When you’re running a busy household, it sometimes feels like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Between the hassles of getting the kids to and from school, the preparation of countless meals, and the drama of bedtime – not to mention bath-time – it’s no wonder that some parents feel like they need a bit of extra help now and then.
One product that might not create more time, but certainly helps to make life a little easier, is the tumble dryer. For a long time, families considered the tumble dryer to be too big a purchase. They were seen as expensive, space-heavy and bad for the state of the household electricity bill.
Luckily, that’s no longer the case, with plenty of affordable, space and energy-efficient tumble dryers available on the market. But with so many now available, selecting one can be a bit of a daunting process.
Here are some things to consider when purchasing your next tumble dryer:
Energy rating
Whether you pride yourself on running an eco-friendly household or not, buying an energy-efficient product is always worth it in the long run. In the UK, tumble dryers are awarded an energy efficiency rating of A to G, with A being the most efficient. More advanced products allow you to select from a range of drying programs to suit your needs. A great example of this is the IDCE8450BK Indesit tumble dryer from Littlewoods which gives you 16 different drying programs to choose from. This allows you to maximize your efficiency and, ultimately, to keep your family’s household electricity bill to a minimum.
Noise levels
Suppliers aren’t obliged to tell you how noisy their product is, but it’s worth finding out if you live in an apartment or simply like your peace and quiet. If you’re planning on having the dryer in your kitchen, you want to aim for a machine with noise levels of around 68 decibels.
Functions to keep an eye out for
These tumble dryer functions can make your family life a lot easier, so be sure to ask if they’re included when purchasing.
• Reverse drying action – Untangles clothes and reduces creases to save time on ironing.
• Delayed start option – Lets you make the most of cheap night-time electricity rates.
• Iron dry or cupboard dry – Choose the dampness of your clothes, be it slightly damp for ironing or dry enough to be worn straight away.
