You might spend more upfront on an energy-efficient appliance, but it’s usually a worthwhile investment: it’ll save you money in the long run in terms of power bills.

Clothes dryers are serious energy vampires, so buying one that uses less electricity is a no-brainer. 

The most energy-efficient models are heat pump dryers. They’ll cost you more to buy, but paying extra for one now means you’ll pay less for power later – think of it as short-term pain for long-term gain.

We’ll explain how much you can expect to pay, what they cost to run, and which ones to avoid.

Plus, exclusively for our members, we’ll reveal the heat pump clothes dryers that are recommended by our experts. 

If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews.

If you just want to see the best heat pump dryers, jump straight to the results now.

How much do heat pump dryers cost?

In our latest review of 25 clothes dryers, heat pump dryers ranged in price from $899 through to $3299 – which is a huge difference!

While spending more won’t always guarantee you a top-tier dryer, the heat pump dryers that are recommended by our experts cost around $1500 and up.

However, a number of more affordable dryers still performed quite well in our testing but didn’t score quite high enough to be recommended by our experts, so if you’re on a budget they’re still worth considering.

Check our detailed reviews to find the cheaper options that will still give you good results.

How much do heat pump dryers cost to run?

While a heat pump dryer will cost you more to buy than a more simple vented dryer, they are far and away the cheapest type to run.

If you don’t use a dryer very often, you’re probably better off buying a cheaper vented model, but their running costs are around three times higher.

If you do use a dryer frequently, then a heat pump dryer could cost you less in the long run: despite the higher price tag, the running costs are significantly lower.

A clothes dryer should last you around 10 years. When we calculated average dryer running costs over 10 years, here’s how they stacked up:

Remember though that these figures are based on current electricity prices. With so much instability in the world at the moment, it’s hard to know what our power bills will look like in a year’s time, let alone 10 years. 

If you have solar and are able to run the dryer during the day, or if you have a solar battery, then performance and price will be more important than the running cost.

Buying an energy-efficient dryer is a good investment now, but in the years to come it could save you even more than our current figures suggest.

How dry is dry?

For a dryer to be sold in Australia, it has to meet certain criteria, including how much moisture is left in the load once the cycle finishes.

“A dryer must deliver a moisture content level no worse than 6% across the whole load when run at the setting used to earn the energy star shown on the label,” says ����Vlog appliance expert Denis Gallagher.

“Our testers measure and assess all the items in a load and find that some poor performing models may leave some clothes a bit moist but still reach that 6% moisture level overall.”

If you’re used to vented dryers, you’ll probably expect your washing to come out bone dry, so you might be surprised that the clothes still feel a bit damp when you use a heat pump dryer.

“The sweet spot for moisture is around 4.5%,” says Denis.

“That’ll give you the dryness that most people would expect but won’t damage fabric fibres, which is what can happen when you dry to moisture levels of less than 2.5%.”

If the final moisture content is important to you, our detailed reviews include the result for each dryer so you can check before you buy.

Heat pump dryers to avoid

In our lab tests, our experts found that these heat pump dryers had some of the longest drying times, with one taking almost four hours to dry a load of washing! By comparison, the highest scorers took less than two hours to do the same job.

These ones also cost almost twice as much to run than the best machines we tested, so they’ll be a drain on your wallet as well as your patience.

Bosch WQG24200AU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 63%
• Final moisture content: 3.5%
• Price: $1749
• 10-year running cost: $1108

Bosch WTH83001AU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 67%
• Final moisture content: 2.1%
• Price: $899
• 10-year running cost: $1101

Beko BDPB904HW

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 67%
• Final moisture content: 3.1%
• Price: $1649
• 10-year running cost: $1055

What are the best heat pump dryers?

Our detailed clothes dryer review includes data on 25 dryers, including 17 heat pump dryers. Our laundry experts assess them for things like energy efficiency, drying time, cost per load and noise. 

Join ����Vlog to access our detailed clothes dryers testing data. Only ����Vlog members have access to all our expert, independent reviews. 

Or log in to unlock this article to find the hottest heat pump dryers on the market.

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With winter fast approaching and the cost of living skyrocketing, a cheap clothes dryer or washing machine could well be an appealing option. 

Aldi is selling a bargain vented clothes dryer and front-load washing machine as part of its Special Buys sale this Saturday 18 April. 

With some of the cheapest prices we’ve ever seen for these types of appliances – $269 for the clothes dryer and $329 for the front loader – the low price tags are certainly enticing if your dryer or washer is on the fritz and the budget is tight. But are these appliances worth buying? 

We share the pros, cons and need-to-knows to help you decide.

What is a vented dryer?

Aren’t clothes dryers all the same? You just throw your clothes in, turn the dial, and your clothes come out toasty warm and perfectly dry, right?

Not quite. There are two main dryer types: vented and heat pump dryers. The type you buy can impact what you’ll pay upfront and in the long run.

Vented dryers can be an economical option if you rarely use your dryer.

They’re usually quite a simple, light design, which means they can generally be wall-mounted to save space.

But they’re more expensive to run than heat pump or condenser dryers, and will pump hot, wet air into your laundry. So you’ll either need to vent the hot air outside or ensure your space is quite well-ventilated, either with an open window or exhaust fan.

