A tumble dryer that actually dries clothes? No longer in existence?!

[Helpmeoutofthemaze]

Please can anyone recommend a dryer that actually dries? I have a vent so a vented one preferably.

I currently have a Zanussi sensor tumble dryer which I wish I had never bought (ZDEB 47299W - don't make the mistake of buying it). It is supposed to sense when the clothes are dry. However, items like tracksuit bottoms which have a thick waistband or pockets with more material than the rest of the item remain damp when the sensor had decided the clothes are dry. Basically any item of clothing which has thicker piece of material is never properly dried. It has no timer option so once the machine has decided the clothes are dry, it refuses to dry any more. The appliance is definitely not faulty, many people have written this in reviews. Items of uniform thickness like towels will be dried properly. So I am left putting stuff on an airer which is constantly full. Well actually 2 airers and a rack. I have a busy family and this is completely ridiculous and wasting my time. I need stuff dried. I have 2 sets of uniform per child and one set of bedding per bed which would be fine if my dryer worked. It has always been fine for us until I got this stupid machine. We have struggled with it for 2 years and decided enough is enough, I need a proper one because it's just ridiculous having to buy more clothes because a dryer doesn't have a timer. I have tried all the ridiculous, useless settings - cooling, jeans, baby, mix, iron dry, cupboard dry, super dry etc and they are all useless once the sensor has decided no more drying.
There is no way to trick this machine into carrying on drying. Plus it dries really slowly.

2 or 3 years ago, my old tumble dryer broke. It was a cheap zanussi where you just chose high or low and set the timer to how long you wanted. It was about £100 and always got the clothes dry until it packed up. I need something like this but all the modern ones have sensors, which would be fine if you could then set a timer to dry the thicker items properly after the sensor decided they were dry when they aren't.

Help!!!

[Ca55andraMortmain]

We have an old one like you describe- you choose high or low and set the timer. We got it last week from a place that refurbishes broken appliances for £40. It is fab. Obviously it only has a 3 month warranty and I fully expect it not to have as long a life as one bought new, but it dries all the clothes every time.

[Pipbin]

My old one had a sensor that would decide when stuff was dry. It never worked.

My current one is about 2 years old and works a treat - high or low setting and you just turn the dial for however many minutes.

This one: www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/laundry/tumble-dryers/indesit-idv75-vented-tumble-dryer-white-13927504-pdt.html
No sensor and mine does the job.

[MrsMummyPig]

I have a White Night dryer that just has a high/low switch and a timer dial. I'm sure they still do it in currys for around £120 I would recommend it, I've had mine around eight to nine years and use it a lot.

[CremeEggThief]

I got a basic vented Indesit for about £150 3 years ago and no issues, so far. Try ao.com.

[fuzzpig]

We have a samsung, it was about £500 but it's a heat pump condenser (which is more economical long term apparently, in terms of running cost) and I absolutely love it. Had it since January and the novelty hasn't worn off yet!

[fuzzpig]

BTW it also has loads of options so you can set it by time or sensor. It's usually quicker than it estimates (it always says 2.5hrs for 'cupboard dry' but usually switches off by 2hrs and it's bone dry).

Unfortunately I can't see the model number but it was on Which I think.

[Helpmeoutofthemaze]

Thanks so much for the replies.

My mum has a reconditioned one which is great for just the 2 of them but as I'm washing on an industrial scale, I was nervous of this option! Think I may wear it out in a few months!!

Have tried all the tricks with the Zanussi - every setting, big loads agreed more successful, towels, everything I can think of! But still tracksuits not dry.

Think the way forwards will be the Indesit/white knight.

Very strange for technology to go backwards like this. I know they're supposed to save energy, but actually people having to buy more clothing/bedding, have the blasted thing on for longer and eventually having to replace it before it's worn out is actually terrible for the environment. I don't even feel I can eBay it because what would I write in the listing "for sale, sensor dryer which will not get clothes dry, dissatisfaction and frustration guaranteed"

[moggle]

We just bought an indesit- I specifically looked for one that didn't have a sensor as all the bad reviews for sensor ones were due to the sensor not working like you describe, or the sensor parts breaking down. Ours was about £170 from tesco direct. Very pleased with it so far and everything is getting dry. Ours is a condensor so won't recommend our particular model.

[FreeButtonBee]

There is a way to make the sensor dryers to dry more. You have to recalibrate them - maybe look up the manual online? I had to do the same for my new Bosch machine and it did help. Something to try before you get rid?

[FishWithABicycle]

Mine is a condenser dryer rather than vented but it gets the job done so perhaps the equivalent vented version would be good? It is a hotpot ultima set-and-forget and it has options to either use sensors like yours (which we never use as it stops while still damp) or a timed dry which gets everything perfectly dry

[ChippyMinton]

I'm happy with a Beko DRVS 62W from ao, one if the cheapest vented ones. It has sensor and timer, is quiet, and I have no issues with it.
I splurged on my washing machine (Bosch) as it has more working parts.

[Wolfiefan]

I too have sensor one. It tells me stuff is dry. It then needs another 60 minutes!

[IDismyname]

We're on our second White Knight tumble drier. It's a condensing one, though. First one lasted 6-7 years.
Basic controls. It's all you need.

[TheOneWiththeNicestSmile]

I've got the same simple Indesit one as Pipbin & it's great. I've basically had the same kind of dryer for over 30 years (different makes) & I'm particularly happy with this one - bigger capacity, wide door, easy-clean filter

All it does:

on
off
high heat
low heat
reverse action
final 10 mins cool tumble

Perfect

[ImMeMe]

I have a Miele which was bloody expensive and it does this. The only way to actually dry stuff through is always to use the extra dry setting.

[Pipbin]

It's a simple machine isn't it TheOne.
All I want a tumble dryer to do is tumble stuff and make it warm enough to dry it. I don't want it to other think it all.

[AsTimeGoesBy]

I think ours is an AEG (not at home at the moment so can't check) but it's sensor settings work really well. The only time they don't is if something is only slightly damp when it goes in, eg stuff you've taken off the line when it starts raining after it was nearly dry, but it has 20 and 40 min settings which deal with those perfectly. It's vented and about 10 years old, not sure if you can still get similar ones.

[TheOneWiththeNicestSmile]

It is, Pipbin - I love it. & the filter's so easy to remove & clear too!

Only £144 from BHS atm, OP

www.bhsdirect.co.uk/BH_Indesit_Appliances_Tumble_Dryer_Vented_Freestanding_30035400/version.asp?refsource=BHadwords&crtag=BH&gclid=Cj0KEQjw04qvBRC6vfKG2Pi0_8gBEiQAAJq0vaf75EtNxQxDW2W2ZtQy1BfGqzVpWg5WXo-6aj4bhi0aAnMp8P8HAQ

[Helpmeoutofthemaze]

I think I will order that Indesit tomorrow. I will double check everything first but am so excited at the prospect of actually getting my clothes dry.

[AsTimeGoesBy]

This looks to be the updated version of ours. I've been very happy with it.

[TheOneWiththeNicestSmile]

Oh ignore the BHS one, the swines charge £15 for delivery. Basically it's £159 almost everywhere!

[AsTimeGoesBy]

sorry, this

ao.com/product/t65170av-aeg-vented-tumble-dryer-white-24077-19.aspx

[Pipbin]

Go for it Help. It's as simple as it gets. Put stuff in, turn dial to amount of time that you think it needs, press go.

[Pipbin]

As it's the same price everywhere, order it through John Lewis, then you get a good guarantee and the bonus of a John Lewis van turning up at your house.