Clothes Dryer Review

Comparing reviews of clothes dryers

Dryers come in two main types -- gas or electric. Electric clothes dryers, which use a 240-volt wall plug, are less expensive than comparable gas dryers by anywhere from $50 to $150. However, gas dryers are cheaper to run (due to generally lower prices for gas vs. electricity), so a gas model is likely to cost less over the long term. According to ConsumerReports.org, about 80 percent of clothes dryers sold today are electric, so there are few user or professional reviews for gas dryers. Testing shows little difference in performance between gas and electric versions of the same dryer, so we include the corresponding gas dryer for each model covered in our report.

Gas and electric dryers can, however, differ in terms of safety. There have been only three recalls of dryers in the past decade, and all of them involved gas models. Before buying any dryer -- especially a gas model -- it's wise to check the website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.CPSC.gov) for the latest recall information.

ConsumerReports.org offers the best information on clothes dryers, with comprehensive and credible ratings. Editors test about 75 dryers and rate them on drying performance, noise, convenience and capacity. Both gas and electric versions of each top-rated dryer are recommended. Good Housekeeping magazine also conducts tests of both gas and electric dryers, but their results are less detailed than those at ConsumerReports.org. Only the recommended models are discussed, and each one receives just a brief description. We also found an older review from Good Housekeeping that focuses specifically on dryers with a steam setting. However, this article is less useful since most of the dryers covered have now been discontinued.

Professional tests can evaluate a dryer's performance in the test lab, but not its long-term reliability based on actual in-home use. To gauge long-term customer satisfaction, we consulted the 2011 Laundry Appliance Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. While this survey records the opinions of more than 5,500 consumers on numerous dryer bands, evaluating each on such factors as performance, features and price, it doesn't compare specific dryer models.

A host of retail and user-review sites give owners a chance to weigh in on their clothes dryers. While such reviews rarely approach the depth and knowledge of the pros, many offer interesting insights into usage over time and sometimes delve into practical matters that the experts overlook. Retail sites such as AJMadison.com, BestBuy.com, HomeDepot.com and Sears.com all have a good number of user reviews. Some owner feedback can also be found on Viewpoints.com and Epinions.com.