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.
Number of drying programmes
The number of preset drying programmes. Such programmes are often optimized for a specific type of fabric: linen, silk, synthetics, etc. The more drying programmes, the more versatile and easier the dryer is to use. However, a specific set of modes in different models may be different, and even a large variety of programmes does not guarantee that one of them will be suitable. So before buying, it is advisable to specify not only the quantity but the list of claimed programmes.
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.
Drying class
Drying class describes the overall drying efficiency that the machine provides. It is denoted by a Latin letter, where A is the best efficiency, and further in decreasing order (
drying class B is inferior to
class A, but exceeds
class C). Naturally, higher efficiency machines cost more (ceteris paribus).
Energy class
The energy consumption class shows not the actual energy consumption but the efficiency of the dryer. In other words, what part of the electricity consumed goes directly to useful work. For dryers, this parameter is especially important because such devices have high electricity consumption. As a result, models with the same capabilities but different energy efficiency classes differ markedly in terms of operating costs (in terms of electricity bills). However, more economical units themselves are more expensive. nevertheless, this difference quickly pays off.
Initially, classes were marked in Latin letters from
A(the highest class) and further alphabetically. In the course of technology development, more economical levels of consumption than the original class A appeared — they are labelled as A+,
A++, A+++, etc. Actually, the highest efficiency class in modern dryers is exactly
A +++ ; level A —
A+ can be called good,
B — average, C — acceptable.
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.
Country of origin
The country in which, according to the manufacturer, the model is manufactured. Despite the fact that most of the capacities are concentrated in
China, European factories (in
Germany,
Poland,
Slovenia,
Turkey, etc.) for the production of household appliances have not gone away. And certain models can be produced there. In general, such a division into a Chinese or European factory should not particularly affect the quality of products, but the stereotype of a reliable European assembly is present in us. However, it is possible that the model may have a country of manufacture, for example, Poland, and in the store under the same article, you will meet China.