If you use a dryer frequently, you’re better off going for a more efficient (and more expensive) heat pump model. If you only use your dryer occasionally, or you don’t have the cash for an expensive heat pump model, a vented dryer is usually your best bet.

Is the Aldi clothes dryer any good?

We haven’t tested this exact model of dryer, but we have tested a different 4.5kg vented dryer from Aldi, and it received a score of 68%.��

����Vlog laundry expert Denis Gallagher says while this is on the lower end for performance, it’s quite a typical score for a vented dryer.

“Due to their energy inefficiencies, vented dryers usually only score around the 70-77% mark in our expert ����Vlog reviews,” says Denis.

“If you have solar and only run the dryer during the day then the factors that contribute to these lower scores, such as longer cycle times and higher energy costs, may not be as big an issue for you.

“Although we haven’t tested the model being sold at Aldi, it’s very cheap, even for a vented dryer, and could be worth looking at for people who want a dryer only for occasional use.

“However, if you anticipate using your dryer daily, you should look at a heat pump dryer. Although these are more expensive, they are more efficient to run so will cost you less in the long run.”

If you’re considering picking up this $269 Aldi clothes dryer while you do your grocery shopping, we’ve put together some pros and cons below to help you decide if it’s right for you.

Check our clothes dryer reviews to see what other options might be better suited to your needs.

Is the Aldi front-loader washing machine any good?

Front-loader washing machines are generally a bit more expensive than top loaders, due to how they’re built, and can cost anywhere from $499 up to over $1800. They generally perform better, though, and use less water and energy.

“It’s important to consider both price and performance when buying a new front loader,” says ����Vlog whitegoods expert Denis Gallagher. 

“While there are some great performers at the cheaper end of the scale, there are also some duds – this is why it’s vital to do your research before handing over your credit card.”

When we tested a similar Aldi front-loader washing machine, it received a score of 75%, which is impressive given its low price tag.

What’s to like about cheap Aldi laundry appliances?

Price

We’ve reviewed 45 vented dryer models in the last few years, ranging in price from $249 for a 4.5kg-capacity dryer from Aldi to $999 for a 7kg-capacity model. So this Special Buy from Aldi is cheap at $279 for a 6kg-capacity machine.

At $329, the Aldi washing machine is significantly cheaper than other 6kg models we’ve tested, which range in price from $499 to $1899. 

Of the 13 front loaders our experts recommend in our current review, ten of them cost less than $1500 – so if you check our detailed washing machine reviews before you buy, you can save yourself hundreds on a new front loader.

Three-year warranty

These Aldi Special Buys come with a three-year “in-home” warranty. This means that if a service under warranty is required within three years, a technician from the product manufacturer will come to your home.��

Most other dryers and washing machines in our reviews come with just two-year warranties. 

Brush up on how to use your consumer guarantees if you have a problem.

What’s not to like?

We haven’t tested it

Our experts haven’t reviewed these specific models, as Aldi products pop up at short notice and usually sell out quickly, so unfortunately we can’t tell you exactly how it will perform. (However, we’ve been testing clothes dryers and washing machines for decades so we know a thing or two.)

No delivery – and they are heavy 

Aldi doesn’t deliver, so you have to head in-store to pick up the appliance yourself. The dryer weighs around 29kg and the washing machine weighs around 50kg, so you’ll need a trolley, a vehicle that fits the appliance and at least one very helpful assistant. While the cheap price tag is enticing, consider if you’re willing to pay more from a retailer who will deliver the new appliance, perhaps even install it in your laundry and take away your old washer or dryer to recycle it.

Limited stock

As with all Aldi Special Buys, stock is limited, so there’s no guarantee this product will be available at your local store. 

You can check stock levels at , but you can only use this one day after the products appear in store, by which time they may have sold out if they’re popular. 

Returning it will be a pain

If things go awry with your new appliance, it’s a bit harder to return to the store than, say, a packet of biscuits that were past their use-by date when you bought them. 

Just like getting it home, you’ll need a trolley and an assistant to get it into and out of your car and back into the store. 

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Clothes dryers can seem like a luxury to those living in sunnier climes, but when you’re slogging through a wet winter they can feel more like a necessity.��

However, tumble dryers can really push your energy costs up – and unless you shop smart, your dryer could cost you many more times the purchase price in electricity bills. 

We’ll explain how to keep your dryer running costs down and which type of dryer is best for energy efficiency.  

Plus, exclusively for our members, we’ll reveal the clothes dryers that cost the least per load and are recommended by our experts. 

If you’re not yet a member, join ����Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews.

If you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

How to reduce your dryer running costs

Air drying is always the cheapest way to dry your clothes, but if that’s not an option for you, here are some other ways to use your dryer more efficiently:

• Air dry clothes as much as you can before putting them in the dryer.
• Keep the lint filter clean.
• Use your washing machine’s highest spin speed to get as much water out as possible.
• Keep a window open near your vented dryer.
• Choose an energy-efficient dryer.

Which type of clothes dryer is cheapest to buy?

Vented dryers are far less complicated than other dryer types, meaning they’re by far the cheapest to buy. 

The average price of the vented dryers in our test is about $523*. 

By comparison, the average heat pump dryer will set you back more than $2000*, and you can spend as much as $3299 for a high-end heat pump dryer.

On average, condenser dryers sell for around $1600*.

