The city of Mumbai often experiences hot, sunny and humid days. For climatic conditions that are just the opposite, the west has been inventing and investing in home appliances like the clothes dryer. But does Mumbai need to move that way too?

"Why would I want a clothes dryer, when there's such a bright day outside? Washed clothes dry in just a few hours!" exclaims Kandivali-resident and homemaker, Meena Puri. "Sure, on rainy days, it takes more than two days to dry out clothes completely, but then, there's really no space in the house to install one, in addition to the washing machine," adds Andheri-resident Sonal Sheopori.

But during monsoons or winter, it is a convenient appliance to have at home? "Sure, it is," says Bandra-based Stella Hosbetkar, "and we do have enough spaces within the house to keep this machine." Adds Sruthi Gottipati, who lives with on rent, "This appliance is very convenient. Imagine, while I'm out at work, the clothes will be dried and ready to be kept in the wardrobe again. I'll be worrying about one less chore at the end of the day."

Boon or bane? While the dryer gives one convenience and timeliness, it's really quite a patience tester, says Mumbai-based Janhavi Jhaveri, who moved back to India a few months back. "I used to live in Australia, where I frequently used the clothes dryer at the laundromat. But the machine is a nuisance! It hardly dries clothes well enough to fold them and keep them in," says Jhaveri.

Explains Anirudh Dhoot, MD, Electrolux, "Clothes dryers are meant for those living in extremely cold and humid environment. For example, in India alone, clothes dryers will pick up in terms of sales, in West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Kerala, the very posh Mumbai, or even Kashmir." But does it really work in Mumbai, the most expensive city in the country? "Honestly, I feel it will be a hit with consumers in Mumbai for two reasons. One, because the lifestyle is so fast paced that this appliance will definitely be a boon for consumers. And for those who own and live in large housing spaces, however rare this phenomenon in Mumbai is, they too will not want to spare any expenses," adds Dhoot.