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The MILs carer has suggested we get a tumble drier for the winter to make things easier. I sounds like a good idea but I know nothing about the things so any advice would be appreciated
It's basically for one person and will have to go in the garage. Probably 2 or 3 times a week usage. I see vented or condensing options. Budget maybe 300 or possibly a bit higher but happy to go less for cost effective drying!
You'll need to vent a vented one, otherwise you will get a damp garage. We've a mini dryer in the porch, which we vent out the side window when we use it. It was about £150, and ideal if space is limited. Very basic, but does the job - we're not using it much, we're using a clothes airer and a dehumidifier in the conservatory.
Condensing would be fine in the garage as would the more expensive heat pump ones.
PS using a de-humidifier will have the clothes dry overnight !
Condenser-dryer is simplest but you'll need to empty the reservoir every couple of washes. It also means that you can move it around at will
Folding airer/washing line is basic and works well just now 🙂
Dehumidifier and a clothes horse in a room with the door shut is best.
You can dry everything with it so you don't need to worry about what can and can't be tumbledried. The only thing is sheets and duvets need hanging over a curtain rail or something so if they are washing bedding lots due to applying creams etc then a tumble drier might be easier.
2 or 3 times a week means it will probably be cheaper overall getting a heat pump condensing dryer.
We used a dehumidifier for a while, but it took up more space, and it's not actually any cheaper to run than a heat pump dryer.
Are you aware of the energy cost implications?
If we use our tumble dryer our daily electricity cost goes up from an avg of £2.50 a day to £5 ie it doubles. Do the maths on whether you think its better to buy a cheap one or and expensive one that will use quite a bit less electricity.
Then its down to who will actually use the tumble dryer? Will it be the carer or the MIL?
Cheapest require you to stick a pipe out of the window when you use it.
Condensing tumble dryers cost more but just need water emptying every so often.
Heat source pump ones are even more expensive but then are more energy efficient.
Beko are our go to cheap brand for stuff like tumble dryers and washing machines
Is the garage ventilated? If so, I'd get a vented dryer.
Had one for years in my old garage and now in my conservatory. My impression is they are more reliable than condensing ones, just based on my own experience.
If buying a budget dryer now, I'd probably start by looking at Beko. I've found their other white good to be good quality and VFM.
If you are paying for the electrickery get a heat pump one, we got one ten years ago (Beko) and even then it didn't take long for running cost saving to pay for it.
There was a thing in the news about them a few months ago basically saying buy the most energy efficient one (probably a heat pump) as the extra expense will pay back pretty quickly over the life of it.
If you are paying for the electrickery get a heat pump one, we got one ten years ago (Beko) and even then it didn’t take long for running cost saving to pay for it.
However they take longer to dry so if convenience is to be factored in (given it is for an elderly person with a carer who may be there for limited time) it might not be the most suitable solution.
Heat pump dryers don't work well in the cold - something to consider if the garage gets chilly.
Don't.
Dehumidifier and a heated drying rack for the win.
Dehumidifier and a heated drying rack for the win
The negatives of that though must be that you are drying out the damp air in a garage and the clothes so inefficient ?
I am would imagine the combination of a dehumidifier and heated drying rack would be more expensive to run than a tumble dryer
Plus dont the clothes end up like cardboard ?
We have a drysoon heated airing rack with a heat retaining cover for use mainly in the winter. It ace, quick,easy to pack away and put where ever you want. £200 well spent.
https://www.lakeland.co.uk/25597/dry-soon-deluxe-3-tier-heated-airer-and-cover-offer-bundle
We recently bought one of these, don't use it very much, mostly just for finishing off after line drying so extra cost for heat pump version wasn't worth it. Easy to use & under £220.
Beko dtlce70051w 7kg condenser dryer.
Beko do a basic 7kg heat pump fot about £300 I think, but as above you might get poor drying times in a freezing cold garage
Dehumidifier option is best for in the house, they don't work so well in the cold, and if the garage is draughty it will just pull in damp air as fast as you dry it.
Since this is STW I’ll not answer the question at all, but offer an alternative solution to the frequent mucky laundry problem.
Look up medical laundry service providers for your area, there will be one or more. It might be a more cost effective use of your budget than equipping and paying the carer to do it, and might mean the carer having more face to face time. Might mean investing in a few more bedding sets and maybe a basket in the porch for delivery and collection.
Here’s the webpage of one of our local providers, run out of the local mental health hospital site, hasn’t been updated since the before times, but you can get the gist.