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.
Drum volume
The internal volume of the dryer drum.
A
larger drum can accommodate more laundry, but there is no rigid dependence here: models with the same volume may differ in maximum load. It is because to process a large mass of laundry, one need not only a capacious drum but also an engine of appropriate power. At the same time, in a larger drum, the same mass of laundry will dry more efficiently than in a small one, because laundry will be more freely distributed over the drum, crumpled less, and warm air will better penetrate the folds of the fabric. As a result, for the same drum volume, a model with a smaller load will be more efficient and performant than a model with a larger load. On the other hand, a volumetric drum takes up more space and the dimensions of the dryer are largely determined by the dimensions of the drum.
Moisture sensor
Ability to choose the residual moisture content of the linen to be dried - from completely dry, which can be immediately put in the closet, to slightly dry, which is optimal for ironing. With
laundry moisture control, the user needs to select the desired residual moisture - the dryer will automatically control the condition of the laundry and stop drying at the right time.
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.
Drum lighting
Lighting system for the internal volume of the device. It usually turns on automatically when the dryer door is opened - thus reducing the likelihood that some items (especially small and dark ones) will be forgotten in the drum.
Drain into sewer
This option allows you to automate the process of draining the condensate collection tank (respectively, it is relevant only for dryers with a condensation principle of operation). At the end of the drying process, the condensate accumulated in the tank is automatically drained into the sewer. To do this, a pump and a hose are provided in
a dryer with a drain into the sewer. The function of draining into the sewer allows you to significantly simplify the operation of the dryer, while in models without this option, the user must drain the condensate tank manually. Of course, manual emptying does not require much effort because the average condensate collection tank has a volume of about 5 litres, but still not very convenient.
Display
The type of display provided in the design of the dryer.
The screen located on the control panel provides additional convenience: it can display various information about the operation of the machine. In this case, the specific functionality of the screen depends on its type. So, in the vast majority of cases, the simplest
LED displays are used. They can only display numbers and some special characters, but even this is usually sufficient. In some models,
TFT display can be installed — similar to those used in smartphones. Such a display can display not only textual information but also various graphics, and sometimes it is even made touch-sensitive. However, it makes sense to use such screens only in high-end devices with an abundance of functions.
Child lock
It is a dryer control blocking system. Thus, the child will not be able to change the running programme of the machine, stop the programme prematurely, etc.
Child lock is usually disabled in a way that is not accessible to a child, but does not cause difficulties for an adult. For example, by simultaneously pressing two keys.
Loading hatch diameter
The diameter of the loading hatch of the dryer. For models with a rectangular hatch (see “Door shape”), in this case, one of the dimensions is indicated — either width or height.
On the one hand, the larger the opening, the more convenient it is to load laundry into the machine, especially large items like bedding. On the other hand, a large hatch requires the appropriate space in front of the device — otherwise, it simply cannot be opened normally. With round openings, everything is quite simple: there should be a place in front of the drying machine corresponding to the diameter of the hatch, plus at least 3-5 centimetres in reserve. If the door is rectangular, this point is not so obvious — manufacturers can indicate the height of the opening, not the width. In such cases, it should be assumed that the door usually occupies almost the entire width of the front of the dryer. Accordingly, normal opening requires free space no less than the total width of the unit.
