With our unpredictable weather, hanging your washing outside to dry isn’t always possible and hanging it up inside can take up precious space.

The humble tumble dryer offers a more dependable and easier solution to this and leaves your clothes dry, fluffy and soft. It can also make ironing easier and quicker by removing creases caused by spin-drying.

Your first and biggest consideration is whether there’s enough space in your home for a tumble dryer or not. Think about where you want to put it, bearing in mind that a full-size tumble dryer is about the same size as a full-size washing machine – approximately H:85cm, W:60cm D:60cm.
If you’re a bit cramped for space in your kitchen, you could always place a tumble dryer in a spare room or garage. If you’re aiming for it to go under a counter, measure carefully and allow for access space around it as well.

For a contemporary and stylish look, consider one of our silver dryers. We also stock many white tumble dryers so you can match it up with your other kitchen appliances. Plus, we have all the biggest brands, including Indesit, Hotpoint, Zanussi, Bosch and White Knight.

There are two different types of dryers to choose from. Both are effective; the main difference is how the water is expelled. Once you decide which is more convenient for you, you’re a big step nearer to selecting the right dryer.

Vented dryers
Vented tumble dryers produce damp air as they dry your clothes. This damp air is released through a plastic hose. There are two ways to expel the damp air:

1. Fit the hose into a permanent vent through an outside wall; this is perfect for hiding the hose
   
2. Hang the hose out an open window – if you choose this option, select a dryer with a hose outlet in the front as it will be easier
   

At Currys, we have a wide selection of brands, including White Knight, Indesit, Hotpoint and Miele. With a range of models to choose from, you can pick up a vented dryer from between £100 and £500.

Shop for vented dryers

Condenser dryers
Condenser dryers don’t need a hose or a vent. Instead, they collect the moisture in a water reservoir that can be emptied after each drying cycle. Sometimes, condenser dryers can be plumbed in, so the water can be pumped out via the washing machine. If you’re looking for an integrated dryer, you’ll have more options if you go for a condenser dryer.

Pros

You can pick up a condenser dryer from between £180 up to £700. Choose from a range of models from Hotpoint, Hoover, Beko, Electrolux, LG, Zanussi and more.

Shop for condenser dryers

There are two different ways of setting your tumble dryer to dry your clothes: timer and sensor

Timer tumble dryers
Set the drying time by turning the dial or using the digital display or programme label. Most timers can be set for up to 120 mins at a time.

Pros

Typically dryers have a capacity of around 6kg. It’s about the same as the typical washing machine load. Your needs may not always be typical so, at Currys, we stock dryers with capacities between 3kg and 10kg.

They do, however, tend to have larger drums than washing machines, because a larger drum:

1. Allows hot air to flow through the dryer more efficiently, reducing drying time
2. Gives more room in the drum which means less creasing and less ironing

When deciding what capacity to go for, consider the capacity of your washing machine and how you use it. Do you fill a 6kg washing machine? If not, then you probably wont need more than a 6kg dryer.

The average dryer, with a capacity of 6kg, is a good choice for a single person who washes and dries their clothes once a week, or for a small family who does several loads a week.

If you consider that each kilogram is equivalent to 5 t-shirts, then larger families should consider a bigger capacity dryer. We stock dryers up to 10kg capacity, so you’re bound to find one to suit you or your family’s needs.

To match up a washing machine capacity with a tumble dryer capacity, look at the table below:

Most dryers have at least 2 heat settings: a high and low heat for cottons and synthetics. Some of the more sophisticated dryers may have up to 5 heat settings for different types of materials and this may even include a cool setting for airing garments.

Most tumble dryers boast an array of different drying cycles and programmes. Below, we explain what some of the most common programmes are and what specialised programmes exist. Once you’ve decided what features you need, you can look out for these to help whittle down your options. In general, tumble dryers with more specialised programmes tend to be more expensive so if budget is key to you, opt for a machine with standard drying options.

Common programmes:

Anti crease option/Minimum iron/Crease care
This programme tumbles the load intermittently so the clothes can’t settle into creases, making them easier to iron.

Cupboard dry
Clothes are left dry enough to store them straight away. You can usually dry more cotton fabrics in one load than synthetic fabrics.

Easy iron
A short cool tumble following a few minutes of heat that helps to relax the fibres of any dry, creased garments.

Extra dry
A slightly longer programme suitable for thick fabrics like sheets, towels, towelled bathrobes and socks.

