
Having a reliable washing machine and dryer is essential for most Australian homes, and with so many different options available, we understand that finding the right appliances for your needs can be challenging. Our laundry buying guide outlines the important considerations you will need to make the right choice.
Getting the right size is important - too small and you'll have to run several loads; too large and you'll waste resources. The table below should give you a general idea:
5kg or smaller
5kg-7kg
8kg or larger
Appliances Online sells only brand new appliances with full manufacturer's warranties - not factory seconds.
All the laundry appliances we stock come with a standard warranty (usually 2 years, depending on the manufacturer). However, you also have the option of buying an extended Customer Care Plan from Appliances Online.
Our Customer Care Plans are available at the time of purchase. You can purchase a Care Plan of 2, 3 or 4 years - which will begin once the original manufacturer's warranty is up.
Features | Advantages | Disadvantages | Ideal For |
---|---|---|---|
A dryer that vents hot air and moisture into the laundry (or outside when using a venting kit) | Affordable Light enough to wall-mount Easy to use | Can fill a poorly-ventilated laundry with steam and moisture | Any laundry that has an exhaust fan or a window Smaller laundries (when wall-mounted) |
Features | Advantages | Disadvantages | Ideal For |
---|---|---|---|
Extracts the moisture from your wet clothes and drains it away as condensed water | Won't fill the laundry room with steam, and doesn't need a venting kit Some models include a drainage tube, removing the need to periodically empty the water tank Can be installed anywhere in the home, provided there is some space around the unit for warm air to circulate | Too heavy to be wall mounted (though stacking is sometimes possible) | Apartment living Unventilated laundries |
Features | Advantages | Disadvantages | Ideal For |
---|---|---|---|
A type of condenser dryer that recycles exhaust heat for maximum energy efficiency | All the advantages of a condenser dryer Among the most energy efficient dryers available (up to six stars!) | More expensive than other types of dryers | Apartment living Unventilated laundries Energy efficient homes |
Features | Advantages | Disadvantages | Ideal For |
---|---|---|---|
Generates heat using natural gas rather than electricity | Saves energy through the use of natural gas Usually have a high capacity for larger laundry loads | Limited number of brand and model choices available Large units won't fit in smaller laundry spaces Often more expensive than other dryers | Homes with gas connections Energy-efficient households |
Features | Advantages | Disadvantages | Ideal For |
---|---|---|---|
A front-loading washing machine that can also be used as a dryer | Two appliances in one - saves space Allows you to wash and dry clothes in the same cycle | Usually only suitable for drying small loads - often half of a regular wash load or less Drying cycles tend to be longer (compared with normal clothes dryers) | Laundries that are short on space Apartment living Energy-efficient households |
Modern living comes with plenty of constraints. You could be pressed for time or have no room in your flat for clotheslines. On top of that, unpredictable weather conditions make doing the laundry a gamble. If you’re considering dryers, then you’ve come to the right place.
Appliances Online has a variety of dryers for sale to suit your needs. Read on for our handy guide.
There are various new reasons you might be looking at dryers at the moment. Maybe you’re looking at compact dryers because you’ve got a smaller space where it’s too cramped to hang clothes, resulting in musty-smelling garments. Or you have a big brood and need high-capacity dryers for the entire family – all those activities mean more laundry, after all!
But first, it’s essential to compare the various dryers out there so you can make the best choice.
Condenser dryer
In a condenser dryer, clothes are dried at high temperatures. Basically, air is blown over a heating coil and then into a drum where your clothes are waiting to dry. When the clothes are heated, moisture is extracted as vapour, which is then condensed into water in a container.
Since condenser dryers don’t release hot air into the room, they are ideal for smaller laundry rooms without outside venting. What’s more, these reduce the risk of mould growth, and some models even have self-cleaning abilities.
Heat pump dryer
In a heat pump dryer, vapour is also extracted from clothes, but condensation is removed with a coolant, and warm air is retained. That same air goes back into the tumble drum, which makes this a more energy-efficient option compared to traditional laundry dryers.
