Martin Lewis says simple tumble dryer ‘mistake’ is costing you money

Lots of people use tumble dryers to dry their clothes and towels at home.

It often seems to be the easy option when you’re short of time, but it may be more expensive than you realise. Over the past few months, various money saving tips have been doing the rounds on TikTok, and one woman shared how much it really costs to run a tumble dryer.

According to Shannen, known as _greengal on TikTok, it cost her €2.35 to completely dry a “full load” of towels, which works out at around £1.98. She said it took around an hour and 45 minutes to get the job done too.

The experiment led to her to believe it’s “way more efficient” to just hang them out and dry them. She said she knows this isn’t always possible, due to issues like the weather, but it will help you save money.

After she shared the video, people couldn’t believe just how expensive it is to use the common appliance. Sometimes we don’t realise how much simple mistakes can hike our bills.

The video has been viewed over 16,000 times since it was shared, and people were quick to comment too. They offered some of their own tips.

One said: “Throw in a dry towel with the wet ones, they will dry quicker.” Another wrote: “Double spin before you put them in the dryer.”

A third also replied: “Wouldn’t be without my dryer. Helps me run my house more efficiently. I’ll take the financial hit for that.”

But, it turns out many of us may have been making simple mistakes with our tumble dryers. Previously, Martin Lewis admitted there are cheaper ways to dry our items.

In fact, he shared some super useful advice that could help people slash their bills.

In a previous interview with BBC News, Martin said: “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.”

So, in a nutshell, how you dry your clothes matters. The methods you chose to use, according to experts, can have a big impact on your bills.