IT can be tempting during the cold and damp winter months to rely on your tumble dryer to help you get through your laundry.
But it’s definitely not the cheapest way to dry your clothes.
And after energy bills rose earlier this month to £1,755 for the average household, many will be looking for ways to cut down on their usage.
We’ve spoken to experts to find out how much popping your clothes in the tumble dryer is really adding to your energy bills – and how you can use it most efficiently.
How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer?
The cost of running a tumble dryer largely depends on what sort of machine you have.
According to USwitch energy experts, a standard tumble dryer uses 2.5kWh of energy per cycle – and most have cycles that are completed in as little as an hour.
Currently, each kWh of energy you use costs 26p if you’re on a dual fuel tariff – which is what most UK households are on.
This means you’ll be spending roughly 66p per load of washing.
If you do three loads of washing each week, then using the tumble dryer could be adding £102.96 to your annual energy bills.
But if you cut back and do just one cycle a week, this comes to £34.32 a year.
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“Tumble dryers are one of the most energy intensive appliances around the home, which means that costs can quickly mount up if you’re using one often,” says Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at USwith.com.
According to Lara Brittain, white goods expert at Currys, a heat pump tumble dryer is the best value on the market right now.
“There are several types of tumble dryers available on the market and while heat pump tumble dryers are initially more expensive to buy, they’ll save you money in the long run.
“That’s because they’re the most energy-efficient, as hot air gets recycled from the cycle that would otherwise be wasted.
“Especially useful for larger households with lots of drying to do, their heat retention means drying take less time on subsequent loads,” she said.
These can cost as little as 37p per cycle to run.
How to save money when drying your clothes
“If you do decide to use a tumble dryer, make sure you’re using it efficiently,” Mr Gallizzi adds.
Always fill it to max capacity before you run it to avoid wasting energy.
Households waste an extra £16.15 on average a year by not filling their tumble dryer, according to USwitch.
But avoid overloading it – this will take your clothes longer to dry and could even end up damaging them.
And try to dry similar fabrics together, as these will dry at the same rate and reduce overall drying time.
Remember to clean the lint filter every time you use your machine, as this will black the hot air from freely circulating.
You could also give some cheaper alternatives to tumble dryers a go, especially if you’ve got a huge pile of laundry to get through.
Heated airers – essentially a hot clothing rack – cost around 40p to use for five hours under current energy prices, USwitch estimates.
These can be found on the high street right now, including from Dunelm and Asda, and cost around £75-80.
If you’ve got a normal drying rack, try putting a dehumidifier in the same room.
This can help clothes to dry faster by removing moisture from the air.
You could also consider switching to an off-peak tariff, which could save you money when using appliances like your tumble dryer.
Off-peak or “time of use” tariffs charge you less when you use electricity at certain times of the day – typically overnight.
If it fits with your schedule, you could save money by switching to one of these tariffs and popping on your tumble dryer overnight.