(*Based on available models tested as of March 2025.)

Which type of clothes dryer is cheapest to run?

A vented clothes dryer will be one of the most energy-intensive appliances in your home, burning through anywhere from 2.75–9.25kWh per load. In fact, vented dryers use around three times as much energy as heat pump dryers.

When we calculated average dryer running costs over 10 years, here’s how they stacked up:

These figures are based on drying a load three times a week, so if you’re tumble drying more often, the difference will be much bigger. This means a heat pump dryer could end up being cheaper in the long run, even though it has a much higher purchase price.

But if you won’t use a dryer regularly, it may not be worth spending extra on a heat pump dryer, even if they are cheaper to run. All those energy savings won’t amount to much if the initial purchase price left a gaping hole in your bank account.��If you’re only planning to use your dryer occasionally, a cheaper vented dryer will likely be the better option.

Our expert reviews let you filter by brand, price, running costs and more to help you find the best clothes dryers for your needs. 

The clothes dryers that are the cheapest to run

Our detailed clothes dryer review includes data on 25 dryers. ����Vlog’s laundry experts assess them for things like energy efficiency, drying time, cost per load and noise. 

Join ����Vlog to access our detailed clothes dryers testing data. Only ����Vlog members have access to all our expert, independent reviews. 

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which dryers turn up the heat on your clothes, but not your power bills. 

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And if you pick poorly, you’ll cop bigger power bills because dryers are energy-hungry appliances.��In fact, the difference in running costs between an inefficient clothes dryer and a top performing model can be hundreds of dollars over a year (which can really add up over the lifetime of an appliance).��

Here at ����Vlog, we don’t want anyone to be left high and dry by average products.

Our experts meticulously test the most popular clothes dryers on the market in our labs. 

We evaluate key indicators including drying time and energy efficiency, and we analyse and compare features, running costs, noise levels and more.

Basically, everything you need to know to choose the best clothes dryer for your needs.

We don’t want you to end up with a dud buy, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests. Consider becoming a ����Vlog member to see the best performers.

Bosch WQG24200AU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 63%
• RRP: $1749
• Type: Heat pump

Just under $1800 is actually pretty reasonable for a heat pump dryer, but in this case it’s a false economy.

You might pay less upfront, but you’ll pay twice as much in running costs for this Bosch compared to other heat pump dryers.

While at first glance this machine appears to be pretty energy efficient, it needs to run for much longer than other models to do the job – a huge 232 minutes, which is almost four hours.

Though drying performance is very good, it ends up using more power per load than other heat pump dryers.

But just because this cheaper model scored poorly doesn’t mean you need to spend big to pick up a good heat pump dryer. Three of the top scoring heat pump dryers in our review cost around the same price or only slightly higher, and you can probably find them on sale for around the same price or less.

Instead of buying this dud, you could take out a ����Vlog membership, buy a top scoring dryer and come out ahead financially in the long run. 

Whichever way you look at it, the numbers just don’t add up for this Bosch.

Read the full Bosch WQG24200AU review.

Haier HDV70AWW1

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 65%
• RRP: $689
• Type: Vented

Vented clothes dryers are the simplest and most common type of clothes dryer and are therefore the cheapest to buy, evidenced by the relatively low price tag on this Haier model (it’s one of the cheapest in our current review).

The catch with cheaper vented dryers though, is that they’re the most expensive to run, and true to form this one will add more $210 to your energy bills per year if you run a full load about three times a week. In comparison, more efficient heat pump dryers will cost you on average $75 a year in running costs for the same usage.

That being said, if you’re not using your dryer all that often and you don’t want to outlay too much cash, a vented dryer can still be a good option.

However, our experts advise there are better buys than this one. It’s relatively inefficient, and there are two models in a similar price range that our experts actually recommend. 

Read the full Haier HDV70AWW1 review.

Bosch WTH83001AU

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 67%
• RRP: $899
• Type: Heat pump

We can’t say for certain what the “WTH” in the model number of this Bosch dryer stands for, but there’s a possibility that it means “what the heck??”, which is exactly what you might find yourself saying if you buy this machine.

It takes more than three hours to dry a load of laundry (compared to around 110 minutes for top scoring dryers), and costs more than twice as much as some dryers to run.

At $899, it’s reasonably priced for a heat pump dryer, but a number of machines around the same price performed better in our testing.

Read the full Bosch WTH83001AU review.

Beko BDPB904HW

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 67%
• RRP: $1649
• Type: Heat pump

This Beko is another overpriced disappointment.

It has an agonisingly long cycle time of 208 minutes, making it the second slowest in our test (after the Bosch WQG24200AU).

And just like the models mentioned above, it costs more to run than some of the models we recommend – about twice as much in fact. With running costs this high, you have to wonder if it’s really worth it.

And when several top scoring models cost around the same at the till but far less over time to run, there are far better options than this.

Read the full Beko BDPB904HW review.

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So what’s the best wet weather plan when it’s bucketing outside? Drying laundry indoors can invite mould and moisture into your home and leave a musty pong on your clothes, but don’t worry – ����Vlog experts are here to help.��

From smarter washing habits to clever drying strategies, here are their top tips for turbocharging your laundry routine and saving your sanity through the wettest months of the year.

