Savvy consumers have been warning against using one household appliance unless it’s absolutely necessary – and Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis agrees with the advice
Many people depend on tumble dryers to dry their clothes and towels at home. It often appears to be the convenient option when you’re short on time, but it could be more expensive than you realise.
For that reason, both consumer expert Martin Lewis and savvy social media users have been warning about the “demon appliance”. And one of these is frugal influencer Shannen.
According to Shannen, known as _greengal on TikTok, it cost her €2.35 to fully dry a “full load” of towels, which equates to roughly £1.98. She said it took about an hour and 45 minutes to complete the task.
The experiment prompted her to conclude that it’s “way more efficient” to simply hang them out to dry. She acknowledged that this isn’t always feasible due to factors such as weather, but you should consider ditching the tumble dryer when possible because it can help save money.
After Shannen shared the video, viewers were stunned at how expensive it is to use this common household appliance.
The clip has been watched more than 16,000 times since it was posted – and people were quick to comment. They even offered some of their own tips.
One person suggested: “Throw in a dry towel with the wet ones, they will dry quicker.” Another advised: “Double spin before you put them in the dryer.”
A third also responded: “Wouldn’t be without my dryer. Helps me run my house more efficiently. I’ll take the financial hit for that.”
Martin Lewis’ tumble dryer advice
Money-saving guru Martin Lewis previously told BBC News there are more economical ways to dry clothing than using your tumble dryer.
He stated: “Do you know what the real demon appliance is in most people’s houses? The one that you don’t want to use because it’s really expensive – tumble dryers.
“I mean, you’re typically paying up to a quid per load, so dry your clothes on an airer outside to shorten the amount of time you’re using your tumble dryer, or avoid using it completely. Those who have dehumidifiers – that can take some of the moisture out.
“It’s less wattage than the tumble dryer, so it can be more effective.”
