What tumble drying every time costs

Short answer: Three tumble dries a week cost between six hundred and twelve hundred kroner a year in electricity. On top of that comes the shorter life of your clothes. Both are worth knowing before the dryer becomes a fixed habit.

Electricity is the visible cost

Two to four kilowatt hours per cycle add up to several hundred kilowatt hours a year when the dryer runs three times a week. In many homes it is one of the biggest single items on the electricity bill. This applies whether you dry bamboo underwear for women or towels, since it is the machine itself that uses the power.

What the sum looks like

A full load costs four to eight kroner to tumble dry, depending on the machine and the electricity price. At three times a week, that is six hundred to twelve hundred kroner a year. If you dry more often, the amount rises accordingly. It is money many people do not think about, because it is spread over the whole year.

Wear is the hidden cost

The dryer shortens the life of your clothes by a quarter to a third. Heat and movement strain the fibres, and the lint in the filter is really small bits of your clothes. That costs more than the electricity on items like socks for women, where the elastic quickly loses its spring at high heat.

The low cost middle way

Tumble for twenty minutes and hang the rest up, and you get the softness without the full price. The short spin in the dryer fluffs up the fibres and removes the worst creases. The rest of the moisture goes on the rack. It also works on bamboo tops for women, which keep their shape better when not fully machine dried.

Spin well first

The more water the washing machine removes, the less time clothes need to dry afterwards. A high spin uses far less power than the dryer. So choose a spin speed that suits the fabric and let the clothes come out as dry as possible. It helps whether you tumble dry or hang up.

Hang clothes up properly

Shake clothes before hanging them so they smooth out and dry faster. Hang T-shirts and tops over a hanger or rail to avoid peg marks. Socks and underwear can hang on a rack with pegs. Leave air around the clothes so they dry evenly, and avoid direct sun if you want the colours to last.

Use low heat when you tumble

If clothes go in the dryer, choose a gentle programme with low heat. It takes a little longer but is kinder to fibres and elastic. Take clothes out as soon as they are dry so they do not over dry. Follow the care label, which tells you whether the item can be tumble dried and at what temperature.

When the dryer makes sense

There are times when a dryer is practical, for example when there is no room for a rack or clothes are needed the same day. Use it, but do not make it the default for everything. If you hang most things up and tumble the rest briefly, you save both power and clothes.

Frequently asked questions

What does one tumble dry cost

Four to eight kroner per full load. The price depends on the age and type of the machine and on what you pay for electricity.

How much does it cost in wear

Hard to measure exactly, but clothes last about a quarter less. For items you wear often, that can mean buying new ones sooner.

Is a heat pump dryer cheaper

Yes, it uses about half of a standard condenser dryer. It also dries at a lower temperature, which is gentler on clothes.