Beko DTLCE70051W 7kg Condenser Tumble Dryer review: our verdict on this budget-friendly appliance

Overall star rating: 4/5

Price on writing: £239 | Buy now from AO

What we like

• Great value - our top budget pick

• 7kg capacity is great for medium-sized families

• Easy to operate

• Not too noisy

• Relatively quick drying times

• Good design that fits in well with other units

• Water tank is easy to empty

What we don't like

• Opaque door may not appeal to those who like to see the clothes tumble

• Cleaning the filter is fiddly

• Not the most energy-efficient model

• Some may prefer a 9kg drum

Our verdict

• Ease of use: 5/5

• Ease of cleaning: 3/5

• Features: 4/5

• Results: 4/5

• Design: 4/5

• Value for money: 5/5

If you're looking for value for money, you really can't go wrong with the Beko DTLCE70051W Condenser Tumble Dryer. At just £239, it's the cheapest pick on our best tumble dryer round-up, but it's a surprisingly effective, hardworking appliance for family homes.

Our Mumsnet tester Leanne, a busy mum of four boys, was pleased with the results; after 18 months of regular use, it proved to be a reliable and spacious option for drying clothes. Sure, there are models with a larger capacity of 9kg, but this Beko provided plenty of room for the family's laundry.

While it may not boast a see-through door for those who enjoy watching their laundry tumble, its overall design scored well, plus it was easy to use and not too loud.

Our biggest gripes? It's not the most energy-efficient model out there (condenser models do tend to less efficient than heat pump dryers, though they are initially cheaper), and it's quite fiddly to clean the bottom filter. All in all though, we think it's a great buy for families who want to dry their clothes quickly this winter without investing a small fortune in a new machine.

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Beko DTLCE70051W Tumble Dryer: what is it?

The Beko DTLCE70051W is a condenser tumble dryer; this means it collects the moisture from your laundry in a container, which you then need to remove and empty regularly. This may sound like extra faff on top of the already never-ending pile in your laundry basket, but it's actually very easy to do (more on that below), and it means you can pop it anywhere in your house without worrying about venting the tumble dryer through a wall or window.

It has a 7kg capacity, which is classed as a medium-sized tumble dryer according to Beko. While some Mumsnetters favour a 9kg dryer, this Beko is still generous enough for family life – the brand estimate there's enough room for the equivalent of 20 hand towels in a single drying cycle. Our tester Leanne found the capacity met her needs and found the drum "very big", with plenty of room to cater for the laundry from her four sons.

What does the Beko DTLCE70051W Tumble Dryer look like?

With its white opaque door, the Beko differs to other tumble dryers as you can't see your clothes tumbling around the machine – whether this is a pro or a con to the dryer is down to personal preference, but overall we liked the design, scoring it a four out of five. We also think it'd fit in nicely alongside a washing machine for convenient load-switching between the two appliances.

"It's [got] a nice white door that doesn't stick out too far. The door is very large which blends well with the units," Leanne reported.

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How easy is the Beko DTLCE70051W 7kg Condenser Tumble Dryer to use? 

The Beko DTLCE70051W 7kg Condenser Tumble Dryer control panel

Leanne found the Beko "very easy to operate; it's a simple dial you rotate to select a program." The dryer offers 15 different settings, including 'Eco', 'GentleCare', and options for cottons and synthetics, although Leanne usually opted for the 'Towel dry' or 'Extra dry' settings, which both provided good results. "It does shrink some clothes but isn't that all dryers?" she said, and reported that she was overall pleased with the effectiveness of the dryer.

One feature that Leanne did find unnecessary was the 'Super Short' setting: "One of the options is a 0.5kg cycle, which I would never use as that would be one item!"

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How noisy is the Beko DTLCE70051W Tumble Dryer?

As your clothes 'tumble' around the machine, some tumble dryers or washer-dryers end up being pretty noisy. At 65dB (which is roughly the equivalent of the noise level of laughter), the Beko thankfully isn't too obtrusive. "It isn't quiet but it is definitely not loud. It's not distracting at all," Leanne said.

Beko DTLCE70051W: how long does it take to dry a full load of washing?

If your main reason for investing in a tumble dryer is so you're not waiting around for ages for your clothes to dry, you want to be reassured that it'll do a quick job.

Beko claims that the average cycle duration for the DTLCE70051W is around two hours, but this will of course depend on the size of your load and your chosen setting. Leanne found a load took roughly 40 minutes to an hour on the 'Towel dry' or 'Extra dry' settings. Either way, that's far less drying time than on a rotary washing line or heated clothes airer, which will be welcome news as temperatures drop the further we get into winter.

How do you clean the Beko DTLCE70051W Tumble Dryer?

Cleaning and maintenance was the one area the Beko fell short in, with Leanne scoring it three out of five in this department. "The water tank is really easy to empty but the filter not so much. There's a second filter which is a bit laborious to clean.

"The door filter is extremely easy to clean – I clean this every time for safety – however, the bottom filter is a bit fiddly, but it only needs doing every three to six months. It needs removing and rinsing under a tap to get everything out. Things can get stuck in the filter and it's fiddly to get them out." 

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How energy efficient is the Beko DTLCE70051W?

With the ongoing cost of living crisis and climate change, energy efficiency is now more important than ever. The Beko DTLCE70051W comes with a B energy rating, which on the surface sounds pretty impressive – however, it's important to note that this is on the old energy rating scale.

Up until 2021, the rating system used letters from A+++ to D, with A+++ being the most energy-efficient grade. The new A-G system is judged slightly different – A now represents the most energy-efficient appliances, while G indicates the least efficient to encourage brands to create more eco-friendly products.

This Beko has been graded B using the old system, which means that it doesn't particularly excel when it comes to energy efficiency. Its annual energy consumption (how much energy it will use per year on average) is quite high too at 504 kWh – for comparison, the Beko B5T4923RW Heat Pump Tumble Dryer's annual consumption is 258.6 kWh, but it's almost £300 more expensive to buy.

All that being said, Leanne reported that she didn't notice a difference in her energy consumption when using the dryer.

Key specs

Type: Freestanding | Capacity: 7kg | Energy rating: B (on old scale) | Annual energy consumption: 504 kWh | Number of settings: 15 | Noise level: 65dB | Delay timer: Yes | Dimensions: (H)84.6 x (W)59.7 x (D)56.8

How we tested the Beko DTLCE70051W Tumble Dryer

• Used on average twice a week between September and March 

• 18 months of use

• Tested in a family household

We first asked Mumsnet users about the tumble dryers they own and would recommend, recruiting our Voices Panel to give their feedback on everything from ease of use, features, drying capabilities, noise levels and settings.

Once we had collated these results, we consulted with our Mumsnet tester Leanne, a mum of four. We asked Leanne for her in-depth feedback on how she found the Beko DTLCE70051W Tumble Dryer after 18 months of use in her family home in Halifax. Through using unbiased Mumsnet users for reviews, we ensure we give you an honest account of how products fare after extensive use in a real home.

About the author

Natasha Gregson is an Affiliate Content Editor at Mumsnet, with an expertise in home and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. With several years of editorial experience under her belt, she also has had work featured in national publications including The i Paper and Stylist Magazine.

When she’s not busy reviewing the latest gadgets and home appliances for Mumsnet, you can find her searching for the next best restaurant, watching live music, curling up with a good book, cross-stitching, or enjoying a good hike or swim.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

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