Our verdict
As we head into autumn and the days become damper outside, getting those piles (and piles, and piles) of laundry dry can be tricky. The summer is great for getting everything from bedding and towels to the kids’ PE kits fresh and dry, but when rainy days set in, nobody wants to be doing a mad dash outside in a downpour to grab soggy football socks.
That’s why a tumble dryer can be a household saviour during the colder seasons.
In the past, tumble dryers weren’t known for being particularly energy efficient or economical, but a lot has changed and now the new models come with impressive credentials and loads of functions to get everything from duvets to delicates dry.
Having something efficient that actually got clothes dry was one of the key things Mumsnet tester Lola was looking for in a tumble dryer. Having only used a washer-dryer before (which she called “rubbish”), she was keen to try something that would help get her and her partners clothes, bedding and towels properly dry.
“My point of comparison is just air drying and anything is going to feel miraculous compared to just air drying,” she said.
Lola soon put her new Bosch Series 8 Heat Pump tumble dryer to the test, using some of its 13 different settings to dry bedding, towels and clothes. One of her main concerns was that their items would shrink, but she found that wasn’t the case with this machine.
“The main thing that I can say from using the different settings is that nothing has broken or shrunk,” she said. “We were worried about shrinking. I've put trousers and denim and things in there. And it's come out completely fine.”
Lola was also very impressed with how quickly and thoroughly her items were dried. She shared that “everything” had come out really dry, including bedding which can be notoriously tricky in a tumble dryer. She shared: “The bedding dry cycle is probably the fullest it's been, and everything came out really well.”
The Bosch Series 8 Heat Pump Tumble Dryer has 13 different settings, including a Super Quick 40 cycle, designed to dry small loads in just 40 minutes. This was another function Lola was really impressed with, telling us:
“I used the express cycle for a load of cottons, with the drum around two-thirds full. Everything came out fully dry, which was great given how quick the cycle was.”
At only 59 decibels, (which is about the same as the hum of a fridge or a quiet conversation), Lola found that the Bosch Series 8 Heat Pump Tumble Dryer not only dried things well, it did it making next to no noise.
“We have a cupboard with the washing machine and dryer in the living room. [...]it's literally just behind a thin sheet of plywood. You can hear the washing machine because the washing machine's quite loud [...] but the tumble dryer, it's very smooth. So there's no banging or or bumping around” she explained.
With its premium price tag of £1,200, the Bosch Series 8 Heat Pump Tumble Dryer seems like it’s worth the spend. But, Lola told us that there was one thing she’d change about this appliance.
“When I checked the dimensions, I was like, okay, like, it's standard,” she explained. “But you would need more space than just what you would allow for standard just because the door is so big. It kind of protrudes quite a bit at the top as well. So I suppose if you were trying to put it in under a countertop, it sticks out further than our washing machine.
“It would be helpful if it wasn't so at the extreme end of [standard] size.
“I think that's worth considering. We have a tiny flat [and] it's a big fixture. It's probably a bigger tumble dryer than we need for two people. Like, it might be something more edging towards people that have got, like, a kid or two."
So, while it might perform well and be a super convenient way to get clothes dry, if you’re considering splashing the cash you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the space for it first…