Best Clothes Dryers

Common questions about clothes dryers

Types of Clothes Dryers

Heat pump dryers · See All

These work by using hot air to absorb moisture from clothes and dry them. Heated air passes through the drum, then the evaporator, which removes the moisture. This water collects inside a removable condensation tank, which you then empty regularly. Heat pump technology is unique, as it conserves energy by recycling hot air after each heat pump drying cycle.

Condenser Dryers · See All

Condenser dryers remove water from clothes using a heater element, which evaporates moisture that collects inside a condenser tank. This small container is then removed and emptied. You can also remove leftover moisture via a hose pipe that drains water from the dryer into the sink, if that’s easier.

Although they use a similar drying method, the difference between condenser dryers and heat pump dryers is that after a heat pump drying cycle is complete any leftover air is reused, whereas with a condenser dryer it essentially goes to waste.

You'll need good ventilation in your laundry, as condenser dryers increase the level of heat and moisture in the air.

Vented dryers · See All

The most basic and common dryers, vented models transfer hot, damp air from the dryer drum to the air outside, via a hose pipe. Vented dryers need to be located near a window or a wall for this reason. To prevent a build-up of hot air in your laundry, good ventilation or a venting/ducting kit may be needed.

Washer dryer combos · See All

This is an option worth considering if you’re in the market for both a new washing machine and dryer. Integrating both functions into one appliance, a washer/dryer combination can save space in your laundry, and possibly also money.

A 7kg model can cost upwards of $1,200. While this can be cheaper than buying both a washing machine and a dryer separately, it’s likely more expensive than buying just a washing machine or a dryer on its own. Make sure you’ll regularly use both appliances before investing in a washer dryer combo, so it’s worth your while.

A quick note on gas clothes dryers · See All

While this guide focusses on electric dryers, gas clothes dryers are also available – though they’re much less common. You’ll need a gas connection and professional installation, which can be costly. Also, as only Rinnai and Speed Queen sell gas dryers in Australia, they’re much pricier than your average electric clothes dryer.

If you’re okay with all that, gas clothes dryers are more energy efficient than electric dryers, ands also dry clothes faster.

Other factors to consider before buying a dryer

Size

Consider how much available laundry space you have for a clothes air dryer. This will influence the size of any new dryer you're interested in. While freestanding dryers will take up more floor space, other types of dryers can prevent this. You can invest in a stackable dryer instead, which sits on top of, or below, your washing machine. Just make sure you have enough unobstructed vertical space. A wall-mountable clothes dryer is another option for saving laundry floor space. Remember also that the size of a clothes dryer is often determined by its capacity.

Capacity

The capacity of a tumble dryer is measured in kilograms, and determines the amount of dry clothes a dryer is able to comfortably house. The smaller your household or family size, the smaller the kilogram capacity that should be sufficient. A dryer with a higher capacity will house a large drum that dries clothes faster, but using more power.

You can use the below info as a general rule of thumb to determine the dryer capacity to opt for:

• Singles or couples: 4-6 kg
• Four-person households: 6-7 kg
• Five or more people: 7 to 10kg

Another way of estimating capacity is that 1kg is roughly equal to one outfit, consisting of a top, pants, and underclothes.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is measured as a star rating in Australia. 10 stars are awarded to clothes dryer machines with the most energy efficient design possible (however this is rare). 1 star indicates that a model uses an excessive amount of water and electricity to operate.

Not only is a higher energy rating gentler on your power bill, it’s also more eco-friendly. If this is a priority for you, consider buying a heat pump dryer, which will recycle hot air. You can also increase the energy efficiency of your clothes cleaning routine generally by using a cold wash setting on your washing machine instead of warm or hot water. Even on a long cycle, this is more efficient than using a hot, quick wash.

Extra Features

• Anti-wrinkle function: reduces the amount of wrinkles in clothes, by tumbling them on a gentle cycle after the regular cycle is complete.
• Auto sensors: automatically detect when a load has finished drying. This offers a more accurate (and hassle-free) method than guessing how long your clothes will take to dry, which can over-dry or under-dry them.
• Child-safety locks: require you to enter a ‘secret code’ by pressing a special series of buttons before the dryer turns on. This prevents children from accidentally turning on the dryer, or climbing in and closing it shut before it starts.
• Delay time function: delays the start time of a drying cycle. For example you can program your dryer to end its cycle just after you wake up, or you can program it to run during off-peak energy periods to save money.
• Delicates program: is more friendly for drying precious garments, as it uses a gentle, low temperature. Just to be safe, avoid putting silk, cashmere, rubber or pleather in your dryer, as they may melt or become otherwise damaged, even on a delicate cycle.
• Drying rack: protects delicate or precious items that should avoid taking a tumble. These include items that aren’t clothes, for example a child’s favourite soft toy or a pair of canvas shoes.
• Extra dry program: does what you'd expect it to, by getting your clothes closer to a zero percent moisture content, rather than the 6% maximum moisture content allowed for dryers sold in Australia. In most cases, the extra dry program isn't really necessary and may even shrink clothes.
• Lint filters: are easiest to access when they're front mounted. They should be cleaned after every drying cycle. If lint builds up, it can create a fire hazard or decorate dry clothes with lint bunnies.
• Reverse tumbling: is similar to an agitator in a washing machine. The dryer drum reverses the direction of tumbling periodically, to ensure every inch of clothes are dried and tangle free.
• Reversible door hinges: allow the dryer door to push inwards rather than outwards, making them a suitable option if you have limited space in your laundry.
• Sanitise cycle: claims to kill bacteria and allergens that can lurk in clothing.
• Woollen program: uses less heat, to reduce the chance of your wool or wool-blend clothes shrinking. However, there’s still some risk that woollen clothing can shrink, so use with caution.

Wrapping up

We hope you're now equipped you with the information you need to invest in a trustworthy dryer, or be satisfied with your decision not to buy one. Before buying a dryer, remember to consider: the amount of space in your laundry and whether it's well ventilated, the size of your household, materials of your clothing, and how frequently you'll be drying clothes. These will all help determine if a dryer is a viable and convenient option for your household.