Help me choose a dryer

[PollyannaMom]

Update: We went with the GE


We are buying a new gas dryer, and after taking a look in person this morning at Home Depot and Lowes, have it down to two. They are comparable in price, both fit in the space, and both have knobs, not computerized controls (which we purposely avoided).

The GE (Home Depot) has the door opening to the side, and the lint trap just inside the door. It also (after reading reviews) appears to have a light in it. The capacity is 7.2 cubic feet.

The Whirlpool (Lowes) has the "hamper" style door that opens down, and the lint trap in the top. The capacity is 7.0 cubic feet.


These are not the exact websites, as we went to the stores in person, but they show photos, if you want to see them:
GE
Whirlpool
(The Whirlpool link is actually for electric, but the features are the same for the gas version.)


ETA: I'm mostly looking for what you love (or hate) about the door style and lint trap location - especially if you've had both types. The old dryer we're replacing is like the GE, in that it opens to the right and the lint trap is under the door. I've heard that the top lint trap catches more, but makes more of mess when you clean it out. And it seems to me that the hamper style door would make me less likely to drop a clean item on the floor, but might also seem to be "in the way" when unloading clothes into a basket. I'm wondering whether the pros or cons are stronger?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are buying a new gas dryer, and after taking a look in person this morning at Home Depot and Lowes, have it down to two. They are comparable in price, both fit in the space, and both have knobs, not computerized controls (which we purposely avoided).

The GE (Home Depot) has the door opening to the side, and the lint trap just inside the door. It also (after reading reviews) appears to have a light in it. The capacity is 7.2 cubic feet.

The Whirlpool (Lowes) has the "hamper" style door that opens down, and the lint trap in the top. The capacity is 7.0 cubic feet.


These are not the exact websites, as we went to the stores in person, but they show photos, if you want to see them:
GE
Whirlpool
(The Whirlpool link is actually for electric, but the features are the same for the gas version.)


ETA: I'm mostly looking for what you love (or hate) about the door style and lint trap location - especially if you've had both types. The old dryer we're replacing is like the GE, in that it opens to the right and the lint trap is under the door. I've heard that the top lint trap catches more, but makes more of mess when you clean it out. And it seems to me that the hamper style door would make me less likely to drop a clean item on the floor, but might also seem to be "in the way" when unloading clothes into a basket. I'm wondering whether the pros or cons are stronger?

Funny, we just bought new washer and dryer. We currently have Whirlpool. We bought the GE ones.

Thoughts: lint trap inside door vs on top - either works for me. The inside door one is pretty much how the dryers I use when traveling are. The lint trap on top holds more. I don't find it messier to clean out.

I didn't notice the door difference (side vs hamper style). But, you're correct, the hamper style means less stuff hits the floor when unloading. But it's more awkward reaching all the way in the back to get that stupid last sock in there.

Either one works for me. We went for best price when we purchased the original set as well as this time.

 

[sam_gordon]

the hamper style means less stuff hits the floor when unloading.

How? Put the hamper up against the dryer directly under the door opening. Pull things out and drop them. How would they hit the floor?

Lint trap in the door = easier to get to
Door opening to the side = easier to reach in
7.2 cu ft > 7.0 cu ft (yea, not much, but every little bit helps)

GE.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How? Put the hamper up against the dryer directly under the door opening. Pull things out and drop them. How would they hit the floor?

Lint trap in the door = easier to get to
Door opening to the side = easier to reach in
7.2 cu ft > 7.0 cu ft (yea, not much, but every little bit helps)

GE.

Often, when pulling things out of the dryer, stuff clings together. So some things come part way out not actually in your hands. They then fall to the floor. The door is most times wider than the basket I use.

Lint trap in door vs top. I don't think the door is easier than on top. On top it has a little trap door to open and pull it out. Inside the door frame also pull it out. Both easy. The on top one "easier" for me, with my arthritic hips - don't have to bend over to do it.

Yes, door opening to side easier to reach further in, as I said.

 

[_19disnA]

We have an LG front loading washer & dryer, but the same concepts apply. The doors on both open to the side. Having the door open downward to me would make loading/unloading very awkward. The hamper we use is lower then the door opening so you simply put it in front of the washer and move everything into the machine. When the wash cycle is done, slide the clothes into the same hamper and push it over to the dryer. Load the dryer from the hamper. When dry cycle is done, slide everything into the the hamper to take wherever it is you put the clothes away. Never thought much about the lint screen, but ours is accessed from the lower rim of the door opening. Things like towels generate more lint then other items, but doesn't seem like a big deal either way.

To me side opening doors are easier to use since you don't have to reach over the door to get at your clothes.

 

[tvguy]

And if you are a fan of natural gas dryers, I'd start saving some money to buy a new one in case they change the law to ban new ones so you have a new one if a ban goes into effect.
I'm in California, where they have already banned the sale of new natural gas dryers, stoves, water heaters and furnaces beginning in 2030. Here, you will have to either fix your old natural gas appliance after 2030, or switch to electric.
'

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And if you are a fan of natural gas dryers, I'd start saving some money to buy a new one in case they change the law to ban new ones so you have a new one if a ban goes into effect.
I'm in California, where they have already banned the sale of new natural gas dryers, stoves, water heaters and furnaces beginning in 2030. Here, you will have to either fix your old natural gas appliance after 2030, or switch to electric.
'

We're switching to electric. We have a gas dryer now (the one we're replacing). We bought it many years ago when gas was cheaper than electricity.

We've added solar to our house (with batteries), so switching back to an electric dryer now will be cheaper for us.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Bumping, as the poll is dead even right now.

 

[lovesmurfs]

We're in the market now for new washer and dryer -- ours are nearly 30 years old.

I've had to take our hamper style (dryer door opens down) apart twice over the years -- kids leaned on the door and bent it. It happened once again, and we've just used a chair to prop the door closed. Looking forward to a side-opening one (assuming I don't lean on it -- LOL).

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've always had Whirlpool-a big reason is that I LOVE the hamper door. It makes it much easier (or at least seems to) when I transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer. BTW, the model I have looks similar to the one in the picture, but it can't be the exact same one since mine is still running after 18 years. Never had to have any Service

 

[Southernmiss]

Speed Queen

 

[AppleDumpling]

I’m familiar with both types. I currently have a GE, also gas, very similar to the one you’re considering (may be an older version of the same model). My parents had one like the Whirlpool (with drop down door and top lint trap) that I would use from time to time.

I much prefer the side opening door. It allows me to put a laundry basket on the floor right in front and unload dry clothes directly into it. I’m not crazy about the lint trap. Easy enough to clean, but the issue I have is there’s a plastic grate in front of it, that is not removable, that also gets clogged with lint. And over time, lint accumulates down the crack in front too. I use a vacuum with a long nozzle to clean both of these areas as best I can. As for a top lint catcher, that’s fine, except it spews some dust into the air and on the top of the dryer when you pull it out. So neither one is perfect. I would mostly recommend the GE. Ours is over 10 years old, functions well and has never needed repair.

 

[fly girl]

GE, side door. I like having laundry basket I can put directly under the door, you cannot do that with hamper style.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Thanks, everybody! Between this poll and some over-the-phone advice from a family member, I decided I wouldn't like the hamper door and top lint trap. We ordered the GE.