Tumble dryers: Features explained
Programs
Sensor tumble dryers choose the drying time for you. You select the program based on the type of fabric and how dry you want it.
Sensor programs automatically dry different types of fabrics perfectly
Your basic choices are:
Cupboard dry
Leaves clothes dry enough to store straight away. The load size for synthetic fabrics is usually half that for cottons.
Extra dry
A longer program for multi-layered or thick fabrics such as bed sheets, towelling bathrobes and socks.
Iron dry
Clothes are very slightly damp which makes them much easier to iron. But you'll need to do so straight away.
Wool/Delicates
For drying woollens or delicate fabrics with gentle heat and minimal movement.
Cool tumble
Used at the end of a program to cool the clothes and dryer down to make them cool enough to handle. Can be used to refresh clothes worn previously.
Easy-iron
Usually a few minutes of heat followed by a short cool tumble to relax the fibres of creased dry clothing.
Anti-crease
The drum moves occasionally after the program ends to prevent creases setting in.
Timer dryers do not have programs as such, just guidelines for drying times.
Useful features
Sensor Drying
The tumble dryer automatically detects how wet your load is and stops when it's dry.
You need to wipe the dryer's drum every few months with white vinegar or stainless steel cleaner, or the sensors won't work effectively.
Program buttons
Some machines allow you to take extra care of delicate fabrics, dry more quickly, delay the start time or have an anti-crease phase at the end.
Remaining time display
It's useful to know when your drying will finish
This indicates how soon your clothes will be dry – so you can plan to fold or hang them as soon as the load finishes.
Program stage LEDs
These indicate that the clothes inside the dryer have reached different stages of dryness, or are in the cooling or anti-crease phases.
Temperature selector
You select 'high' for drying cottons and 'low' for heat-sensitive fabrics. Check the icons on your clothes' washing label for which to use.
Buzzer button
Selecting the buzzer lets you hear when the program is over
Allows you to choose whether or not to have an audible end-of-program alarm.
Warning LEDs
These light up to remind you to empty the water container or clean the lint filter and keep your machine running at peak efficiency.
Program or timer dial
Chooses the drying program on sensor dryers, or the specific drying time. You can read the remaining program time from the dial on most timer dryers.
Features that need maintenance
Tumble dryers, especially condenser dryers, take more looking after than just about any other appliance in the kitchen.
Heat exchanger
The heat exchanger requires regular washing to keep it free of fluff
Heat exchangers change steam escaping from your washing back into water, but tend to get clogged with fluff that is mixed up in the steam.
You need to clean the heat exchanger on condenser models at least four or five times a year and this is usually a pain to do.
Water reservoir
If you buy a condenser model, you'll need to empty the water reservoir just about every time you use the tumble dryer.
It's easier if it's housed in a drawer at the top of the machine, rather than down near the floor.
And it helps if the water outlet slides open and closed rather than needing to be screwed or pressed shut.
Lint filters
Don't let fluff build up in your dryer's lint filter
These trap the fluff whipped up in the dryer. To keep the dryer running at peak efficiency, you need to clean the filter every time you use the dryer.
We prefer filters that are easy to just lift from their mounting on the back of the door. Some other dryers make you rummage around inside the door opening to retrieve the filter.
And some filters are double sided, with hinges in the middle and tricky catches, which makes them twice as hard to clean.