1. It starts with your washing machine

Even before you think about how you’re going to dry the load, check you’re using the most effective spin cycle on your washing machine. You want as much water as possible to be removed from the clothes during the washing process. Front loader washing machines are better for this, as they tend to have much faster spin cycles than top loaders.��

Ensure you don’t overload your washing machine, as this can prevent clothes from getting as dry as possible during the spin cycle. And, if you’re doing multiple loads in one day, do the heavier items first (jeans, towels etc), so they have more time to dry.

2. Maximise air circulation

Drying laundry is mainly about putting your clothes in a space with air that is sufficiently dry to absorb the evaporating moisture. Outdoors is usually better for this as the air is often warmer (on a sunny day) and better circulated.��

But if it’s really cold outside, and obviously if it’s wet, you’ll have to bring the laundry indoors. In this case, you need to create air circulation artificially. This can be done with a fan, air conditioner or dehumidifier.

A dehumidifier can be used to help your clothes dry faster, and reduce the risk of mould and dust that can result from drying your laundry indoors. Over half the models in our latest dehumidifier review have a specific laundry setting for this purpose.

This function helps dry washing more efficiently indoors by pulling excess moisture from the air. They’re no match for tumble dryers, but ����Vlog experts say they’re still a great option if you don’t have outdoor drying space, especially during colder months.

“The moisture has to go somewhere, and if your home doesn’t have good airflow to let moist air escape, you can end up with damp walls and furniture – perfect conditions for mould,” says ����Vlog expert Chris Barnes.

Some air conditioners also have specific ‘Dry Mode’ or ‘Dehumidifier Mode’ functions that are designed to remove excess moisture from the air, which can also be helpful for drying clothes indoors.��

And, you can always go old school and use a pedestal or tower fan to help circulate air. ����Vlog testing finds that pedestal fans are usually better than tower fans at delivering strong gusts of air that’ll help with this.

3. Keep it safe – a metre from the heater!

While you might be tempted to drape clothes over a heater, or place your clothes airer or racks quite close to a heater with a fan, this can be both unsafe and costly.��

“Damp clothes hung directly in front of a heater, or over it, can not only be a fire hazard but could also increase your heating bills, as they act as a barrier and potentially prevent your heater from releasing warmth into the room,” says Chris.��

“This means your heater will have to work harder to create a warmer temperature, which adds up to higher energy bills.”

4. Avoid overwashing your clothes

Have you got kids that indiscriminately chuck clothes in the laundry basket, dirty or not? Do you wash your jeans after every wear? How frequently you wash your clothes obviously depends on your personal preferences and habits, but consider whether there are some items you could relax with a little on the washing front.

Not only does this mean less items to dry on rainy days, but you’ll reduce the impact of your laundry routine on the environment and in many cases it could extend the lifetime of your garments. A recent report from Sustainability Victoria suggests we’re likely washing our clothes too frequently.

While you should definitely continue washing your undies and sweaty gym gear after every wear, the research from Sustainability Victoria says jeans should be washed after at least 10 days of wear. If cared for correctly, one pair should last us four years, with 300 days of wear.

5. Beware running your clothes dryer 24/7

While it’s tempting to transfer everything straight from the washing machine to the dryer on a rainy day, keep in mind that this can be an expensive exercise. Not to mention, many clothes aren’t suitable for tumble drying and could get shrunk or ruined.��

Some dryers can be very inefficient, too, so be aware that if you’re drying several times a day, you’re likely to see an increase in your energy bills that could reach into the hundreds.��

How much more you’ll pay also depends on factors such as how old your clothes dryer is, how clean the filters are and what type of dryer it is. Heat pump dryers are more efficient and therefore cheaper to run than vented dryers, for example. See how expensive your clothes dryer is to run.

Tips for hanging your washing better for quicker drying

• Don’t overcrowd the airer – more air flow means faster drying.
• Ensure arms or legs in wet shirts and shorts aren’t tucked in or bunched up.
• Hang shirts from the bottom end (with pegs) rather than doubling them/folding over the line.
• Hang wet business shirts or blouses on coathangers before hanging them on your line to maximise space and airing.��
• Hang your washing on a portable airer that you can easily move outside if the sun happens to pop out (or that you can move around the house easily to warmer spots depending on what time of day it is).

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According to ����Vlog laundry experts, clothes should actually be ever so slightly moist when they come out of the dryer. Why? Because ‘over-drying’ can cause damage which reduces the lifespan of your clothes.

Decades of dryers have come through our labs which has helped our experts uncover useful information like this – the kinds of things that manufacturers don’t tend to highlight.��

We test based on the needs and expectations of the average consumer, so you can find a top performing model that doesn’t damage your clothes or blow out the electricity bill. But, a word of warning. Our results contain multiple uses of the word ‘moist’. Here’s how our testing finds the real truth about which dryer is the best.

Our moisture measurements help protect your clothes

Dryers that can’t bring the total moisture content of a load of washing down to six percent or less should not be registered for sale in Australia (despite this, we still find models that exceed it from time to time). But even six percent is still a little too wet for our experts.

We’ve determined that the best-performing dryers leave fabrics with a moisture content of 4–4.5%. Our experts feel this range delivers the best balance between adequate dryness, energy efficiency, and fabric care. Dryers with a moisture content between 4.5–6% score lower in our test but can still be otherwise acceptable products.

