Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

If your tumble dryer actually DRIES clothes please let me know what kind it is!

103 replies

BoilYerHeid · 20/02/2018 16:36

We bought a fairly expensive Samsung tumble dryer two years ago and I've cursed it every day since as it is utterly rubbish. It does not dry clothes except on one setting (took a long time to find that setting) and even then it only works if you put it on twice in a row, so it takes about 6-7 hours to dry a very normal load. It got good reviews at the time but has since been discontinued and has a smattering of reviews from those with the same experience as me. The 'sensor dry' aspect is clearly hopeless.

We need a new dryer before baby number 2 arrives (v soon!). I'm happy to go cheap and cheerful and ideally don't want any sensor crap, I'd be happy with 'hot, warm, cold' and a time setting. Not sure if that kind even still exists?

Anyway if you have a dryer that actually dries clothes can you let me know what kind it is? Thanks!

PS not Samsung Angry

This thread is quite old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’re looking for tumble dryers, we’ve recently updated our best tumble dryer page with lots of great options rated by Mumsnet users, plus info on whether a heat pump or condenser dryer is best for your home. We hope you find it useful.
MNHQ Flowers

OP posts:
InTheRoseGarden · 21/02/2018 16:22

Bosch condensing dryer. I've not had a single problem with it in the 12 years I've owned it. You can override the sensor when necessary e.g. duvets and pillows.

GiveMePrivacy · 21/02/2018 16:24

Sounds like your sensor is faulty, OP. I've got a large family & used washable nappies so even though I dry outside in summer, I love my dryers! I'm on my 3rd tumble dryer in 22 years - they seem to do 10 years and then conkers out. I've also provided several for rental properties, and all have dried clothes perfectly.

All the ones I've had are condensing models - they're more energy efficient as heat is recycled in your home. None has cost more than £300. Current one is Beko 8kg model DCX83100W and it's brilliant - sensor model and you can choose how dry you want it. £269 from Curry's. It's saved me loads of time as I can rely on it to dry the clothes exactly, so I don't have to keep checking and putting it on again. Takes about 90 mins to dry 8kg of cotton towels.

I clean the condenser every couple of weeks, as well as cleaning the lint filter every use.

The only dryers I know of which consistently under-perform are washer-dryers. Several friends have them and they can never dry as much as they can wash, plus they take ages. I think people often remove half the load after the washing cycle. But a dedicated tumble dryer should be able to handle a full load if it's rated for that capacity.

Friends have a Miele and I can't see them being worth it for a dryer. They're no faster than cheaper ones, and they don't do large capacity machines, and even if they are guaranteed for 20 yrs they still work out more expensive than replacing several regular machines. However, technology moves on, so for instance I was able to get a much better dryer this time than was within my budget before.

Your current machine sounds like it's just faulty - have you had a technician look at it?

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 21/02/2018 16:25

Another vote for White Knight - mine is a vented, gas model. I've had it 5 years and it's fantastic.

Taffeta · 21/02/2018 16:29

Vented AEG had it about 6 years, it’s brilliant

Bekabeech · 21/02/2018 17:04

Another Bosch - I like the fact that it adjusts the drying time automatically. So school trousers always start of on 1:58 but usually only take 30-40 minute especially if I stick a dry towel in there with them.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 21/02/2018 17:07

Be very careful with Bosch. I got a very expensive heat pump one - classix 7 - a few years ago. It is appallingly slow. Takes over 3.5 hours to dry a cotton load. I have kept it but got a second one as we have a 12kg washing machine. On the advice of the electrician and which, I got a beko with a sensor/light on when you open door and I love it. It can dry a cotton load in less than a hour whilst the Bosch hasn't even heated up

Bekabeech · 21/02/2018 18:00

Bosch machines do have an obscure way to adjust the temperature - its hidden away in the manual. I haven't had to use it as mine seemed to work okay from the start, but I read about it on MN.

OhDearToby · 21/02/2018 18:04

We've got a hoover condenser one, a cheap one because we weren't sure how much we would use it.

