As Autumn draws nearer the leaves start to drop as quickly as the temperatures. Hours of daylight get shorter, leaving far fewer hours in the day to make use of the washing line. However all is not lost to those of you with a tumble dryer in your home.
A little TLC for your dryer will ensure that it runs at optimum performance and gives you the best results. Cleaning down your tumble plays a big part in this and you’d be amazed how many people neglect to do it (and then pay the price, literally).
There are two types of dryer to consider, the first of which is a condenser model. These turn the moisture in your clothes into vapour with hot air, then condense the vapour back into water before depositing it in an internal water tank. Of course emptying the water tank goes without saying, but while you might already give the door seals and glass a wipe, the condenser unit itself needs a good clean too.
You’ll find the condenser unit in the bottom right hand corner of the appliance and it’s just a case of removing it (it’s about the size of a shoe box) and giving it a rinse under the tap. Ideally a minute or two under a shower head once a month will give you the best results. If there’s anything that’s a little more stubborn, a light rub with an old toothbrush will do the job.
The other option is a vented model and they require slightly less maintenance than condensers, though in both cases it’s vitally important that you clean the lint filter after each use. You can find it in the bottom of the door frame and if you forget to clean it out your drying performance will be severely reduced. (Just a quick note: Washer dryers don’t have a lint filter so don’t worry if you can’t find it!)
Also, if your tumble has sensor drying options; iron dry, cupboard dry, etc, give the sensor a little wipe with some lemon juice or stainless steel cleaner. It’s the laundry equivalent of wiping down your car windscreen. Your driving will be much better when you can see what’s in front of you!
If you haven’t got a tumble dryer in your home, why not? They’re far more energy efficient than their ancestors and with sensor drying being so widely available now you won’t be using more energy than you need. They’re wonderfully adaptable too. Condenser models don’t need plumbing in so you’ll have endless options of where to place them in your home.
This is definitely the season to embrace the warm, fuzzy feeling a tumble dryer can bring you.