We can all agree, tumble dryers are a brilliant convenience to have in the home. Whether you’re in a time crunch, it’s the middle of winter, or perhaps you simply just don’t feel like waiting around for your clothes to air dry, your tumble dryer can make doing the laundry so much quicker and easier.
However, we’ve all been there, been overzealous with how much we use the tumble dryer and find ourselves wincing a little when it comes to the electricity bill at the end of the month.
It may seem a little painful to read, yet many of us pay over £140 a year to keep our tumble dryers running, whereas using it efficiently could cost as little as £23 per year.
If you’re looking for some tips and tricks on how to reduce your household bills with your tumble dryer, you’ve come to the right place. Read below for some of our best insights into how you could save those precious pennies each month.
Dry Full Loads, & Make Them The Right Size
Once you’ve done your weekly laundry, it’s very easy to be tempted to do a mid-week wash of a couple of shirts just to make sure you’ve got enough for the rest of the week. However, whilst this is convenient, it isn’t helping your energy bills.
Doing this will use exactly the same amount of energy as it would if you filled the drum completely. This is why you should try to, as much as possible, fill the drum each time you run the tumble dryer.
Keep in mind the maximum weight it can hold, though. You don’t want to overfill it, as it will take longer to dry your clothes.
Dry Similar Fabrics Together
Heavy towels will take longer to dry than light shirts. Therefore, if you’re drying mixed loads, you’ll be left drying clothes that are already dry whilst waiting for a damp towel.
When you separate fabric types, you can be sure that you’re not wasting energy on clothes that are already dry.
Untangle Your Clothes
Especially when you’re in a rush, it’s easy to not think twice about shoving your clothes in the tumble dryer and setting them running.
However, this could be costing you.
When your clothes get tangled, they won’t be able to tumble properly and furthermore will take longer to dry. The longer the dryer runs, the more energy it uses and the more costly your bills will be.
Tumble Dryer Balls
They’re small but mighty! Tumble dryer balls could reduce your drying times by 25%, as they separate fabrics and help the air to circulate easier around the drum.
Available in wool and rubber, woollen tumble dryer balls will soak up excess water and rubber ones will retain heat and massage fabrics to help your clothes come out fluffy.
Avoid Timed Cycles
Timed cycles could mean that you’re drying your clothes for longer than needed. For example, your clothes could be dry in an hour but when you’ve set a 2-hour programme, that’s an hour of wasted energy.
Whilst these cycles are great for drying your clothes when you need them, they can create unexpected surprises on your monthly bills.
If your tumble dryer model has a moisture sensor, try using this as much as possible, as it will stop the cycle at the right time.
Don’t Add Wet Clothes To The Cycle
We’ve all missed adding a shirt or a pair of jeans from the washing machines, to the tumble dryer. Yet, this is one of the worst things you can do, should you be looking to save money. Doing so will make the cycle run longer and you’ll be re-drying already dry fabrics.
Try hanging those missed garments on a clothes horse, or radiator to save energy and money on your bills.
Clean The Filter
This is something that we’re all guilty of forgetting, however, it’s very important. When your tumble dryer’s filter is clogged, the hot air won’t be able to push hot air around the drum properly and it will take longer to dry your clothes.
Of course, the longer your dryer runs for, the more money it costs.
To clean your tumble dryer’s filter, simply rinse it under the tap or run a cloth over it.
Make Sure It Is Running Properly
Making sure that your tumble dryer is running properly and working as it should, will also make sure that it is running efficiently.
By calling in a professional, such as The Complete Service, leading providers of Appliance Repair Surrey, you can be sure that your machine is running at its best and is efficient.
Calling in the experts will help you to save money in the long run and ensure that your tumble dryer will last for as long as possible.
