When is a clothes dryer suitable for a small family?
A medium-sized household, needs a medium-sized clothes dryer. The fill weight of a clothes dryer is very important, because both a clothes dryer that is too big and one that is too small can be very annoying. The fill weight of a clothes dryer indicates how many kilos of laundry can fit in the drum per drying cycle. If you have a dryer that is too big, you will find that you cannot fill the drum. And that’s a shame. That way, you’ll use more energy per drying cycle than you should. A dryer that is too small is also very annoying. It won’t fit all your household’s laundry, so you’ll have to turn on the dryer more often – and you’ll use more energy doing that, too.
But how much fill weight do you need? That’s a good question. Our advice is to choose a dryer with at least as much fill weight as your washing machine. That way, you can always fit all your laundry into the dryer. Are you buying a new dryer and a new washing machine? Then we recommend the following amounts for a household:
- For a 1 or 2 person household: choose a 6kg or 7kg dryer. A 7kg load is generally more common than a 6kg load.
- For small families with 1 or 2 children: a dryer with 8 kg fill weight. Most dryers sold today have a 8kg fill weight.
- Large families of 5 or more people: a dryer with a 9kg fill weight or more. Tumble dryers with a 9 kg drum capacity are considered large washers.
Best tumble dryers for a small family in 2024
Are you looking for the best tumble dryer for your medium-sized household (3 to 4 people)? Then a dryer with an 8kg fill weight is the right choice for you! The following list contains our top 5 of the best 8kg dryers available today. Naturally, we started by looking at the capacity (size of the drum), then compared them based on factors such as energy class, programs, build quality, expected lifespan and customer reviews. These are the best offers for tumble dryers with 8kg fill weight.
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Best dryer for a small family
Pick up the Whirlpool WGD4815EW, available in a classic white color. This top load matching gas drier can handle up to 5.9 cu. ft. of laundry in every cycle so you can do more laundry at once. It weighs a measly 109 lbs., and measures 26 inches deep, 43 inches high, and 29 inches wide so it can fit in many smaller laundry rooms with different kinds of configurations. The reversible metal door gives you even more flexibility in placement. The powder-coated steel drum resists corrosion and rusting so your drier can serve your family for years and years. Because it has interior lighting, it is easy to see inside your drier and makes loading and unloading more convenient. Be alerted when the cycle is complete with the adjustable end of cycle signal. The exhaust vent is located at the rear.
This vented drier boasts a total of 15 dry cycles under Auto Dry, Air Fluff, Timed Dry and Wrinkle Shield. It has 4 temperature settings so you can choose the appropriate heat for different fabric types. This machine features 4 drying level selections including energy preferred (auto dry), damp, less dry and very dr. The AutoDry™ Drying System helps prevent over drying by monitoring the moisture content and automatically stopping the cycle when it hits the right level. The Wrinkle Shield™ Option protects from creases and wrinkles setting in by continuing to tumble the laundry every five minutes after the cycle is complete for up to 140 minutes or until you open the dryer door. Dry clothes without heat with Air Fluff to for your most gentle fabrics and to avoid creases and wrinkles from setting in. This drier is the perfect drier for your family, it’s simple and gets the job done.
The Whirlpool WGD4815EW comes with a power cord.
Let’s talk about the Amana NGD4655EW. This no-nonsense gas drier is priced at an attractive cost while giving you the features you need in a dependable drier. This top load matching drier has a total maximum capacity set at 6.5 cu. ft. allowing you to do more laundry in less loads. It weighs a measly 113 lbs. and is compactly cased in a white body measuring 28.25 inches deep, 42 inches high and 29 inches wide, so you can fit it in most smaller laundry spaces. The reversible metal door gives you more flexibility in placement along with a venting capability of up to 64 ft. The steel drum is powder coated so it is not only durable and resists rust and corrosion but also protects clothes from snagging. The controls are simple and easy to understand featuring rotary dials. The lint filter is top mounted for easy access and cleaning.
