Do you love your tumble dryer? Tell me about it!

[Vinto]

The tumble dryer officially gave up two weeks ago, after admittedly giving it a hard life. On the hunt for a new one and would appreciate some real life recommendations.

I’m looking for a condenser (I still miss my gas mains tumble dryer from the 90s, so fluffy and warm!) and one of the things I am keen on is an actual timer program, so I can dry for 20/30/90 mins etc. I had an all singing all dancing sensor Panasonic tumble dryer before the current one, it did everything but dry my bloody clothes! Perhaps the technology was still new then, but it seems the sensor was picking up that it was warm, but when you’d pull the clothes out they were still damp. I don’t mind if it offers the sensor programs as well as a simple ‘get these dry in an hour’ setting.

Thanks in advance for any help, I know it’s not the most exciting Saturday morning chat.

I love mine!

I've got a condenser a it's a Beko one - has both times and programmes so depending what I'm doing I can choose which I want
Had it 4 years now and it hasn't had any problems

I’ve got a Hoover one with sensors to predict drying times. Got it 8 years ago but have to service it every year, I would not recommend it. The water collects in a plastic container on the door. Every time you open the door, the container falls and as a result Ive had to replace it several times as it cracks. It wasn’t a cheap one either but very badly built.

We live in a large Victorian house so drying indoors is impossible due to high ceilings. The clothes stay damp and have a musty smell.

I have a new Bosch heat pump one. Works great and and plumbed it in so don’t have to empty the container. Can use on program or timer.

The key to sensor condensers is to split the loads between cotton and synthetics and then if it’s still coming out damp to look at the manual and adjust the settings until it comes out dry. IME factory settings often leave things damp - I suspect they’re gaming the EU energy ratings system.

This one is ours. Not the cheapest but works well

ao.com/product/wtwh7660gb-bosch-serie-6-heat-pump-tumble-dryer-white-55771-126.aspx

I have a Beko condenser, and it is great, although I do dry almost everything I put in it on the cotton extra dry programme. It has 10 mins, 30 mins, 60 mins and also an express super short which I’ve used for emergency school uniform single item drying.
It really warms the kitchen up as well.

I don’t have one.

I don't have the space for one so have a heated airer and run a small dehumidifier at the same time.

I have a Bosch one with sensors so it just stops when
everything is dry - it also has a timer option, but I've never, ever used it.

Mine’s a Beko heat pump one. It adjusts the time itself (apparently).

This is mine 9kg Beko condensor for a bargain of £309. It is the second one I have had, the last one lasted 5-6 years but I do use and abuse it.

It is a sensor and has the ability to do 10, 20, 40 or 60 minute dry as well. It will do a "normal" load in just under an hour, think school uniform trousers and t shirt type load.

My AEG 8kg washing machine has a 1400 spin which makes a massive difference when putting clothes into the dryer. I used to have a 1200 and didn't know that that extra 200 spin increase would result in a much quicker drying time.

I do all laundry Mon-Fri so cannot be waiting 3 hours for a load to dry. I would rather pay for the B rated increase in electricity.

No, my husband bought it and it has the water collection bit at the bottom behind a cover it is a total pita!

I have a Miele heat pump and love it. The last three were condenser and I prefer ones that collect the water

Mine has the water compartment at the top although you can plumb it in so the water is taken away. It has different levels of drying, so OH puts his stuff on for line dry, takes his work shirts out to hang up then finishes off the rest

It has a light inside which I didnt know I wanted until I had it

Only slight drawback is it only tumbles one way, but it's usually only the big duvet covers it tangles so not really a problem

Mine is a condenser and I love it. So easy to use and the clothes don't get hot the water just gets sucked out. I used to sometimes nearly burn myself on metal zips when pulling them out of tumble driers! It's expensive though... www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/laundry/tumble-dryers/lg-fdv909s-wifi-enabled-9-kg-heat-pump-tumble-dryer-graphite-10213293-pdt.html

We have the Bosch heat pump, same as @BonnyandPoppy. It's excellent 😁

We also have the series 6 Bosch and it’s plumbed in so with its self cleaning filter it’s pretty maintenance free. We love it and it’s by far the best dryer we’ve had.