It’s actually possible to over-dry as well, because a moisture content of 2.5% or less can damage clothes over time. We test for this and note it in the ‘bad points’ of our dryers review. Our experts also give out lower scores for dryers that leave clothes too dry after a cycle.

This is an important part of our test as advertising suggests that bone dry clothes is a good thing – but we know better. Extending the lifespan of your clothes isn’t just good for your wallet, it’s good for the environment too.

We’ve added a new bedding test

Plenty of Aussie households need to regularly wash big piles of bedding and we’re also seeing more and more dryers that have added a ‘bed’ or ‘bedding’ mode specifically designed for washing bedsheets. We felt our performance assessment didn’t cover these features to our usual standards so our lab experts have developed and implemented a brand-new bedding test.

To kick things off, we purchased a number of complete bedding sets (flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillow cases) from local retailers – 2.4kg of bedding per test dryer to be exact. This forms the basis of our bedding test, as local products will likely match those found in average Australian homes.

But though it is tempting to just toss everything in our dryers like most people tend to do (don’t lie, we know how you live), this approach is impossible to replicate in every test. So, our experts have put together a specific loading technique to ensure that our test of the bedding mode on each dryer is directly comparable.

Once the bedding cycle is complete, our experts thoroughly check the material for moisture. This involves weighing the bedding before (at 90% moisture) and after drying to figure out how much moisture has been removed, as well as a ‘touch test’.

Every centimetre of the bedding in each load is physically checked for concentrated damp spots that may not be evident in the weigh-in. It’s true, our testers get to spend a portion of their day rubbing linens.

But it makes sense. After all, bed sheets are big and can get tangled up, twisted or bundled, which can cause problems for some dryers. Models that don’t effectively and evenly remove moisture from all items score less in the bedding tests.

We estimate real-world energy usage

You know those star stickers on the front of appliances? They’re Energy Ratings, a strictly regulated certification system that indicates the energy efficiency of a product. More stars equals greater efficiency.

Manufacturers want to earn the best energy star rating possible – understandably so. But the way they go about that may not reflect how you’re using a dryer at home.

It all comes down to the weight of your laundry load. Most manufacturers fill their dryers to the brim during the certification, but our experts use a smaller, 3.5kg load with an initial moisture content that’s almost at its limit (90%). This load size is a better representation of how the average Australian uses their dryer.

You’d think a bigger load would use more energy but it’s actually the opposite. Smaller loads aren’t as energy efficient, which is why our energy test gives a more realistic indication of energy consumption during normal use. You may find that energy consumption is a bit higher at home than the star stickers suggest.

How did we decide on a 3.5kg load? With the help of consumers and our members. Our surveys found that Australian households generally don’t use a full load and this helped our testers land on that 3.5kg sweet spot.

This isn’t the first time we’ve reached out to members when developing test methods. You can help ensure that our tests meet the real world needs of Australian consumers by joining ����Vlog.

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But are you getting the most out of your dryer? It’s possible you’re making a few laundry faux pas that have the potential to cost you money, waste energy and even ruin your clothes.

Whether you use your dryer every day or only on the odd occasion, our laundry gurus have identified some of the most common mistakes you could be making that may jeopardise not only the quality and lifespan of your clothes and appliance, but also your bank balance.

1. Not cleaning your lint filter

It may feel like a drag to remove the excess lint from your dryer’s lint trap after every use, but if you let the lint build up inside your dryer it will not only reduce your dryer’s efficiency, but it could also create a potential fire hazard, say ����Vlog laundry experts.

This is because a blocked lint filter makes it harder for air to circulate through your clothes, making your dryer less efficient and causing the dryer to overheat, which could potentially cause a fire.

Our advice? Be safe rather than sorry and clean your dryer filter after every use.

2. Leaving your clothes in the dryer for too long

Over-drying your clothes in the dryer may degrade your clothing, causing excessive wrinkling or shrinkage over time. Many modern dryers have auto sensors or programs that automatically turn the appliance off when the clothes are dried, but there are many dryers and cycles that only use timers.

Over-drying also wastes energy, which can be an unnecessary expense (and we’ve all certainly noticed a hike in our energy bills of late).

It probably goes without saying, but you can save a great deal of energy and money by simply hanging your clothes on a line to dry. Sunshine is free, after all! And, if the days are looking a little gloomy, check out our tips for drying your laundry on rainy days.

3. Drying woollens in the dryer

You’ll want to avoid tumble drying your favourite woollen jumper as it may well irrevocably damage the fibres, say ����Vlog laundry experts.

This is because, when wool is spun and made into clothing, the fibres are stretched out and straightened. When you apply heat, that stretch can relax and the fibres can retract, like a recoiling spring.

That said, some dryers do have a ‘woollens’ setting, but using it could be risky.

Although woollens settings on dryers are designed to be gentler than the regular settings and use lower heat, it’s safest not to use any heat or mechanical action at all. If you have the option of air drying then it’s better not to risk using the dryer, according to our experts.

Instead, dry your woollen items outside, but not in direct sunlight as this may cause colour fading. Dry in a shaded area and lay the garment flat to ensure the clothing maintains its shape.��

4. Not opening a window for ventilation

Have you ever walked into your laundry room when the dryer has been running for a while, and noticed condensation dripping down the walls? This can happen if you’re using a vented dryer and there is not enough ventilation in your laundry, which can cause a build-up of moisture.

