Dryers Review

Dryers get no respect. Consumers tend to invest significant amounts of time and energy researching the perfect washer. Then, almost as an afterthought, they throw a matching dryer on their order and move on. There are valid reasons for selecting a dryer as more of an accessory to your washer than anything else. For instance, some can be set to dry in the exact same amount of time as your wash load, streamlining the process. And of course it looks much better if your washer and dryer match exactly. If you have an open floor plan, that is no small thing.

Manufacturers are putting more and more emphasis on designing dryers that shine on their own, though, with advances in efficiency and more specialized clothing care options than ever. If your dryer bites the dust and you decide to keep the old washer, or if you want to base your decision about a new laundry set on the merits of both appliances, not just the washer, we have done your homework for you.

Dryers: What to Look For

We examined 10 of our favorite energy efficient dryers on the market today and compared them side by side to help you find the ideal electric washer dryer combination. Take a look at our Learning Center for even more information and articles about dryers. We considered factors like these as we evaluated various clothes dryers:

Features
The best modern dryers offer much more than the previous generation, adding useful things like steam to their mix of features. Quality clothes dryers have advanced sensor systems that monitor the moisture content in clothing in order to stop the cycle, or at least the heated portion, at just the right moment. This will result in significant energy savings. Some models also offer energy-savers like a lint filter and duct-clog monitors. Keeping those airways clean makes dryers much more green, which can save you green. Many of the latest clothes dryer models also stifle almost any chance of wrinkles by tumbling each load periodically after the cycle until you have time to properly attend to each finished load. Forgetting your laundry for a bit is no longer cause for redoing it. Forgetting has become easier than ever, though, since most modern dryers include noise and vibration reduction systems. Luckily most have an end-of-cycle signal too, just in case the quiet operation has lulled you to sleep.

Design
We like dryers that look chic and include elements that show forethought about a user’s needs. The best dryers include drum lights so you can be sure to empty each load in its entirety. They make it easy to situate the door hinge on either side of the appliance, so you can configure your laundry space any way you like. We like LED displays so it is easy to see when your load will be done, and child locks so you don’t accidentally end up with a shrunken dress when the little ones decide to play with all of the buttons on the shiny new machine.

Accessories
Helpful and compatible accessories can go a long way toward making the laundry chore more pleasant. They don’t necessarily need to be included with the dryer, but we do like to know that they are available. Not everyone wants a drying rack, but we checked to make sure they are at least available for purchase for our favorite models. Pedestals, stacking kits and laundry storage towers are also wonderful accessories that we like to see. Not every pedestal will fit every machine, so we also looked for dryers with coordinating ones available.

Help & Support
We evaluated the customer service options from the manufacturers of each product in our lineup of dryers. Users may or may not purchase dryers directly from a manufacturer, but all buyers are likely to have a question from time to time. We like to know they can easily find the answer. Sturdy warranties are also a good show of confidence in a dryer. We looked for products manufactured by companies that stand by their work.

Whether purchasing dryers on their own or as part of a laundry set, it is good to know the options on the market today. Dryers have come a long way from their energy-hogging and clothes-ruining past. Designers put a lot of thought into making sure the latest machines will take care of your clothing and the environment. We found the best clothes dryer to be the Whirlpoo WED7400XW, but we were also impressed by the Bosch WTVC3300US and LG DLE2050W.

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