tumble dryer desperation!!

[universalis]

We have a family of seven and up until now I have managed without a tumble dryer but am sick of the airers and the constant display of drying washing. I've finally persuaded my dear husband to invest in a tumble dryer but we will have to get a condenser dryer and he has been told they dont dry properly and we'd always have to use airers as well anyway. Can anyone recommend a condenser dryer which gives bone dry clothes? Please

Our condensor works fine - it's just a bog standard Zanussi - you just need to clean filter (every time, 2 secs) and condensor (once a month, 5 mins) as per instructions - if you don't, you do eventually start to just get hot wet clothes. Clothes definitely come out dry - it would drive me demented otherwise.

Hmmm. We have a vented one. Top of the range miele. ANd the bloody clothes still come out damp, so still have to air them

Thanks for the replies still a little confused is it luck of the draw then?

We have a bosch condenser at it has several settings from bone dry to damp. TBH, I never use the bone dry one as it is too crispy! I prefer them to come out slightly damp (only just damp mind) so it's easier to get the creases out either by hanging or ironing.

We are only a family of 4, but also looking into this. When we got a new kitchen a few years ago, Zannussi stuff was highly recommended and oven and dishwasher have been faultless so far.

MIL is 1950s style domestic goddess and has a condenser dryer, think it is Miele, Either that or Bosch.

Zanussi dryer is fine, but I would have to say that Zanussi (Hotpoint?) service is appalling and appears to be a bunch of charlatans targetted on selling rip-off extended warranties (apologies to anyone who works for them - I am sure it is not universal but it was definitely my experience). OTOH when I complained about being bullied into agreeing to said extended warranty, they did refund without quibbling.

I have a zanussi too 3 kids 2 adults it's great you can have iron ready dry or bone dry and it's a condenser

Ours works a treat, has various dryness setting. The bone dry setting is bone dry.

It's a Blomberg - super energy efficient (A+) heatpump thing - expensive to buy but about a 1/4 of the cost per load than a non-heatpump dryer.

Our condenser dryer has always worked a treat. It's - oo - 10 years old now, never missed a beat. I clean the filter when the filter needs cleaning, and empty the condenser when the light comes on. It only has two heat settings - hot and not so hot. I only ever use the not so hot setting, unless I need to dry something really quickly. And if you want things really dry, just leave them in for longer. My usual routine is to line dry if I can, and finish off in the tumble dryer. If the weather's bad I put clothes on the airers over night, near a radiator if the heating's on, and again finish them off in the tumble dryer the next morning. I rarely need to use it for more than 30 minutes.

I have a Maytag condensor and it dries everything beautifully. Good luck with your electricity bill although it will save your sanity.

mine is an indesit and it always dries the clothes bone dry. it's fab.

sorry, it is a condensor aswell.

We have a Tricity Bendix condenser and our clothes come out bone dry. You have to empty the tank every few washes, clean the outer filters every use (2 secs and strangely satisfying) and the big box filter once a month - 5 min max job. It has 2 heat settings and can take a lot in one go.

Ours is about 7 or 8 years old and the only time I have had to get anyone out to it was this year and it was because I had forgotten about the big box filter for years.

If you buy from John Lewis you tend to get a longer warantee.

dh researched this last night and we have ordered the john lewis own brand heat pump one. highly recommended by his aunt, about £500.

I've got the cheapest 8kg Indesit one for about £200 and it sensor dries the clothes to any degree of dryness you choose on the dial.

Used almost daily for three eyars so far and it has been brilliant.

Mine is an inherited AEG condenser and it's bloody fab! Couldn't live without it!

John Lewis one on the heavy cotton setting. Make sure you halve the load from the washing machine otherwise it won't dry properly plus it will end up all crumpled. Clean filters and heat condensor very regularly.

Wow thanks for all the recommendations I feel so excited I think I need to get out more!!

We have a hotpoint condernser in the cupboard under the stairs and it drys perfectly.

The onyl problem with condensers is that they can be noisier than vented ones.

Bosch A rated condenser is very good.

Agree with others about the John Lewis condenser one. Love it.