Using a tumble dryer is without a doubt the quickest way of coping with a wet wash day.
But the massive rise in energy bills mean the once useful machine has in many homes been shunned in favour of heated airers, dehumidifiers and other equipment which promise to dry your clothes for less cash.
With energy prices rising, we're all trying to be economical where we can, but there are steps you can take to lower the price of using your tumble dryer and maybe save money by not buying new gadgets.
But if you are in the market for a new dryer, make sure it's a heat pump model rather than the traditional vented or condenser machines most families use. While they can cost more initially - although the cost is coming down - the best models can slash your energy use by around 50%, making them a much cheaper machine to run.
Read more: Householders could get £10 a day cash incentive to use washing machine at night
There are a few heat pump dryers coming in at under £400 now, compared to around £250 for the cheaper conventional dryers, so the higher cost can be offset much more quickly than when they first came onto them market. The payback for the cheaper running cost is that heat pump dryers usually take longer to dry your washing - although the overall cost is still lower.
However, regardless of whether you have a heat pump, vented or condenser dryer, there are some simple steps you can take to save energy and money every time you use it, according to consumer group Which?
1. Give your washing an extra spin
The dryer your clothes are when they go in the tumble dryer, the less time they will take. So it makes perfect sense to give your washing an extra spin before moving it to your dryer. Washing machine spin cycles cost less to run than tumble drying, and the dryer will then need to run for less time to dry your clothes. If it's a dull but dry day, you can also save money by hanging your clothes on the washing line then just 'finishing them off' in the dryer before you put them away.
2. Separate different clothes types
Mixed loads make your dryer run for longer and can also cause havoc if you have a sensor dryer, which switches off when it thinks the load is dry (see below). But lots of half loads of the same type of washing can also mean higher running costs. If you can manage it, fewer and fuller loads of the same clothes type is the best solution to aim for.
3. Take care over programs
Select the program that most accurately fits the load you're drying to avoid over-dry clothes or alternatively a damp pile that needs to go back in for another go. Most modern tumble dryers have sensors that will finish the program automatically when they detect that the clothes inside are dry, however some make the dryer finish the program with clothes still damp, which will cut out any cost savings.
4. Clean the lint filter after every use
The lint filter collects the fluff that comes off your clothes as they are drying, and if it gets blocked, the hot air you are paying for in the dryer won't be able to circulate freely, making the dryer work harder and costing you more.
5. Untangle shirts and separate socks
Drying will take much longer if you put your laundry straight in the tumble dryer from the washing machine without untangling it first.
6. Do up poppers on your duvet covers
Doing up buttons or poppers on your duvet covers will prevent small items such as socks or underwear from getting trapped inside the cover and staying damp when the rest of the washing is dry.
7. Clean the heat exchanger
If you do have a heat pump dryer, there's an extra job you should be doing monthly. Vents in the heat exchanger can become caked in fluff and hair, so regularly cleaning it helps it to function more efficiently. Check your instructions or the manufacturer's website for how to do it.
8. Think about positioning
To get the best from your machine, it should be placed somewhere warm, dry and well ventilated. Cold, damp and poorly ventilated rooms will make work harder for your dryer, so putting it in a garage will cost you more money.
9. Think about using dryer balls
Although not recommended by Which? to cut costs, many people and some manufacturers, such as Hotpoint, do recommend these and as they can be picked up for as little as £5, there's no harm in trying them. The theory is they untangle your laundry as it dries, maximising warm air flow. Vivien Fodor, Hotpoint ’s category manager for laundry in the UK & Ireland, said: "Place dryer balls into the drum and watch as they untangle your laundry, maximising warm airflow for a quicker and more efficient cycle, whilst looking after your purse strings. "
Read more:
- Martin Lewis issues advice on best time to use your dryer after warnings of blackouts
- Experts warn consumers not to listen to social media 'advice' on energy bills
- Warning over British Gas scam emails offering fake energy bill 'refund' worth hundreds
- The help you can get from your energy company if you can't pay your bills
- Warning issued over 'significant risk' of gas shortages in Britain this winter
