Our verdict
Performance: 12/15
Quality and durability: 13/15
Ease of use: 14/15
Value for money: 12/15
Range of cycles: 10 /10
Ease of maintenance: 9/10
Energy efficiency: 9/10
Noise levels: 9/10
Total: 88/100
With their amazing energy-efficiency, heat pump tumble dryers are the obvious choice for Mumsnetters investing in a new dryer. They can be pricy, so we were very impressed with this model from Hotpoint, which retails for under £500. While the brand had to recall a number of appliances in the 2010s, those manufactured after 2015 do not have the fault that lead to older machines being recalled.
With straightforward controls and cycles for every occasion, Mo thought that if anything there were too many options, saying "I don’t personally require so many different cycle options and feel some are a bit gimmicky and unlikely to ever be used, like cuddly toys, silk and wool."
The 9kg drum is a great size for Mo's young family, and she uses the Eco cycle most often, which makes use of the whole 9kg. Smaller loads of sportswear can be popped on the synthetic cycle and there's a dedicated bed and bath cycle for those larger items. We were also impressed with how gentle the tumble dryer is on fabrics, with Hotpoint's signature ActiveCare setting to preserve colours.
"I find I frequently use the refresh cycle," Mo says, "as I often leave finished loads in the dryer for a day or so. This really helps to freshen up the fibres and helps minimise the resulting creases."
One of the best features of the machine is its quietness. At just 65dB (about the same level of noise as normal conversation), it's unobtrusive and won't be out of place in an open-plan kitchen.
When compared to her previous tumble dryer - an 8kg heat pump model from Beko - Mo liked the extra drum size, the shorter cycle lengths and the quieter operation of the Hotpoint.
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