The sale of traditional tumble dryers is set to be phased out under new Net Zero rules.
The sale of condenser tumble dryers that do not meet efficiency rules will be banned under new laws, pushing consumers towards heat-pump alternatives.
The Government believes that these are cheaper to run and claims they could save households nearly £1000 over the 20 year lifespan of the machine.
But critics claim they are noisy and take longer to dry clothes.
Shadow energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, said it was the latest in a string of laws that dictated how consumers live, including an upcoming ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars and a plan to phase out gas boilers.
She accused the Government of “Soviet levels of control”.
Traditional tumble dryers heat air with an element, running at around 70C.
Moisture from the clothes is collected in a reservoir before being drained.
The sale of traditional tumble dryers is set to be phased out under new Net Zero rules
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A heat pump dryer recycles warm air to suck out moisture. It runs at around 50C and has lower carbon emissions.
Although they cost more to buy, the running costs are lower.
The EU has already introduced similar measures.
Under the plans, published last week, dryers’ efficiency levels will be rated, and only those that meet a certain grade will remain on the market.
This amounts to a de facto ban on condenser dryers, the Telegraph reports.
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The dryers will also have to include an eco-programme as the default setting.
The laws are yet to be put before Parliament.
Ms Countinho hit out at the plans, telling the Telegraph: “Why not let consumers choose whether or not that works for them?
“This is the problem with our net zero legislation – it means Ed Miliband dictating what car people drive, how they should heat their homes and even what machine they can tumble their pyjamas in. This is Soviet levels of control.
“That’s why we would repeal net zero legislation and focus on cheaper energy. The Conservatives’ plan is better for the environment and for people’s pockets.”
In December, owners of 85,000 heat-pump dryers were warned about a safety issue with their machines that could constitute a fire risk
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Richard Tice, Reform UK’s business, trade and energy secretary, said: “At a time when families are struggling with household costs, Labour is choosing to focus on tone-deaf green ideologies rather than listening to what the public wants.
“Reform UK will scrap the failing and disastrous net zero agenda and focus on bringing energy bills down.”
Three-quarters of tumble dryers sold are run by heat pumps, which were first introduced in 2010.
In its consultation documents, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) says that the move “would effectively phase out the sale of more inefficient” dryers.
“To meet our net zero target, it is crucial to reduce energy consumption from domestic appliances,” it states.
“Phasing out the least energy-efficient household tumble dryers could contribute to achieving the targets set in the fifth and sixth carbon budgets .”
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “Energy efficient tumble dryers will save households up to £910 over their machine’s 20-year lifetime - putting money back into the pockets of hard-working people.”
In December, the owners of 85,000 heat-pump dryers were warned about a safety issue with their machines that could constitute a fire risk.
But DESNZ said: “Every tumble dryer model on the British market must comply with stringent safety regulations.
“There are no current specific safety concerns with heat pump tumble dryers.”