Hanging the washing out to dry can be a real chore, but there is another way: a tumble dryer speeds up laundry time and makes your clothes more luxuriant to the touch. Mmmm… Luxuriant.
So, why not reclaim your indoor space from the tyranny of laundry and indulge in a tumble dryer?
Not sure which way to turn? No problem because we’ve done all the research for you and selected a tranche of very decent machines that come highly recommended by both users and pros.
If you’re in the market for a high-end tumble dryer that makes the minimum amount of noise, then consider this exceptional 8kg heat pump model which comes with a fancy casing and special air circuit to reduce vibrations and noise. The result is a machine that rarely tops an almost whisper quiet 62dB.
Although you’re paying out a heftier wedge, the A+++-rated Miele’s maintenance-free heat pump will keep your electricity usage to a minimum and, besides, there’s every chance you’ll get a full twenty years of reliable service out of it; way longer than most other brands. That heat pump will also make your laundry room feel cooler, since very little heat is wasted during the drying process.
Mind, it’s not just high quality parts and expert construction you’re paying for here since this machine also comes with a full gamut of drying programmes (including minimum iron, express, woollens, denim, cottons and waterproofed outerwear), condensed water drainage for those who hate emptying the water reservoir, LED drum lighting, and a function called Perfect Dry that analyses the mineral content of your water and adjusts the drying process accordingly. It also comes with that old Miele nutshell FragranceDos, which infuses laundry with a rather pleasant scent. A top choice for both reliability and efficiency.
If you have an outlet for a tumble dryer installed, or don’t mind paying to have a hole punched through your outside wall, then this vented dryer makes perfect sense.
There’s never a need to empty the water reservoir between drying sessions with a vented machine, as all moisture is pumped outside through a 10cm pipe. Another major plus with vented dryers is that they don’t produce any interior condensation so extra room ventilation isn’t necessary.
The AEG has a huge glassless door leading to its ample 7kg drum and comes equipped with the usual variety of drying programs, from heavy-weight fabrics to woollens and delicates. In terms of efficiency, it does the deed exceedingly well and it’s quiet, too.
Granted, having something this ugly in your laundry area isn't ideal, but if you have a utility room to put it in, nobody’s going to see it, are they?
The Siemens WT45N201GB condenser tumble dryer is a bulky and seemingly bulletproof offering that can’t wait to take on your wet laundry. Central to this is its 8kg drum capacity, with a door that can be easily opened to accommodate your mountains of soggy smalls and what not.
Along with the solid design and build there’s an array of programs that includes mixed fabrics, outdoor, hygiene, lingerie, rapid 40 and a shirts 15 no less. We’re also firm fans of the Woollens Finish option, which will be kind to your favourite cardies and not reduce them to out-of-shape furballs.
Access to all these comes via a central dial, while a collection of touch controls let you specify the likes of program lengths and fine-tuning options such as reducing program times. The LED display lets you know what’s up with progress and there’s a 24-hour time delay that’s a boon if you want to commence drying activities when it suits you.
There are plenty of other highlights here too, with a handy interior drum light for when you’re plodding around the utility room after dark. The child lock’s an excellent addition, obviously, while the end of cycle buzzer is a practical touch for those who like an audible reminder when the machine has done its chores.
Some dryers can tend to struggle if you’ve piled in a substantial load and the end result can be a laboured and less than consistent final result. Not so the Siemens WT45N201GB as it seems particularly adept at drying a full drum load with consistent results. And, with that sizeable payload capacity it’s a great buy for any family or for those who change outfits on an annoyingly regular basis.
The smooth and relatively silent 65dB running of this machine means it’s also a good bet if you don’t want to be bothered while it does its thing.
As a rule of thumb, the cheaper the dryer, the less energy efficient it is – and that can be a false economy because you can end up spending more in energy than you saved on the purchase price. So it’s refreshing to see an A+ dryer with decent capacity, a whole host of happy customer reviews and a decent price to boot.
This dryer is very Zanussi, both good and bad: the good includes an 8Kg drum that’ll fit 24 adult t-shirts, a relatively low 66dB noise level, intelligent sensor drying, an easy iron programme, a reversible door and a child lock.
The bad? A typically incomprehensible set of controls, design straight out of Fisher-Price, a fairly slow cycle (181 minutes) and a door that lacks the solid feel of more premium products.
It's not like other dryers are exactly gorgeous, but they look better and their controls are generally more straightforward, too. But then, they’re an awful lot more expensive.
