Martin Lewis Warns Against Using This One Expensive Appliance

Let’s be honest—most of us have a complicated relationship with our kitchen appliances. We love the idea of them, but sometimes our wallets beg to differ. Recently, money-saving guru Martin Lewis dropped a truth bomb that has everyone side-eyeing one particular gadget.

The appliance that’s quietly eating your cash

You’ve probably got it sitting there, looking innocent and helpful. Maybe you use it every morning, or maybe it’s gathering dust in the corner. According to Martin Lewis, that expensive, energy-hungry appliance is the tumble dryer.

I know, I know—it’s the hero of rainy days and the savior of frantic laundry mornings. But behind that warm, fluffy facade lies a secret: it’s one of the costliest appliances to run in your entire home.

Think of it like that friend who always offers to split the bill, then orders the lobster while you get a side salad. Your tumble dryer is the lobster of your utility bill, and it doesn’t care if you’re on a budget.

Why it’s so much worse than you think

Lewis pointed out that running a tumble dryer can cost up to £1.50 per cycle in some cases. That might not sound like a lot, but quick math will make your eyes water.

Let’s say you dry three loads a week. That’s £4.50 a week, roughly £234 a year—just for making your towels fluffy. That’s a nice weekend away, or a year’s supply of your favorite coffee.

And here’s the kicker: many of us don’t even need to use it. We just do because we’re impatient, or because the weather is being British again.

A little story from my own laundry room

Last winter, I decided to run an experiment. For one month, I hung my clothes on a folding drying rack near the radiator. My partner laughed and called it “the indoor laundry forest.” But you know what happened?

Our electricity bill dropped by £25. That’s £25 I didn’t have to earn, just by letting gravity and air do the work. My jeans took a bit longer to dry, sure, but they also didn’t shrink into kid’s sizes.

Plus, there’s something satisfying about watching your socks line up like little soldiers on a rack. It’s oddly therapeutic, like folding fitted sheets—frustratingly imperfect but deeply human.

What Martin Lewis actually said

He didn’t just wag a finger and say “stop being lazy.” He gave practical, gentle advice. He suggested using the tumble dryer only for emergencies—like when you forgot you need a clean shirt for tomorrow’s big meeting.

He also recommended tumble dryers with heat pump technology, which use less energy. But let’s be real: not everyone can run out and buy a new one. So what do you do with your old, greedy machine?

Use it less, but smarter. For example, don’t just toss in soaking wet clothes. Give them a spin in the washing machine at a higher spin speed first. Every bit of water you remove before the dryer saves you pennies.

But wait—what about towels and sheets?

Ah, the sacred things. Many of us love that towel-coming-out-of-the-dryer warmth. It’s a small luxury, like a hug from a cloud. Martin Lewis isn’t saying you have to live like a medieval peasant.

He’s saying: save the dryer for the occasional treat. Line-dry your towels most of the time, then toss them in for ten minutes at the end to fluff them up. You get the best of both worlds—soft towels and a fatter wallet.

Think of it like dessert. You wouldn’t eat chocolate cake for every meal, but once in a while? Absolutely worth it.

What about the rest of us who live in small flats?

I hear you. Not everyone has a garden, a balcony, or even a radiator big enough for a drying rack. If you’re in a cramped flat with no outdoor space, you’re not doomed to line-dry your jeans for three days.

Look into dehumidifiers. They use far less energy than a tumble dryer, and they speed up indoor drying. You can also buy those nifty foldable drying racks that sit in your bathtub. Your bathroom will smell like laundry, but hey—free air freshener.

Also, consider sharing. If your building has a communal laundry room, ask if you can hang dry there. It’s awkward at first, but someone’s grandma probably did it for decades.

The real kicker—your clothes will last longer

This is the part that made me smile. Tumble dryers are brutal on fabrics. They eat buttons, shrink wool, and fade colors. Your favourite jumper? It’s probably got less life because you’ve been “ashing” it with hot air.

Line-drying is gentler and literally gives your clothes a longer life. So you’re saving money on electricity and on replacing clothes. It’s a win-win, like finding a tenner in an old coat pocket.

I’ve got a pair of jeans from 2018 that still look new. My secret? I’ve only tumble-dried them twice—both times after the washing machine flooded my kitchen. True story.

One last thought before you close this tab

Martin Lewis isn’t here to ruin your life. He’s here to help you keep more of your hard-earned cash. The tumble dryer is a tool, not a tyrant. Use it with intention, not habit.

Next time you reach for that start button, pause. Ask yourself: “Do I really need this now, or can I wait a few hours?” It’s a tiny question that can save you £200 a year. That’s two nice dinners out, or a very decent pair of shoes.

And if you absolutely must dry something fast? Well, then go ahead—you’ve earned it. Just don’t let the machine run the show. You’re the boss of your laundry, and your bank account will thank you.