An expert has revealed a simple trick when using your tumble dryer this winter, which will save you hundreds on your electricity bills.
Tumble dryers are said to be one of the most expensive household appliances to run, often costing the average UK home around £131 a year in energy bills due to the amount of electricity they use. However in winter, air-drying clothes can be difficult and for those who need their clothes dried quickly or have a large family, then having a tumble dryer is essential.
The experts at Save Money Cut Carbon have revealed a simple trick to make your tumble dryer more efficient and help cut costs. And it is as simple as untangling your washing before drying it. They said: “All of your items are likely to bundle together in the washing machine, so before popping everything in the dryer, make sure you untangle and separate them first.
“This ensures that everything will dry quicker and evenly, meaning lower energy consumption.”
How does sorting out laundry save money on energy bills?
When clothes are twisted into a tight ball in the tumble dryer, hot air cannot circulate evenly around the fabric to dry it, so it takes a lot longer to dry.
Most tumble dryers are quipped with a moisture sensor and if clothes stay bunched together in the middle, the sensor can keep the cycle running even if the clothes are already dry.
Spending a few extra seconds to properly separate your washing can make the drying process faster and cut down the amount of time your tumble dryer needs to run, the Express reports.
It’s also beneficial to sort clothes by fabric type, since heavier items like towels or jeans take longer to dry. Mixing them with lighter garments can result in uneven drying.
Mixing different types of laundry can make the tumble dryer run longer and may also wear out clothes over time, as lighter items like socks and T-shirts are more prone to overheating.
How else can you make your tumble dryer more efficient?
Many people assume that cramming the tumble dryer full will save money on energy bills by drying more clothes at once. However, overloading the dryer can lengthen the cycle and increase costs, so it’s more efficient to run two small loads, which will actually be faster overall.
If you have a lot of washing to get through, starting the second load in the tumble dryer immediately after the first is very efficient, as the dryer will still be warm, meaning it takes far less time to heat up.
After washing your clothes in the washing machine, you should put them in a quick spin cycle, as it helps to remove excess moisture, which in turns shortens the tumble dryer cycle.
Maximising the efficiency of your tumble dryer is really simple and usually only takes a few seconds, but it can make a noticeable difference to your energy use, helping you save on your electricity bills this winter.