Unfortunately, a build-up of moisture creates an optimum environment for mould spores to grow, especially on gyprock and fabric materials stored in and around the laundry.

If you’re unable to open a window or ventilate effectively when your vented dryer is in use, then we advise looking to buy a condenser or heat pump condenser dryer – they cost more to buy but are cheaper to run, so they can save you money in the long run, and won’t leave you with water dripping from the ceiling and down the walls. You can search the latest models and how they perform in our latest clothes dryer review.��

5. Assuming expensive brands will dry better

Thanks to our extensive lab testing, we know that the price of the drier doesn’t necessarily correlate with its performance.

We regularly test a number of clothes dryers in our laundry labs, scoring each model on a specific set of criteria, including how well they dry, how long they take to dry and how efficient they are.

To measure each model’s drying performance, we assess the moisture content of a standard set of bed sheets, small towels and pillow cases before and after a specific drying cycle.��The resulting moisture level should be neither too dry or too moist, with the optimal level being 4-4.5%, with anything up to 6% also considered very good (a moisture content below 2.5% may reduce the life of some garments and over 6% may not feel dry enough).��

In our latest review, we had one condenser dryer model priced at $1999 that left clothes with a moisture content of 12%, and another heat pump dryer priced at $2599 that left clothes with a moisture content of 8.2%.��

Thankfully, we’re able to recommend eight clothes dryers that deliver very good drying performance, and two of these are priced under $1000. That’s why it pays to check ����Vlog reviews before you buy.��

6. Using a dryer ball

Don’t get sucked into buying one of these gimmicks, say our laundry experts. According to our testing of a range of dryer ball products, they won’t make a huge difference, if any, to the time and energy required to dry your clothes.

It’s a better investment of your cash to ensure you have the most efficient clothes dryer possible.��

7. Mixing thick, bulky items with thinner, delicate ones 

While it may be tempting to throw a whole load into the dryer at once, you’ll likely get better results if you dry like items with like.��

This is because fabrics with different weights can hold greater or lesser amounts of moisture, so they’ll dry at different rates – a thin garment will dry much quicker than a heavy denim or a towel, so that means you could be over-drying (and therefore damaging) some clothes, while others are still damp.

The same can also be said for the dryer itself. When buying a dryer, choose a size that suits your household’s needs rather than the biggest and best on the market. If you have a big dryer and are only putting a few things into each load, you’re not getting the best value in the long term.

8. Not making the most of your washer’s spin speed

The spin cycle on your washing machine extracts moisture from your clothes to prepare them for faster drying.

Use the highest spin speed on your washing machine and, if you’re shopping for a new washing machine, look for one with a high spin speed so your washing will take less time and energy to dry.

9. Choosing the wrong type of dryer for your needs 

There are several types of clothes dryer on the market – vented, heat pump, condenser, gas – and the type you choose should depend on your circumstances and priorities.��

Don’t buy an expensive heat pump dryer if you’ll only use it a couple of times a year, or an energy-hungry vented dryer if you’re going to be using it every day.

If you can’t avoid using your dryer all year round, opt for one with a high energy-efficiency score in our ����Vlog reviews or a heat pump condenser dryer. They cost more to buy but are cheaper to run so they can save you money in the long run. The more you use your dryer, the better an option this becomes.

The post Clothes dryer mistakes you might be making appeared first on ����Vlog.

When it’s just too wet, too chilly or too late to hang your clothes on the washing line, you’ll need to bite the bullet and use your clothes dryer.

But if you’re concerned about the cost to your wallet or the cost to the environment, here’s what to expect in terms of running costs, plus expert tips for keeping a lid on your energy bills.

How much does a clothes dryer cost to run?

Clothes dryers can be huge energy guzzlers, so if you’re planning to buy one it’s vital to crunch the numbers first so you don’t get a nasty surprise when your power bill arrives.

There are three types of clothes dryers: vented, condenser and heat pump. Vented is the simplest and most common type of dryer – these models are generally light and have faster drying times. Condenser and heat pump dryers are more complicated machines that work more efficiently and store the water collected from your clothes instead of sending it out as exhaust, although they work differently to one another. (Want to know more? We explain what a heat pump dryer is�����Ի� what a condenser dryer is)

Here’s how they stack up:

These numbers are based on one load per week, so obviously your costs will vary depending on whether you use your dryer more or less frequently than this.

Generally, vented dryers are cheap to buy but expensive to run, while heat pump dryers are expensive upfront but cost far less over time.

While we’d normally suggest you buy the most efficient machine possible, that advice isn’t always applicable to dryers.

If you only use a dryer for emergencies, there’s no point buying an expensive one as you’re unlikely to recoup your costs. But if you’re a frequent dryer, you’ll come out ahead by buying a dryer that’s cheap to run.

You can filter by brand, price, running costs and more in our reviews so you can find the best clothes dryer for your needs.

Money-saving tips for using your dryer

Here’s our expert advice for getting your laundry dry without getting burnt by huge power bills.

1. Here comes the sun

Clothes dryers use a lot of energy to run, but sunlight and fresh air are free – so make the most of them by hanging your clothes out for a while before moving them to the dryer.

