Important features Clothes dryers
Full-sized dryers often have two or three auto-dry cycles, which shut off the unit when the clothes reach the desired dryness. Each cycle might have a More Dry setting to dry clothes completely, and a Less Dry setting to leave clothes damp for ironing, plus gradations between those two extremes.
Most dryers have a separate temperature control that allows you to choose a lower heat for delicate fabrics, among other things. An extended tumble setting, sometimes called Press Care or Finish Guard, helps to prevent wrinkling when you don’t remove clothes immediately. Some models continue to tumble without heat; others cycle on and off. An express-dry cycle is meant for drying small loads at high heat in less than a half hour. Large loads will take longer. Touchpad electronic controls found in higher-end models tend to be more versatile than mechanical dials and buttons—once you figure them out, that is. Some models allow you to save favorite settings that you use frequently. Some high-end dryers have a display with a progression of menus that enable you to program specific settings for recall at any time. Such menus can be time-consuming (and sometimes confusing) to navigate, but they may allow custom programming or offer detailed help and information otherwise available only in the manual.
A top-mounted lint filter may be somewhat easier to clean than one inside the drum. Some models have a warning light that reminds you to clean the lint filter. It’s important to clean the lint filter regularly to minimize any fire hazard and to maintain the dryer’s efficiency. It’s also advisable to use metal ducting (either rigid or flexible) instead of plastic or flexible foil. Plastic or foil ducts can create a fire hazard if they sag and clog with lint, causing lint to build up in the dryer, where it can ignite. You should clean the ducts out at least once a year.
Most full-sized models have a drum light, making it easy for you to spot stray items that may be hiding in the back. Some models allow you to raise or lower the volume of an end-of-cycle signal or shut it off. A rack included with many dryers attaches inside the drum and is intended to hold sneakers or other items that you want to dry without tumbling. Models with drop-down doors in front may fit better against a wall, but side-opening doors may make it easier to access the inside of the drum.
Full-sized dryers often have two or three auto-dry cycles, which shut off the unit when the clothes reach the desired dryness. Each cycle might have a More Dry setting to dry clothes completely, and a Less Dry setting to leave clothes damp for ironing, plus gradations between those two extremes.
Most dryers have a separate temperature control that allows you to choose a lower heat for delicate fabrics, among other things. An extended tumble setting, sometimes called Press Care or Finish Guard, helps to prevent wrinkling when you don’t remove clothes immediately. Some models continue to tumble without heat; others cycle on and off. An express-dry cycle is meant for drying small loads at high heat in less than a half hour. Large loads will take longer. Touchpad electronic controls found in higher-end models tend to be more versatile than mechanical dials and buttons—once you figure them out, that is. Some models allow you to save favorite settings that you use frequently. Some high-end dryers have a display with a progression of menus that enable you to program specific settings for recall at any time. Such menus can be time-consuming (and sometimes confusing) to navigate, but they may allow custom programming or offer detailed help and information otherwise available only in the manual.
A top-mounted lint filter may be somewhat easier to clean than one inside the drum. Some models have a warning light that reminds you to clean the lint filter. It’s important to clean the lint filter regularly to minimize any fire hazard and to maintain the dryer’s efficiency. It’s also advisable to use metal ducting (either rigid or flexible) instead of plastic or flexible foil. Plastic or foil ducts can create a fire hazard if they sag and clog with lint, causing lint to build up in the dryer, where it can ignite. You should clean the ducts out at least once a year.
Most full-sized models have a drum light, making it easy for you to spot stray items that may be hiding in the back. Some models allow you to raise or lower the volume of an end-of-cycle signal or shut it off. A rack included with many dryers attaches inside the drum and is intended to hold sneakers or other items that you want to dry without tumbling. Models with drop-down doors in front may fit better against a wall, but side-opening doors may make it easier to access the inside of the drum.
