Tumble Dryer Technology

[flobadob]

We haven't bought a tumble dryer in about 20 years, and needless to say, it's not great. You can really only tumble dry towels and socks, pretty much everything else gets shrunk or out of shape. So most of our washing either has to go on the washing line or over the radiators.

Has tumble dryer technology come along much in the last 20 years? Do you get ones now, that can dry clothes too the same outcome as if they were put on a washing line?

[Buenchico]

While tumble dryers might now be much more energy efficient than in earlier years, the basic technology doesn't seem to have changed. Indeed, I find it hard to see how it could. It's always going to be just a rotating drum which (just like AB!) is simply filled with lots of hot air.
https://www.ransomspares.co.uk/blog/news/history-of-the-tumble-dryer.htm

People with big wallets might opt for something like this instead:
https://ao.com/product/df60r8600cg-samsung-airdresser-heat-pump-tumble-dryer-glass-77467-126.aspx

[pixie374]

I think clothes have come on further than technology. There is little you can't tumble dry... maybe shoes and wool.

[pat2604]

We have a new one after our old one went bang and sparks flew out a month ago. The new one brilliant, but I was afraid of it at first. It has about 20 options!! You can choose from sorts of things. It sets its own time according to the load and your choice of how dry you want it (in my case wardrobe dry - I never iron). Everything comes out almost crease free. I am absolutely delighted with it. Much speedier too than the old one.

[pixie374]

To dry towels, but get shrinking on clothes, it sounds like flob is drying too hot or too long. Or may just be because it is old.

[pat2604]

It's this one!

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/laundry/tumble-dryers/hoover-h-dry-300-hle-c9de-nfc-9-kg-condenser-tumble-dryer-white-10226539-pdt.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istFeedId=4d7eb93e-055f-499d-8ee5-1cdcc50d67d1&;istItemId=pppiqwaxx&istBid=tztx&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~2006%20(Shopping%20Ads)%20MDA%20-%20TUMBLE%20DRYERS%20TSL%20-%20All%20Products%20-%20SSC%202021~2006%20(Shopping%20Ads)%20MDA%20-%20TUMBLE%20DRYERS%20TSL%20-%20All%20Products%20ad%20group~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&kwid=GOOGLE&device=t&ds_kids=92700067426598765&tgtid=2006%20(Shopping%20Ads)%20MDA%20-%20TUMBLE%20DRYERS%20TSL%20-%20All%20Products%20-%20SSC%202021&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7COBhC2ARIsANsPATGM3R77_cl9P8UhJjmsdDrjkLdu26kb-d7SIrkhlWEeA_EXMbUC79YaAq7rEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[barry1010]

Good heavens! https://ao.com/product/df60r8600cg-samsung-airdresser-heat-pump-tumble-dryer-glass-77467-126.aspx

You might find this video review of heat pump tumble driers interesting - they are much, much cheaper to run

[davebro]

I got a Hotpoint for £99 as a replacement for one of the ones that caught fire sometimes. I generally just do a mixed load & give it an hour although it has lots of settings for fabric type & dryness required. No creasing & shrinkage (most of my stuff has been washed & dried so many time it won't shrink any more!)

[TheChair]

I have a heat Hoover Heat Pump tumble dryer. It's supposed to be twice as efficient as a condenser dryer. The water ends up in a container in the door, which I just lift out and empty. This one comes with loads of programs, and bells and whistles that I never use - I just set it to "Dark Colours" and "Maximum dry". It takes around 2.5 hours to dry an 8Kg load. Similar to this one:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9557705?clickPR=plp:1:2

[bednobs]

i also have a heat pump one with lots of options. i only ever use one too - its one that senses when to stop

[pat2604]

They've now got far more sense than in have. Inner two or three of the settings. It's not the heat pump version, but the same in other respects. It is a condenser drier. I don't have to set a time, and it's very quick. So if the heat pump one is quicker it would be done in a flash. If I used the timer option, it would be a longer cycle, so I let it decide the timing!

[barry1010]

pat, the heat pump ones take longer but are kinder to the washing as they dry at a lower temperature

[flobadob]

Thanks for the answers. Some ideas for us to look through there