Woman shares little-known washing machine button everyone can use to avoid tumble dryers

Tumble dryers, known for their high running costs, particularly in winter, are a necessity for many UK residents who can't dry clothes outside, with the indoor alternative posing a risk of damp and mould. The average annual cost to run a tumble dryer is about £200, but there's a lesser-known washing machine feature that could eliminate the need for this energy-hungry appliance.

A woman shared on social media how a specific button has saved her considerable money over time. At the end of a wash cycle, an extra spin can significantly reduce the water content in clothes, speeding up drying time.

The higher the RPM (revolutions per minute), the less drying will be needed. On the platform X, previously known as Twitter, Deanne posted: "After I have done a load of washing I always put the load on an extra spin to get more water out of the clothes. Will be quicker to dry then."

This tip came as a response to Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis's call for simple home energy-saving tips, reports the Mirror. Another individual commented: "I love this one, my grandma taught me this one. Very handy if you're putting your clothes on a maiden to dry, knocks about six hours off the drying time."

By reducing drying time, this method also lowers the chance of developing mould. Several other individuals responded with their own suggestions, such as the user who advised: "Continue to hang your washing outside in the winter when the weather allows. Might only be 80 per cent dry, but that's 80 per cent less energy required in the tumble dryer."

In a previous discussion, cleaning specialists Purdy Rubin and Charlotte Figg shared what they described as a 'life-changing' technique for speeding up clothes drying in the tumble dryer – a must-know for those wishing to cut costs yet finding themselves compelled to use it. The duo, founders of a cleaning product business, recommended throwing a clean, dry towel into the dryer along with the wet laundry for quicker results.

Moreover, some cleaning enthusiasts have also proposed deploying a dehumidifier alongside a clothes airer; this method effectively pulls moisture from the air, thus lowering humidity levels in the room while the garments dry.