Energy-class labels on tumble dryers are there to help you choose a more energy-efficient model thus saving money on your electricity bill, and being more eco-friendly. The classes go from A (the highest rating) to G (the lowest rating) with A being obviously the most energy efficient domestic appliances.

Generally, tumble dryers use a lot of energy to dry clothes, so most models are usually at least C-rated.

One thing to be aware of is that, in past investigations, it was found that the labels do not always correspond with how much electricity a machine uses to dry a load.

Also, the energy class of a tumble dryer depends on which program the manufacturer selects for the test, which can vary a lot from one program to another. So, for example, a White Knight tumble dryer has been A-rated, but only because the White Knight people decided to test the tumble dryer on a special low-energy program, which can take up to an amazingly long seven hours to dry a load.

As said previously, most tumble dryers have a C-class energy rating. But, even so, the energy they use varies by around a third. And, with a million tumble dryers sold in the UK every year, that will adds up. A washing line is far more energy efficient.

Imagine that everyone who buys a tumble dryer next year buys the most efficient, rather than the least efficient one ? they' would save enough energy to power hundreds of households for a year each time they all dried a full load of cottons.

Here are some tips to help you save energy and money when using your tumble dryer.

First of all, try to fit the maximum load of clothes in your tumble dryer every time you use it. Secondly, use a high spin speed on your washing machine to get your washing as dry as you possibly can. Then, clean the lint filter every time you use the machine or at least on a regular basis. A blocked filter prevents the hot air from circulating freely, so clothes take longer to dry and it costs you more! Finally, you should make sure that the room the dryer is in is well ventilated. A well ventilated room will stop the tumble dryer from overheating. If it overheats, it takes longer to finish drying a load.

Another simple tip would be to buy tumble dryer spare parts when your tumble dryer gets old. It will be much more energy efficient if you replace the parts that are too old.