those items that can be tumbled, I tumble, the rest go on airers on the landing to catch the warm air rising. I have also recently bought a dehumidifier as with the amount of washing and all of us at home most of the day (DGC being home schooled at the moment), I noticed some mould in the corner of the ceiling.

Yes, I always use it to fluff up the towels. Use it to dry stuff when I can’t hang clothes out in the winter. Line dry as soon as possible from spring to autumn.

I use a clothes airier and de-humidifier for wool, silk etc.

Wouldn’t be without a tumble dryer or a dehumidifier. I separate items and tumble dry most things first a few minutes. T shirts are put onto hangers crease free. Towels go onto a dryer slightly fluffed up. Socks onto one of those circular things with clothes pegs so I can match them up easily. Dogs bedding usually goes in for 15 minutes and, being synthetic comes out pretty dry.Everything then gets put next to a dehumidifier to dry completely. I can’t remember the last time I ironed anything. When my children were born my husbands sister advised him against us getting a tumble dryer. When we stayed with her first a few days I asked her how I could wash and dry nappies and was shocked when she said ‘you can use my tumble dryer’. Years later I’m still bitter about it ( she never did like me ).

I struggle to reach the whirly line now, osteoporosis in my spine caused me to lose 4 inches in height! I do peg washing out on the lower rungs of the line when it’s not raining, otherwise I use the tumble drier. I don’t use fabric conditioner now.

I do use a tumble dryer always for towels, sometimes for jeans etc if they cant be dried outside on the whirlygig. Sheets, duvets covers and bathmats go to the laundry which is just at the end of my road and nit too expensive. I rarely have any dry cleaning for them these days.

I don't have one.. I use radiators or bannisters if I'm unable to hang things up outside.. I don't use fabric conditioner and prefer harder towels..

No

Yes all the time, during the winter and even in the summer if its raining. I do use the line in the warm summer months, but not for the towels.

I've got one, somewhere. But it is hardly ever used. I have a large area where I can dry clothes on a line inside, and outside.

Still have one, but it’s rarely used now - only if we need things in a hurry. E.g. when Gdcs have been staying for a few days and I don’t want to send them home with a bag of dirty clothes for dd to wash.

I wouldn’t be without it, though. It’s a very old one, with just 2 settings, hot and less hot. I look at new ones with umpteen settings and do wonder who on earth needs so many…

We have one though it doesn’t get so much use since the children moved out and so many things, even 100% cotton say do not tumble dry.”

Mostly used to fluff up towels, though I don’t mind them rough and scrunchy. This winter has seen it used more as I don’t like damp washing hanging round.

Recently we were given 4hours free electricity so I did use it and the washing machine to wash and dry bedding, towels and dog bedding. Looking at the before and
after pics of the monitor, I was amazed at how little electricity we actually used in the 4 hours. Using the shower is far more costly.

I can only think of one occasion in the last five years. Someone staying with us needed it. I always line dry if possible - I rather enjoy pegging it out -and finish off on the airer.

I agree about limiting how much stuff needs to be washed MOnica

When DH was working, he had an outdoors job and yes, he came home quite dirty and sweaty, his workwear needed a good wash. Sweaty feet, smelly socks from being in Wellingtons.

Now we are both retired, our clothes stay remarkably clean and fresh, and we don’t change our outer clothes half as much as we once did.

I used to work with a woman who hated having ‘underclothes hanging about’. She must have had her washer in use daily with just a pair of pants and a bra being laundered.

Mad.

Many people seem to think washing their clothes so much is a bit of ‘oneupmanship’- “Look how clean and particular I am”.

No, I have never had one.

In 3 of the five houses we have owned, we have had a utility room of sorts. When we didn't have a utility room I used a rack in the garage.

Three years ago we extended our current home to include a utility room. It has a large heated towel rail on one wall, a fold-out drying rack above it, and an extractor fan above that. The towel rail works on electricity or CH. This dries clothes very effectively.

Howeve, the root of the matter is I limit how much washing I do. I air clothes after wearing them, sponge dirty marks off clothes and otherwise spot clean. Since my children came out of nappies a very long time ago. I have only used my washing machine twice a week, sometimes three, very occasionally more often. We wash ourselves daily, we do not smell and we do not walk round in dirty clothes.

As children our mothers did far less washing than we do now, and the majority of people did not smell or walk round in dirty clothes. If people smelt it was because of a lack of personal hygiene, not because they were wearing a shirt for 2 days or longer.

Having said all that, I do understand that if you live in a flat, or other accommodation with no access to somewhere to dry clothes where the damp does not circulate around the house - and with modern highly insulated draft free houses that is a problem, then a tumble dryer is a necessity.

But I do think that most people could considerably reduce the amount they wash and reduce the energy they use directly, and indirectly through detergents, softeners etc.

The posts on this thread made me smile compared to the replies I got when talking about leaving a light on.

I use my dryer about 6 times a year but I do like lights on in my house a lot of the time.

I never use fabric conditioner.

No. I've never had one.
I don't think I've ever thought I needed one.

Yes and use it all the time.

I’ve never owned one, if it can’t go outside it’s in a spare bedroom on an airer with the dehumidifier running, I have never used conditioner in a wash either, don't mind rough towels.

A heat pump condenser and I love it so much!
I do hang washing whenever possible as I’m lucky enough to have a washing line however with the rain these past months it has been a blessing and no mistake. I recommend it to anyone.

I used to have a tumble dryer when the children were still living at home. When we had a new kitchen, about 10 years ago, I decided not to replace it and to use the space for an additional cupboard. I prefer my washing to dry outside when the weather is dry, but during the Winter and when it is raining use a pulley in the utility room, which is very effective.

Yes.

I hate having damp clothes hanging around my tiny flat.

I only use it in the winter when my fingers go white from the cold at the drop of a hat - hanging damp clothes does nothing for that!