Iron dry
Clothes are very slightly damp which makes them much easier to iron if you iron straight away.

Wool/delicate dry
A gentler drying cycle, designed to protect delicate items, put the bounce back into woollen garments and minimise creases overall.

Special programmes:

If you have a wardrobe full of garments that need extra special care, you’ll get the most out of a dryer with special programmes. It will be worth the extra cost as you’ll get more wear out of your clothes if you tumble dry them using specialised programmes.

Denim programme
Prevents streaky discolouration and excessive creasing for denim

Final cool tumble
A final cool tumble allows your clothes too cool down before you take them out - with some fabrics can help reduce creasing

Hygiene programmes
These programmes are special versions of standard programmes. They reduce the number of micro-organisms and allergens that are left in your laundry. Perfect for people with sensitive skin.

Outerwear programme
This helps preserve the functional qualities of outdoor clothing, for example, waterproofing.

Pillows programmes
This airs and dries your pillows.

Reverse action
The drum spins in both directions, helping to untangle clothes and reduce creases. This makes ironing easier.

Silks handcare
A similar programme to a delicates or woollen handcare programme. This programme is ideal for drying silk garments and reducing the creases.

Most major brands have a type of drying technology that’s not only new, but sets them apart from their competitors. Dryers with these more sophisticated features will be more expensive than simpler alternatives.

6th Sense Technology by Whirlpool and Fuzzy Logic sensor drying by Miele
Machines with 6th Sense technology and fuzzy logic do the thinking for you. The drying process is automatically monitored and adapts as needed. Microprocessors and sensors vary the drying programme, ensuring optimum, cost effective and energy efficient results for the load.

Shop Whirlpool dryers

Shop Miele dryers

Airflow system from Bosch
A unique drum and paddle action is combined with an airflow system. The result is gentler but effective drying.

Wool drying basket from Bosch
Bosch has developed a basket that fits into the tumble dryer that lets you dry delicate garments and fabrics without fear of shrinking them. You can even dry your sports shoes.

Shop Bosch dryers

Iron Aid from Electrolux
It's a dryer with electronic condensation. Steam is used to dry your clothes, which also reduces ironing time. It also has a dry clean programme and a refresh cycle that freshens up your clothes, removing creases and odours.

Shop Electrolux dryers

There are very few dryers with an A rating for energy efficiency as the standards are so high and the appliances that achieve this are very expensive. At Currys, most of our dryers are rated B or C for energy efficiency. Drying is energy-intensive, so consider these methods to cut down on your carbon footprint and to cut your costs.

• Spin-dry your wash load at the highest spin speed in your washing machine
• Don’t overload the machine
• Dry similar fabrics together, instead of a mixed load to avoid over drying some items whilst leaving others damp
• Use a timer delay to set the dryer to dry overnight, letting you take advantage of a cheaper electricity tariff
• Choose a sensor dryer
• Make sure the dryer is in a well-ventilated room to prevent overheating. Overheated dryers take longer to finish drying a load
• Clean the fluff/lint filter every time you use the machine – a blocked filter prevents the hot air from circulating freely, so clothes take longer to dry

Using the right drying programmes for your clothes can reduce wear and tear and let you get more out of each garment. That’s why it’s a good idea to check the labels before putting any of your clothes in the dryer. Here are the most common symbols you’ll find:

Once you’ve ordered your new tumble dryer, give approx. 7 working days from the date of your order for your delivery to arrive.
Our home delivery service will deliver your new dryer directly to your front door on a date that you choose.

Remember a vented dryer needs a vent through the wall so you can pump out the water.
A condenser dryer can sit in any well ventilated room.

To save you time and hassle, we offer a free collection service for your old dryer if you order your new one from us. This means that we’ll take away your old tumble dryer and recycle it for you at no extra cost.

Find out more about our delivery and installation service

Cool air setting
Fabrics that have been stored away for awhile can be refreshed and aerated without needing to put them through a complete wash or dry cycle.

Drum
This refers to the inside of the tumble dryer, where the clothes are put for drying.

Filter full alert (water)
A warning light goes off to show that the filter is full and needs to be emptied.

Fluff or lint filter or container
Most tumble dryers have a fluff or lint filter, which captures and stores any fluff or lint from your clothes. This needs to be emptied. They can often be found inside the door.

Unique honeycomb care (Miele)
The drum is in a honeycomb design, offering unbeatable garment care.