Turns out we use it all the time and it's great! Dries a big load in a couple of hours.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 22/02/2018 07:06

I've adjusted the temperature on the Bosch one - it's still shit. Reading between the lines of the which reviews, the more energy effecient a tumble dryer is, the less efficient at drying it actually is

My bosch one is on the which site with awful reviews as it takes so long

Accountant222 · 22/02/2018 07:27

White Knight, they are brilliant and cheap

wheresmyphone · 22/02/2018 07:34

Avoid Mielie heat pump condenser. AWFUL!!!! Slow, and only rotates in one direction it gets really knotted. You have to stop it, separate it all out, start again, repeat ad nauseum! Hate it hate it hate it!!!!

MissHemsworth · 22/02/2018 07:58

We have s hoover condenser in our garage. It has various settings. I usually go for the most economical one which is an hour & a half. Clothes etc always come out bone dry regardless of size of load. I bloody love it & don't know how I ever lived without it (thank you MIL!)

MissHemsworth · 22/02/2018 07:59

@Daffydil that made me laugh out loud!

Original poster
BoilYerHeid · 22/02/2018 13:13

Fab thanks for all the replies and ideas.

I am fastidious about cleaning the filters and emptying the tray. A slattern in every other aspect of my housekeeping, but that one thing, I do.

The Samsung engineer has been out a few times and fiddled with the sensors and settings but it never makes any difference.

OP posts:
Monkeybunkey · 22/02/2018 13:17

Vented Hoover 7kg dryer for me. Has sensor drying but I just stick every load on low/delicates setting for 75 minutes and that does me.

daro · 22/02/2018 13:17

Zanussi lindo300, condenser, I find the sensor setting works perfectly. On my second one (as first was robbed by builders Angry !!)

Original poster
BoilYerHeid · 22/02/2018 13:20

Also, I had a fiddle around with it the other night and I can get it onto a timed setting but when it is on that you can't change the heat off 'cold'. Utterly useless.

OP posts:
Pinkponiesrock · 22/02/2018 13:24

I got a replacement one, when they recalled the Hotpoint ones that were going on fire and it’s pretty good.

It’s more basic than the previous model we had and I miss the timer function but it does dry my clothes. Admittedly I don’t put anything heavy such as jeans or towel in it unless they are already 90% dry.

It’s mainly small children sized clothes, pants, socks, tea towels etc.

It’s a Hotpoint TVFM 70 Aquarius 7kgB

Pasithea · 22/02/2018 13:24

I bought a white knight a year ago and I really rate it. No complaints at all.

TwatFacedBitch · 22/02/2018 13:25

Hoover 8kg infinty.

Can't remember what I paid as was over 5 years ago.

I don't know what all the settings mean, I just turned the dial and off it went, just used the same setting ever since! Grin

It stops when the clothes are dry and just does anti crease rolls every now and again until I empty it.

TenGinBottles · 22/02/2018 13:26

Miele. I love it.

Verbena37 · 22/02/2018 13:27

With a tumble dryer, simple is the best way to go.
Now I’m defo not advocating you buy a Hotpoint but I, inluceing a photo to show you what our’s looks like.

After the Hotpoint tumble dryer saga, they sent someone to alter it so it doesn’t catch fire. However, the service man said if you keep it clean and empty the lint after use, as well as clearing out lint from around the lint trap, you should be fine.

I never do a cycle for longer than 40mins and never run it at night anymore for safety reasons. Our electricity bills aren’t high and I also agree that vented are better and ore effective than condenser.

A simple dial that you turn, rather than digital means less stuff to go wrong.

If your tumble dryer actually DRIES clothes please let me know what kind it is!
Antiskeptic · 22/02/2018 13:29

I have a Hoover 8kg about 8 years. Used daily and sometimes several times a day. I use the extra dry setting, dries a full load in just under an hour. Will replace with the same again whenever this one packs in

UphillPhil · 22/02/2018 13:54

We have a Bosch condensing tumble dryer & it’s great: The manual says that things will come out feeling /slightly/ damp, which it true, but as far as I can tell it’s just surface dampness that disappears as soon as you pull the clothes out of the dryer and fold them up. Full load takes a couple of hours I think? There is a "super dry" setting, but we’ve never used it.

The thought of all that lovely heat disappearing out into the winter air when it could be warming my house up instead is what made us go for a condensing dryer in the first place. Vented tumble dryers are tremendously energy intensive & much more expensive to run.