HOW TO SAVE MONEY WHEN USING A TUMBLE DRYER
The tumble dryer has become a modern household necessity. It offers a very convenient and rapid solution for drying laundry regardless of the weather. However, this convenience often comes at a significant cost.
Tumble dryers are notorious for being one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home, contributing a substantial amount to your electricity bills. It may seem like a simple case of “on and off,” but the truth is that a surprising number of factors can impact your dryer’s efficiency. From the way you prepare your laundry to the way you load the machine. A few small changes in your routine can lead to big savings on your energy consumption.
This guide by appliance expert Paul Hanley at HomeHow.co.uk will walk you through a range of practical tips and smart habits that will help you reduce the running costs of your tumble dryer, making it a much more economical and environmentally friendly appliance. By following these steps, you can ensure your clothes are dried effectively without drying out your bank account.
Use The Spin Cycle on the Washing Machine to Remove Excess Water
If your clothes are sopping wet when you place them in the dryer, your dryer will have to work longer and harder to dry the clothes. This will result in an increase in energy consumption every time you dry your clothes. Plus, it will also put unnecessary strain on the machine. Use the spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from the garments before drying them.
Keep The Filters Clean
If the filters are blocked, the motor will have to work harder, and this increases the energy consumption of the machine. With this in mind, it’s important to keep on top of keeping the filters clean at all times. If you’re unsure about how to clean the filters, refer to your dryer’s user manual. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of cleaning the dryer filters after each load.
Make Sure The Dryer Is In a Well-Ventilated Room
Although you may be restricted on where you can place the dryer in the home, it’s important to ensure that you keep the room where the dryer is well-ventilated. This is particularly important if you have a vented dryer.
When Drying, Keep Similar Fabrics Together
If you choose to dry similar fabrics together, the garments will usually take roughly the same amount of time to dry. This means that all of your clothing items will be dry at the same time. If you dry several different types of fabrics together, the machine may be running for longer to try to dry one or two items even though the rest of the garments are already dry. This reduces the energy efficiency of the load.
Avoid Overloading or Underloading The Dryer
If you want to get the most out of your dryer for your money, it’s important to put the right amount of clothes in the load. If you overload it, you’ll hinder the drying performance and may even cause damage to the appliance. If you don’t put enough items in the load, you’ll be using a full cycle’s worth of energy just to dry a few things. As a quick rule of thumb, filling the drum by just over halfway is about the right amount for optimum energy efficiency.
Use The Sensor Programmes Instead of Timed Programmes
If your dryer has sensor programmes, you should use these rather than timed programmes. Timed programmes will keep running even if everything is dry. This is clearly a waste of energy. If you use sensor drying programmes, the dryer will stop when all of the garments have reached the required dryness level that you have set.
Avoid Adding More Wet Clothes in The Middle of a Cycle
It may be tempting to add some more wet items to the dryer mid-way through a cycle. However, this is not good for efficiency. The water in the wet clothes will spread into the clothes that are dryer. This means that the entire load will take much longer, and the machine will use more energy overall. It’s better to dry the extra wet items another way or wait for the next load.
Dry Loads One After Another
If you have a lot of things to dry, you should do multiple loads one after another. That way, each of the new loads will benefit from the heat from the previous load. This can shave off a few minutes of drying time. While this may not seem like much, every little helps when you’re trying to save money.
Use Dryer Balls
You can reduce the drying time by around 25% if you add dryer balls to the load. Dryer balls can help to soften the fabrics of your clothes. They can also help to lift and separate your garments, allowing the hot air to flow more efficiently. This speeds up the drying process, making your dryer much more energy efficient.
Untangle The Laundry Before Drying
You should always untangle your laundry before placing it in the dryer. If your garments are all tangled together, they will take much longer to dry and will often be more difficult to dry. This means that your dryer will have to work harder and longer, which will reduce the energy efficiency of the load.
Fasten The Bottom of Duvet Covers Before Drying
If you are drying a duvet cover along with other items, it’s important to fasten the bottom of the duvet cover before placing it in the dryer. If you don’t, your other clothing items could become trapped inside the duvet cover, making them much more difficult to dry. Your clothes may come out wet, or your dryer may work harder and longer to dry these items. Closing the duvet cover will ensure everything remains separate.
Final Thoughts
Saving money on your tumble dryer use is not about making drastic sacrifices, but more about adopting a smarter and more mindful approach to your laundry routine. As we have seen, the keys to a more efficient machine are simple, yet impactful, actions—from pre-drying clothes in the washing machine and keeping filters clean to optimising each load with similar fabrics and using sensor technology. These habits, when combined, create a powerful system for reducing energy consumption and extending the life of your appliance.
By implementing these tips, you transform your tumble dryer from a costly machine into a more economical and sustainable part of your home. You’ll not only see a noticeable difference in your energy bills but also contribute to a greener planet. Remember, every small step towards efficiency is a step towards a more comfortable and cost-effective home.
