My 94 year old dad’s spin dryer broke last week and be was able to find one, but said that most folk he talked too had never heard of a spin dryer. Thinking about I guess it’s not needed if you have a regular dryer. I guess we had it when we did not have a dryer, to get as much water out of the cloths before they went on the line, and have just continued to use it. He has been very happy using them. First lasted about 30 years, the last 40….
Example spin dryer if folk have never seen: [https://www.amazon.com/Panda-PANSP23B-Swimsuits-Laundry-Extractor/dp/B08375XS5G/ref=asc\_df\_B08375XS5G/](https://www.amazon.com/Panda-PANSP23B-Swimsuits-Laundry-Extractor/dp/B08375XS5G/ref=asc_df_B08375XS5G/)
So, do folk still use?
14 comments
Never seen this, we have spin dryer in built in our washing machine. I have an option to do additional spin for 16 mins separately which I do it usually. Don’t see a need of having a separate portable machine.
No, never even seen one, but I do appreciate a 1600 spin in a washing machine.
We have one as we didn’t have the space for a dryer.
Obviously they don’t dry your clothes completely but it helped when we’d otherwise be reliant on radiators.
Eventually got a mini dyer because I couldn’t handle the damp walls anymore.
Occasionally still use the spin dryer to get the worst off the heavier towels before getting them on the line in summer, but have actually tried to give it away a couple of times.
Depends on what kind of washing machine he has. Dryers are VERY expensive to run too. A clothes horse has nil expense once you’ve paid the small purchase price (by comparison).
I had an integrated washer / dryer once, years ago, but very rarely used the dryer…. preferring washing line or clothes horse… can’t beat fresh air to dry damp clothes in my opinion.
Give me a clothes horse, or clothes line, on a warm’ish day any day of the week.
Only ever used one in a swimming pool/spa.
Very common in swimming pools to let people dry their swimwear
Don’t most modern washing machines have a spin only cycle? Mine always goes on a 2nd 14 minute spin before going on the clothes horse.
The spin cycle in normal washing machines has replaced these.
I had them in my childhood though.
I have seen them online but only because I have been toying with the idea of getting one to dry swimming stuff.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it for a regular person. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m in a very lucky position (dual income no kids) that I was looking to get 1 because I’m too lazy to put my swimming costume in the washing machine to spin, I wouldn’t of even found them online.
I use a dryer for most things and hang on a radiator the rest.
I remember one from my childhood, and it was old fashioned then.
Vertical dryer very American thing
They’re more of a holdover from the days of handwashing, wringer washers and early automatics (which had pitifully slow spins). Under those conditions, having a separate spin dryer made a big difference in how long it would take to get laundry dry in an acceptable amount of time.
Nowadays, not so much. Most washers spin at 1200-1600 RPM, so a separate spinner offers little additional benefit. Back in the 90s, the only people we sold them to were those who went boating/caravanning and wanted a way to wring out clothes washed by hand, and older folk who used one out of habit. I can’t imagine the market for them has changed much since, other than getting even smaller.
These were old-fashioned in my childhood in the 1960s. I haven’t seen one for decades. I really assumed this was going to be asking about how common tumble dryers are!
I would guess that the fraction of the UK that doesn’t own a tumble dryer is larger than the fraction of the UK that has ever heard of a spin dryer. And both are small cohorts.
My 94 year old grandmother was the last person i knew to use one but she died 15 years ago. She would use it before she put stuff in the tumble drier, it got out a good amount of water even after the full spin cycle on the washer.