Even if it’s raining, can you find a dry spot to pop your laundry on a drying rack?

The more moisture you can extract from your laundry before tumble drying it, the less time you’ll need to run your dryer, which is better for the environment and your energy bills.

If you have solar, then you can run your dryer without drawing electricity from the grid – which will obviously save you plenty. If it’s sunny but too cold outside for your laundry to dry quickly, run your dryer during the day to capitalise on the sunshine.��

2. Keep it clean

Cleaning the lint filter can be annoying, but it’s an important habit to get into.

A blocked lint filter makes it harder for air to circulate through your clothes, making your dryer less efficient and creating a fire hazard.

Try to clean your dryer’s filter after every load.

3. Spin out

The more water you can remove from your laundry, the less time it’ll need in the dryer.

Choose the highest spin speed available on your washing machine, or if you’re shopping for a new washing machine, look for one with a higher spin speed – it’ll extract more water so your dryer has less work to do, meaning a shorter drying time and therefore lower energy consumption.

Plus, using your dryer less frequently will extend its life, which will save you money in the long run since you won’t need to replace it so quickly.

On the flip side, if you’re line-drying consider dialling down the spin speed instead. Line drying is free, so it doesn’t matter if it takes a little longer, but higher spin speeds can crush the pile of your towels so they’ll feel less soft. Read more about how to keep your towels soft and fluffy.

4. Have a good vent

If you have a vented dryer, it’s going to blow moist air back into the room, increasing the humidity of the air the dryer is sucking in. This means your dryer will have to work harder to dry your clothes, costing you more.

Open a window in your laundry space whenever you use your dryer, vent the humid air outside or use your home’s ducting (if it’s available).

If your laundry doesn’t have these ventilation options, consider opting for a condenser or heat pump dryer. They do cost more to buy, but they won’t leave you with water dripping from the ceiling and down the walls.

5. Choose efficiency

If you can’t avoid using your dryer, opt for the most efficient one you can find – look for a high energy efficiency score in our clothes dryer reviews.

Or buy a heat pump dryer. These cost more to buy but are cheaper to run, so they can save you money in the long run. The more you use your dryer, the better an option this becomes.

The type and model of dryer you are using can really make a difference to your energy bill. In our dryer reviews, we measure how much power each dryer uses to dry a load of washing, and the figures range from 0.92 to 3.65kWh – that means that the less efficient machines use well over three times as much power as the most efficient models.

We also calculate the running cost of each appliance over 10 years and the difference ranges from $552 to more than $2100.��

6. Don’t fall for it

Don’t get sucked into paying for gimmicks. Some people will tell you that adding dryer balls to your dryer will reduce the time and energy required to dry your clothes.

We’ve tested dryer balls and found they just don’t work. Save your money and put your time into smarter ways to use your dryer.

The post How much your dryer costs to run – and how to reduce your running costs appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• What is a condenser dryer?
• How do condensers compare to vented and heat pump dryers?
•  Condenser dryer pros and cons
• Can condenser dryers be stacked or wall mounted?
• Should you buy a condenser dryer vs a heat pump or vented dryer?

Once upon a time, all tumble dryers were simple beasts – metal boxes with a drum, fan, heater and motor. Now, you’ll find different types with names like condenser, vented and heat pump, but what sets each apart?

Essentially, the main difference is how they get the moisture out of your wet clothes and what they do with it afterwards.��

Traditional vented dryers use a fan to blow moist air out of the machine, while the more expensive and sophisticated condenser and heat pump models use special technology to collect it for storage or funneling into a drain.

In this guide, we’ll explain how condenser dryers work and show how they stack up against newer heat pump varieties. For information on other types of dryers, check out our dryer buying guide�����Ի� heat pump dryer explainer.

What is a condenser dryer?

Like their vented counterparts, condenser dryers rely on blowing hot air to get your clothes dry. But instead of simply releasing all this moisture into your home as exhaust, the machine uses a heat exchanger to collect the steam as water for storage or disposal, releasing only dry, warm air.

Heat pump dryers also hold onto the water they collect from clothes. But they go one step further in terms of efficiency by reusing the hot air from the drying process, meaning they don’t emit exhaust at all and cost less to run.

A condenser or heat pump dryer’s ability to collect moisture means that having a well-ventilated room isn’t nearly as important as it would be if you were using a vented model, which can leave walls dripping wet and at risk of mould if not given proper breathing space.

Of course, condensers and heat pumps are limited in how much water they can hold onto and you’ll have to empty the storage unit from time to time or connect a hose to drain the machine.

A disappearing appliance

����Vlog laundry expert Denis Gallagher says condenser dryers are a dying breed because heat pumps provide the same benefits, but are more efficient and cost less to run.

“Condenser dryers are hard to find and there are only a couple of older models still available,” he explains. “Heat pump dryers are becoming the standard for quality drying and their prices have come down considerably over the last few years.”

How do condensers compare to vented and heat pump dryers?

As outlined above, the main differences between vented, condenser and heat pump dryers is that each has a more sophisticated method than the last to get your clothes dry. A condenser dryer is more advanced than a vented model, but not as refined as a heat pump.

Energy use

We’ve previously found condenser dryers to not be very energy efficient. Along with older vented varieties, they use around three times more energy to dry a load than their heat pump counterparts. This means vented and condenser dryers cost more to run in the long term than a heat pump.

