Thrifty tumble drying

Using a tumble dryer is expensive! I’ve worked out that my tumble dryer costs 50p per load to run, and we do between 2-4 loads of washing a week. Appliances Online have a handy guide that tells you how much tumble dryers will cost to run per year, which you can find here.

In summer I don’t use the tumble dryer at all, but despite my thriftiness, I refuse to get rid of our tumble dryer. Having washing drying on your radiators for days on end does not make for pleasant living conditions, especially when they fail to dry and your house starts smelling moldy. However, I have managed to greatly reduce how much the tumble dryer costs to run, following a few steps:

• Utilise the spin function on your washing machine. After running a wash, set your machine on a “spin” load, which will dry out the clothes more effectively. I do this by default now, regardless of whether I’m using the tumble dryer or not, unless it is the height of summer.
• Use your heating. If you have radiators then you can put clothes onto them to dry, or place a clothes horse in front of them. Make sure you rotate them and take them off as soon as they’re dry, so that your heating isn’t being used to warm already dry clothing.
• Space out your washing loads. Doing 3-4 loads at the weekend means you will need to resort to using your tumble dryer more, but doing a load every couple of days means you’re able to rotate the washing on your radiators.
• If you’re using a condensor tumble dryer then empty the water after each load.
• Empty the fluff filters after each load.

Here are some more handy laundry tips:

6 tips for looking after you washing machine
Five thrifty laundry tips
Make your own liquid detergent
Make your own washing powder
Thrifty laundry room makeover
You’re using too much washing powder