In order to end up with the clothes dryer best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of clothes dryers are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a clothes dryer.
Research the market: Clothes Dryer essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the clothes dryer market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Type: There are many types of clothes dryers available, including front loading, top loading, combination washer/dryer, and high tech digitally operated dryers. Most dryers are electric, but gas-powered machines are available.
Capacity: The capacity of the machine may be given in kilograms (kg), which is the maximum weight of clothes the machine can accommodate, or it may be given in cubic feet, which refers to the size of the drum. When using the weight capacity as a guideline, make sure you check whether it refers to dry weight of clothes or wet weight, as there is a big difference.
Programs: Dryers can come with up to twenty programs, and there tends to be a direct relationship between the number of programs and price.
Controls: The controls can consist of mechanical knobs, sliders or buttons or may be digital. Most dryers with digital controls are programmable.
Cost: Purchase costs for clothes dryers vary widely, from affordable basic dryers to all-round, moderately priced clothes dryers, to the extremely expensive, electronically controlled dryers with all the added extras.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a clothes dryer. For example, will you use the clothes dryer only for drying clothes when the weather is too bad to permit line-drying, or will you be tossing every load in as a matter of routine?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| What are your drying needs? |
| | You could be a single person, or part of a large family that dries work clothes, nappies, or day-to-day clothing. You may prefer the top loader or maybe a front loading dryer, or even a combination washer/dryer. |
| Where will you install your clothes dryer? |
| | Perhaps you have a small space in the kitchen for a dryer, or a separate laundry room. Location will have an impact on what the physical size of the machine can be and what noise level is acceptable. |
| Have you used a clothes dryer before? |
| | If you have used a dryer, work out what you did or didn't like about the machine. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| What is your budget? |
| | Does your budget allow you to consider all the dryer options? Perhaps you are shopping for a budget dryer. You will pay more for a dryer with temperature sensors, more programs and those that are gentler on your clothes. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of clothes dryers and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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