Capacity
The maximum amount of laundry that can be loaded into the dryer; in other words, the largest weight of laundry that the machine can efficiently process in one cycle.
Capacity is usually indicated by the weight of the dry laundry. Thanks to this, when preparing the laundry for washing, you can immediately assess whether it will fit in the dryer at a time or, on the contrary, you can get by with
a small drying. However, even the most modest modern dryers (and even
slim ones up to 50 cm) in most cases hold
7 kg — this is comparable to loading the drum of a medium-capacity washing machine. And in the most
capacious models, this figure can reach 10 – 11 kg. It is quite enough for domestic and even professional use (for example, in laundromats or laundries of hotels, etc.). However, the typical figures are
drying for 8 kg and
models for 9 kg of laundry. Bigger capacity is relevant for industrial equipment and is not found in consumer-level models.
Also, when choosing, note that in the specs the maximum capacity is usually indicated for linen made of cotton fabric. For other, more voluminous materials, the capacity can be noticeably less — for example, the weight limit for wool products is usually 4-5 times less than for cotton.
Steam drying
The presence of a
drying programme with steam in the dryer.
In this mode, the laundry in the drum is treated with hot steam. Note that this procedure is not suitable for drying as such; its purpose is rather to refresh and moisturize the fabric. For example, steam drying can be used as an alternative to washing when clean unwashed clothing has absorbed an unpleasant odour. It can be used to moisten overdried laundry for subsequent ironing.
Refresh cycle
A programme designed to remove odours from clothes, such as tobacco smoke, or an unpleasant odour that appears after a long period of storage.
The refresh programme is useful if the clothes are clean, but the smell still needs to be eliminated — refreshing in the dryer takes less time and effort than quick washing and then drying (even if using the same dryer). This function is especially relevant for
drying cabinets.
Noise level
The noise level generated by the dryer during operation. Usually, the specs indicate the maximum volume of the device, in the noisiest mode — when other programmes are running, this figure may be lower. We note that the noise level also depends on the features of the installation: for example, if the machine does not stand firmly on all four legs, vibration from drum rotation can create additional noise. And the tiled walls amplify the sound by creating an echo. Nevertheless, it is best to evaluate the device precisely by the noise level stated in the specifications. And here it is worth bearing in mind that the decibel used to denote loudness is a non-linear value, and it is best to evaluate the actual loudness of the unit using comparative tables. Here is the simplest such table for the volume range in which modern dryers operate:
65 dB — a person's voice in raised tones at a distance of 1 m;
70 dB — a loud conversation of several people at the same distance;
75 dB — loud laughter at a distance of 1 m;
80 dB — motorcycle engine, medium power vacuum cleaner.
The quieter the machine is, the more comfortable it will be to use and the better it will be suitable for a specific environment (for example, if there is a small child in the house or if you plan to run drying at night). At the same time, it is worth considering not only the actual noise level but also the installation location of the device. If the dryer is planned to...be installed in the basement of a private house with thick ceilings and the bedroom is located on the second floor, you can not pay much attention to the noise level: even the loudest unit is unlikely to create inconvenience.
Controls
The type of control provided in the machine. Almost all modern dryers are equipped with electronic control, so the design of the control panel mainly depends on this parameter. The options here might be:
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Rotary knob + buttons. The classic option does not lose popularity these days. The rotary knob is usually responsible for selecting the programme and the buttons for controlling additional functions and settings. Such control panels are simple, inexpensive and, at the same time, quite functional. Therefore they are found in all categories of dryers — from low-cost to top.
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Rotary knob + touch controls. The combination of a rotary knob responsible for selecting the main programme and a set of touch controls that control additional parameters. Compared to the buttons described above, the touch panels have a more stylish and technological appearance; moreover, due to the absence of protruding parts, such a panel almost does not accumulate dirt and is easy to clean. At the same time, these features are generally not fundamental, while the touch controls are somewhat more complicated and expensive than buttons. Therefore, this option is found mainly among dryers of the middle and top classes.
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Touch controls. This design, on the one hand, gives the device the most accurate and advanced appearance; on the other hand, the control is not as cle
...ar and intuitive as with a handle. Therefore, in its pure form, touch controls are extremely rare — only in high-end dryers.
