THERE’S no feeling quite like hanging your fresh washing out on the line to dry when the sun is shining.
But when the weather turns and winter approaches, homeowners often try and look for quick and cheap ways to dry their wet laundry indoors without racking up a huge energy and water bill.
Michelle Feng shared three cheap ways to save money when drying your wet laundry[/caption]
Dunelm are selling two tumble dryer balls for £2.50[/caption]
Well, if you’ve got a tumble dryer at home but are worried about using it due to the ever-increasing costs, then look no further.
That’s because Michelle Feng, Product Marketing Manager at Hisense
UK, has spoken exclusively to Fabulous and revealed everything you need to know – from appliance tricks and tips to the cheapest time to put the washing on.
HOW MUCH DO TUMBLE DRYERS COST?
Michelle explains that the running cost of a tumble dryer depends on its type – heat pump or condensed.
“A heat pump dryer tends to be the cheapest to run, costing around £0.63 per cycle, whereas a condenser and vented dryer is more expensive, costing between £1.51 and £1.70 per cycle,” she says.
“The cost to run a tumble dryer can also heavily depend on the specific model’s energy efficiency, along with local electrical costs.”
TOWEL TRICK
According to Michelle Feng, there’s a simple way you can help to reduce the running time of a tumble dryer and therefore, make it more cost-effective.
And the good news is, it’s totally free…because you’ve got the item at home.
“If you were to place a clean towel in the tumble dryer, this will help to absorb excess moisture from the wet clothes and improve air flow in the drum,” Michelle explains.
“This will also then help to reduce the running time required.”
LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTON
The product marketing manager goes on to reveal the little-known button that can help to reduce the speed it takes to dry your wet clothes indoors this winter.
“Using the spin cycle on the washing machine before drying can help to remove excess moisture and this can help to reduce the run time required for the dryer,” she advises.
TUMBLE DRYER BALLS
And last but not least, Michelle recommends tumble dryer balls, which can be bought for as little as 78p from Temu, and can also be bought from the likes of Amazon and Dunelm.
“Tumble dryer balls can help to separate clothes, resulting in an improvement in air flow and helping to speed up the drying process within the drum,” Michelle explains.
“They can also help to reduce wrinkles and naturally soften fabrics in the dryer, giving a better final result.”
WHEN IS BEST TO USE YOUR TUMBLE DRYER?
Michelle advises using your tumble dryer during off-peak electrical hours.
“This will reduce the cost of the electricity needed to run the appliance per cycle,” she explains.
She goes on to highlight the importance of ensuring the dryer isn’t overloaded or underloaded.
“Filling to around three-quarters full will ensure clothes can move freely but whilst optimising space and energy used to run the appliance,” Michelle says.
“There are also small maintenance tasks like emptying the lint filter, cleaning the heat exchanger and making sure there is plenty of space around the dryer for ventilation.”
She adds: “For long term saving, investing in a new tumble dryer with a high energy efficiency rating will be significantly more cost-effective.”
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.
IS A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE PREFERABLE
Michelle notes that choosing an appropriate setting for the materials in the dryer will help to reduce any waste of energy, and money.
For example, there are some tumble dryers available, such as the Hisense 5i Tumble Dryer, that offers cool, low, medium and high temperature settings to protect fabrics and save energy.
“There’s no universal temperature for tumble drying, as this also depends on the materials in the drum,” Michelle explains.
“Checking the garments’ care tag for specific instructions is best to ensure no damage is made to the clothes when drying.”
