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Do you use a tumble dryer?

(124 Posts)
kittylester Mon 24-Feb-25 07:02:50

We have always had a tumble dryer. When the children were all at home and still at school it worked very hard.

We had uniforms, sports kits, casual clothes, DH's blue coats etc and so it seemed to be perpetually on the go. I did dry washing outside and on the pulley.

I continue to have a tumble dryer but it is rarely used now - mostly for drying down coats with tennis balls.

Do you use one regularly?

harrigran Mon 24-Feb-25 09:28:29

I use my dryer at every wash, much more convenient than carrying it outside and struggling with the washing line.

FlexibleFriend Mon 24-Feb-25 09:26:45

I have one, can't remember not having one tbh. Mine is in use every day and quite often multiple times a day. We use it as economically as possible by using solar power and cheap overnight tariffs but it goes on when necessary. I never dry washing indoors on radiators or airers.

Auntieflo Mon 24-Feb-25 09:26:25

Tanith, I too prefer ' harder'towels. Thay are not really hard, but not tumble dryer soft.
We got rid of our tumbler dryer when we had our kitchen re- done, several years ago, and I've not missed it at all.
I would love a clothes maiden, but haven't any where to put one.
I had a friend, with 4 boys. They would put their shirts in it so that they were nice and warm, when getting dressed!

karmalady Mon 24-Feb-25 09:23:10

There are soft towels that dry skin efficiently and there are soft towels made soft by conditioner, they do not dry skin efficiently

On a good drying day, after being outside, I give my towels a 20 minute refresh in my tumbler dryer. They are beautifully soft afterwards and perfect for drying skin. I never use conditioner

Whiff Mon 24-Feb-25 09:22:16

Agree soft towels aren't as absorbent as a rougher one . Never use fabric conditioner on towels or tea towels .

Whiff Mon 24-Feb-25 09:20:48

Have one but only used it a few times it's in the garage. I use my dehumidifiers on overnight on the night setting not laundry one and it dries all my washing overnight .. Plus keeps condensation away . I even use them in the summer if it's raining and can't dry my washing outside . Cheaper than using a tumble dryer.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 24-Feb-25 09:16:04

I’m with you tanith I don’t like ‘soft’ towels!

Maggiemaybe Mon 24-Feb-25 09:15:49

tanith

Am I the only one who actually prefers ‘hard’ towels? Soft ones don’t dry so well.

No, I’m with you, tanith! I hate those big fluffy hotel towels that just don’t do their job.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 24-Feb-25 09:12:23

Had one since the girls were small. Useful. Now not so much, I prefer to use the clothes maiden we are never in a rush to turn around laundry these days. On sunny dry days a put it on the little verandah, putting pegs on the clothes first!

tanith Mon 24-Feb-25 09:10:13

Am I the only one who actually prefers ‘hard’ towels? Soft ones don’t dry so well.

woodenspoon Mon 24-Feb-25 09:05:37

Yes we’ve got one, always had one. It’s perfect for weather like this where I dry things on airer and finish off in the dryer. In the summer months it’s all dried outside on the line. I always put towels in to soften them, whatever the weather.

Jane43 Mon 24-Feb-25 09:02:56

We have a condenser tumble dryer in the garage, I use it in the winter months and always for towels because if I hang them out they dry hard, I have tried many things to avoid this but nothing works.

Cabbie21 Mon 24-Feb-25 08:58:58

I’ve never had one. Clothes dry on an airer, not heated, in spare room or outside.

Shinamae Mon 24-Feb-25 08:56:19

prefer to line dry but will finish off in the tumble dryer for a few minutes
Luckily, I still have an airing cupboard that I had a small radiator put in, I have put two short lengths of washing line in there and put stuff on hangers in there.Does a brilliant job. 🤓

Sago Mon 24-Feb-25 08:54:00

Mine is for emergencies only, I’m too mean to use it unless I have to.
A line of washing for me is a joy!

RosieandherMaw Mon 24-Feb-25 08:50:26

Occasionally - sometimes to take the edge off eg a duvet cover before hanging it over the banister or after getting it nearly dry outside. Or in an emergency!
But I could not live without my “pulley” in the utility room on which I hang everything if I can’t dry it outside.

crazyH Mon 24-Feb-25 08:49:20

Drying not frying 😂

crazyH Mon 24-Feb-25 08:48:55

Have one setting for tumble frying but I don’t use it - far too expensive

Maggiemaybe Mon 24-Feb-25 08:48:35

Yes, I have to admit we use ours regularly over winter. Never in the warmer months, when we just use the rotary drier outside and wet clothes can wait for a decent drying day. I hate the damp feeling in the air and on external walls when we’ve occasionally put wet things on a radiator, and I returned the heated airer we bought as it was less than useless. We’ve cut down on the number of times we do a wash though, usually doing just one full white wash and one coloureds every 7 to 10 days.

cornergran Mon 24-Feb-25 08:48:33

We have a washer dryer that I think could be programmed to fly to the moon. The dryer function is used just to finish off towels. Nothing else. If I can’t dry outside laundry goes on an airer in the conservatory, most things are dry the next morning.

Smileless2012 Mon 24-Feb-25 08:47:59

I love mine too Rula. I hang washing outside when weather permits and wouldn't be without my tumble dryer.

Barleyfields Mon 24-Feb-25 08:47:28

Yes, and I always use it. I put it on at night during the cheaper tariff, I only leave woollens to dry flat naturally indoors.

escaped Mon 24-Feb-25 08:45:05

I wouldn't be without mine. Especially wet daily dog towels.

Calendargirl Mon 24-Feb-25 08:42:39

Haven’t got one. Love to hang lines of washing out in the back garden.

It looks damp today, I will put one lot of washing under the car port.

It might not dry at all, but will have an airing.

Then it will go on a clothes horse in the hall until dry enough to iron.

Finish off on the radiators to air properly.

My towels are always hard, but don’t mind.

Franbern Mon 24-Feb-25 08:41:53

Love living in a flat - love having no garden to worry about BUY only downside is not being able to hang washing outside. Really miss that. So, when I moved here I bought a Heat Pump Condenser tumble dryer. Lives in my guest bedroom(craft room.
Heat pump dryers take longer to dry a pile of washing, but much less in running cost. (they sort of run on an 'eco programme').
Even so, since energy costs started to soar upwards, I try not to use it too much. If weather is dry and sunny, dry off most of my weekly washing on large airers in that room with windows wide open. Also have a small dehumidifier in that room.
But on nasty gret, wet days, it is a relief just to put it all in the dryer, over and done with.