Purchase price

A condenser dryer’s ability to hold onto moisture rather than spreading it around your laundry means they usually cost more to purchase than a vented appliance.

Heat pumps are even more sophisticated machines, which is why they have traditionally been more expensive than both vented and condenser models. But we’ve seen these models get cheaper in recent years as they become more common.��

You also get more choice when you opt for a heat pump (rather than a condenser), with several new brands arriving in the market in recent years.

Treatment of clothes

Heat pumps are usually more gentle with clothes than vented and condenser dryers, but their cycle times are often longer.

 Condenser dryer pros and cons

Pros:

• Doesn’t vent moist air, so less need for ventilation than with a vented dryer.
• Stores water that you can re-use, for example, to water plants.

Cons:

• Very little choice, with only a few models now available.
• Less efficient than a heat pump dryer.
• More expensive to buy than a vented dryer.
• Weight means wall mounting is not an option, although you can stack them on top of your front load washing machine (depending on the model).
• Have to empty stored water manually if the machine has no outlet hose.

Can condenser dryers be stacked or wall mounted?

Because they contain more heavy components than vented dryers, most heat pumps or condensers can’t be wall mounted.

Wall-mounting a dryer also usually means inverting it in order to keep the controls within reach and this will cause issues with the onboard water storage tank included in condenser and heat pump machines.

Therefore, stacking the unit on top of something else is going to be your only option if you want to save space.��

Most condenser and heat pump dryers we’ve seen come with advice regarding whether they can be stacked on top of a front loading washing machine and some even include a stacking kit to help you do this.

Should you buy a condenser dryer vs a heat pump or vented dryer?

If your laundry isn’t well-ventilated and doesn’t have a duct to remove humid air before it causes damage, a heat pump or condenser will be the best dryer for you.

But Denis notes that heat pumps are increasingly becoming the only option for people in this situation.

“Many of the traditional condenser models have been replaced with heat pump varieties,” Denis explains.

If you do find a condenser for sale, it’s still worth comparing it with some heat pump models and considering how often you’ll use it – a heat pump’s lower running costs might end up saving you in the long run even if it costs more upfront.

“Heat pump dryers offer all the same benefits as condensers, plus more,” Denis says. “They’ve also come down in price in the last few years and you’ll be paying less in running costs in any case.”

If ventilation isn’t a problem, a traditional vented dryer could be a better option, as these are cheaper to purchase than heat pumps and condensers.

But before you buy, think about how often you’ll run it – a heavily-used vented dryer will come back to bite you with its higher running costs.��

“Our testers have also found that vented dryers in general are not as gentle on your clothes as heat pumps,” adds Denis.

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More than 6000 members took part in our 2020 reliability survey and, of them, 54% (3270 respondents) told us that they bought a dryer brand new. The information they provided gives us a really good indication of how various clothes dryer brands stack up over time – something we can’t test in our labs.

Use this article to find the most reliable clothes dryer brands from our latest survey.

How we get the data

In total, 6009 ����Vlog members participated in our 2020 Product Reliability Survey. Of these, 54% said they had bought a clothes dryer brand new.

About the scores

Reliability

Reliability figures are based on owner assessment, not test data. We use the data we collect from members to rate the most popular brands for reliability. We ask owners if their product has broken down in the past 12 months, and we take into account the age of the products so we can compare brands in a fair way.

Owner satisfaction

We ask owners to tell us what they thought of the products they own, rating them from “Excellent” to “Terrible”. We’ve used this information to give each brand an owner satisfaction rating so you can see what people who use the brand, day in day out, think of them.

Brand reliability results are for ����Vlog members only.

Our guide to buying the best clothes dryer is free and has lots of great information and advice.

Our brand reliability scores help guide you when choosing a product with the knowledge that the brand is well regarded by ����Vlog members for customer satisfaction and reliability.

The top performers

Most reliable brand

Simpson

Highest owner satisfaction

Miele

Common problems: Sensor dry doesn’t dry properly, clothes dried unevenly, takes too long to dry.

This year, 3270 people told us about their clothes dryers. Simpson tops their list for reliability, while Miele is ahead in the satisfaction score. Most of our members who have a clothes dryer said they have an electric vented type (56%, down from 72% in our previous survey), while 18% have an an electric heat pump dryer, 17% have an electric condenser dryer, and 4% have a washer-dryer combo.

Reliability results

In terms of reliability scores by type, the performance of electric vented dryers was consistent with the previous survey data, with a reliability score of 91%. Both electric condenser dryers and electric heat pump dryers dropped to 79%, and washer-dryer combos scored 80%.

Satisfaction results

When it comes to satisfaction scores by type of dryer, electric heat pump dryers have the highest score at 89%. Both electric condenser dryers and electric vented dryers scored 84%. Washer-dryer combos had the lowest consumer satisfaction of any dryer type, scoring 79% – well below the average of 85% for the category.

We also asked members who’d bought a clothes dryer in the past eight years whether they’d had any problems with the product. Of those, 6% said the sensor program didn’t dry their clothes properly, 5% had clothes that had been dried unevenly, and 5% thought the machine took too long to dry their clothes.

Only 9% of consumers had contacted the brand for service support, but more than half (60%) of them did so due to a major failure.

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