Are you using your tumble dryer in the most efficient way? If not, you're not alone. While tumble dryers can be extremely helpful in speeding up the drying of your laundry, they can also be expensive to use so we have compiled this blog to provide you with all the tips needed to use your tumble dryer more effectively.
1. Learn your tumble dryer’s settings
Modern dryers offer a variety of settings and programs, such as "light dry," "delicates," and "very dry,". To make sure you're operating your appliance effectively and controlling your energy usage, familiarise yourself with these options. For instance, if the load you're drying can be dried more rapidly with a shorter, colder, and more energy-efficient program, why run your dryer at a high temperature program?
If your dryer has a "auto-dry" function, we recommend using this setting as much as possible. The auto dry mode will only dry your clothing for the length of time they require, saving you time and energy.
2. Don't overload your tumble dryer
It sounds obvious but people often try to pack their laundry in to avoid having to put on more than one load. Since dryers actually operate by circulating hot air, over filling will cause the dryer to take longer and consume more energy.
3. Clean your tumble dryer’s lint filter
Maintaining a clean dryer is important to extend its lifespan and increase its effectiveness. After each tumble drying cycle, you should thoroughly clean the filter by eliminating all of the lint. Not only can a lint buildup make it harder for your appliance to dry items efficiently, but if the lint gets inside your machine, there may be a fire hazard.
If your tumble dryer is vented, make sure to periodically inspect it for any lint, dust, or debris in both the vent hose and the outside vent. This will enable safe and effective air venting for your dryer.
Additionally, don't forget to remove the water from the condenser drawer of your tumble dryer after each cycle if you have one. The cycle will repeatedly stop if the drawer fills up too much, requiring additional energy to restart.
4. Sort your laundry by material
You should always keep in mind that not all materials will require the same length of time to dry. A huge heavy towel or pair of denim pants will take significantly longer to dry than a thin football top, so you’ll risk over-drying the football shirt if you don’t separate them.
Organising your load according to fabric type will guarantee that every item of clothing dries simultaneously, saving energy on finishing the last few pieces. It may actually be beneficial to place any odd items you have to dry on a radiator instead of adding to the load.
5. Have a laundry day
Try to do all of your laundry loads on the same day if you have multiple loads to complete. This will avoid consuming additional electricity because your tumble dryer will already have built-up heat that will enable your garments to dry more quickly.
6. Use energy-saving dryer balls
Using tumble dryer balls can really help to reduce the energy being consumed, which will in turn lower expenses! They divide up your laundry meaning that so that air can circulate around them and speed up the drying process and saving you electricity. They even have the ability to soften and lessen static in your clothes. By adding a few of these balls to your laundry load during a cycle, you can cut down on drying time by up to 30%.
7. Think about the placement of your tumble dryer
Although placing your dryer in the garage or conservatory may keep in out of the way, if the circumstances aren't ideal, it may end up increasing your energy costs. Your dryer will use more energy to heat the air if the room is too cold so you should consider storing it in a room with good insulation.
Not only will keeping your dryer in a warm room save electricity, but you should also bear in mind that tumble dryers with condensers and heat pumps won't work effectively below 5°C.
8. Add a dry towel to your load
One final tip that will speed up the process without using more energy, simply include a dry towel in your load. This can help absorb some of the moisture. If you are only drying a few items, remove it after 5 minutes; if you are drying a full load, remove it after 15 minutes.