This machine boasts a total of 11 dry cycles to handle all your fabric needs. It features great Amana features like Automatic Dryness Control which uses a temperature sensor to assess the load at the end of the cycle in order to prevent over drying. Timed Dry allows you to set how long you want the drier to run so you can give each garment the right kind of dry. The Wrinkle Prevent Option helps you keep clothes wrinkle free even when you can’t take the load out of the drier right away by continuing to tumble clothes intermittently without heat in order to prevent wrinkles from setting in. You can choose from 3 different temperature settings for the best drying heat level depending on the fabrics included in your load. Air Dry allows you to dry clothes without heat so you can use it on your most delicate fabrics.
The Amana NGD4655EW comes with a power cord.
If you are tired of over expensive dryers with all the bells and whistles that you don’t really need, the Amana NED4655EW might be the right dryer for you. This
electric dryer has a timeless look encased in a classic while color. With a maximum capacity of 6.5 cu. ft., it is big enough to fit a family’s daily laundry load and even the regular washing of bulkier items like beddings. Weighing 120 lbs., and measuring 27.75 inches deep, 44 inches high, and 29 inches wide, it would look great sitting next to its matching washer, Amana NTW4635EW (sold separately). The vent exhaust is in the rear and allows for up to 64 ft. of venting, so you can place it comfortably anywhere in the laundry room. It has a side swing metal door that is also reversible, for extra flexibility in placement. It features a rotary dial control in the rear for intuitive controls. The drum is powder coated for increased durability and easy maintenance.
This electric dryer features 11 separate dry cycles and 3 temperature settings that can handle any type of fabric and material. Air Dry allows you to dry clothes without heat, for those extra delicate textiles, while Automatic Dry intuitively chooses the right amount of time to dry garments depending on the type of material. The Wrinkle Prevent option is a must-have when you can’t take out the laundry and fold right away, as it prevents creases from setting in your garments, letting you skip another chore: ironing. It tumbles clothes intermittently without heat to help prevent wrinkles and crinkles from settling in. Amana’s Automatic Dryness Control feature lets you save energy by using temperature sensors to end the cycle at the right time and to help prevent over drying of your favorite garments.
The Amana NED4635EW does not come with accessories. Electric cord and vent kit are sold separately and are not included.
Buying a clothes dryer for 3 or 4 people; what to look out for?
As we said earlier; the fill weight is one of the most important aspects of a clothes dryer. But of course, there are many other things to consider when buying a new dryer. The following tips explain exactly what to look out for.
Types of dryers
There are three different types of dryers; the airflow dryer, the condenser dryer and the heat pump dryer. Of these, the air-flow dryer uses the most energy and the heat pump dryer is the most energy efficient. Heat pump dryers are often more expensive to buy, but because they are so energy-efficient, they are often cheaper.
Condensation drain
The moisture that a dryer extracts from your laundry naturally has to go somewhere. What it does with the water varies according to the type of dryer. The air-dryer directs the water out through a hose that runs through a window or a hole in the wall. For both condenser and heat pump dryers, you have the choice of a tank that collects the water (a condensate drain that you have to empty a few times a week) or a hose that connects to the drain.
Energy label
The energy label of a clothes dryer indicates how energy efficient it is. Warm-pump dryers use less energy than clothes dryers and condenser dryers, but there can still be a difference. Dryers always fall between energy class A+++ and energy class B. For the most energy-efficient dryer, choose an A+++ heat pump dryer, even though A++ is considered energy-efficient too.
Programs
Like your washing machine, dryers have all sorts of different programs for different types of laundry, such as wool, shirts, silk, baby clothes and towels. These programs ensure that your laundry dries perfectly and lasts longer. Almost every new tumble dryer has an eco-setting to help you save energy, and many also have special allergy programmes.
Building quality
The build quality of a tumble dryer tells you how sturdy it is and how long it is expected to last. Dryers are divided into 3 categories: basic class, middle class and top class. If this is not listed for the tumble dryer you have in mind, you can also look at the price range and the brand. According to the Consumers’ Association, these are the best brands for tumble driers: Miele, Bosch, Siemens, AEG and Samsung. In general, you pay a little more for these brands, so they score less well according to the Consumers’ Association when it comes to value for money. Brands that do score well in this category are Beko, Indesit and Zanussi.