This is a great option for those who are looking to save on their energy bills but frequently use their dryers.
Gas dryer
To dry laundry, a gas dryer burns gas to generate heat. The gas is either supplied by LPG gas canisters or through plumbed mains natural gas.
You should, however, only consider this option if your laundry is already set up for a gas connection and has external ventilation, either through the wall or roof. Otherwise, a certified gas fitter will need to come in and install gas plumbing and separate exhaust ducting.
There’s also another type of dryer called a vented dryer, which we’ll talk about below:
A vented dryer uses hot air to evaporate moisture from clothes, but it releases the humid air through a venting duct. These dryers require a well-ventilated laundry room – that is, one with an exhaust fan, a window, or properly ducted air. Otherwise, you could be in a hot and humid situation whenever you use the dryer.
Like heat pump and condenser types, these are also stackable dryers, making them ideal for a small laundry.
Vented dryers are usually the cheapest to buy, but they tend to be more expensive to run because they’re not the most energy-efficient dryers. For business owners, they could be an option if you’d rather not pay a huge upfront cost for commercial dryers but don’t mind the potentially higher energy expenses month-to-month.
Sensors for efficiency
Many modern dryers, whether they are heat pumps, vented, condenser, or gas models, have sensors that automatically measure humidity in the drum and dry the load accordingly. The dryer switches off when the laundry is dry, preventing damage to the clothes and unnecessary energy and expense waste.
Sports programs for athletic wear
If you hit the gym often or if your family members are athletes, a dryer with a sportswear or activewear setting would be ideal. This setting is specifically designed for drying sports and performance fabrics like polyester, nylon, and polypropylene, ensuring that the items are dried gently and effectively while preserving their functionality and appearance.
When playing sports like football, your shoes can take a beating, too. Wouldn’t it be great to not have to scrub them after every game? Some dryers may have a rack that sits inside the dryer without spinning, so shoes can be dried without being tumbled.
Smart features for connectivity
When it comes to laundry, multitasking can save you a great deal of time. Smart dryers typically have Wi-Fi connectivity, which lets you start, stop, and extend cycles remotely with your phone or tablet. It might also send you notifications when a cycle finishes – or even let you download new dryer cycles for special fabrics and load types.
Wrinkle-free settings for convenience
Ironing is another time-consuming aspect of owning clothes – if only clothes could stay permanently crease-free. While we aren’t living in that reality just yet, you can minimise the likelihood of wrinkles in your clothing with dryers that have an anti-crease setting.
To prevent wrinkling in the material, this cycle uses a medium level of heat. There is often a cool-down period towards the end of the cycle, which helps relax wrinkles that are set in fabrics. Although this cycle is great for preventing wrinkles, it doesn’t guarantee that your clothes will come out wrinkle-free.
At Appliances Online, our commitment to legendary service is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your Nespresso or blender, step up your backyard culinary game with a Weber BBQ grill, or treat yourself to a new air fryer or ice cream maker, we want to exceed your expectations at every turn.
We are always available to answer your questions about dryers as well as our products like steam mops and handheld vacuum models. You can contact us by phone, email or chat. Feel free to contact us at any time if you need advice on your next appliance or if you want to track an order.
Get your dryer sooner with Free Next Day Delivery.*
*We deliver to 95% of Australia’s population with Appliances Online’s legendary Free Next Day Delivery, and we can usually get it to you by the next day (Monday to Friday) as long as it’s in stock. Plus, we offer paid Same Day Delivery for in-stock appliances in NSW, QLD, and VIC metro areas if you order before 12 p.m., Monday to Friday. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we’ll also take your old, disconnected appliances away for recycling for free. Call our team 24/7 at 1300 000 500 or message us via the chat icon in the bottom right of this screen.
Replacing outdated appliances by shopping at traditional stores can sometimes be a hassle since you need to travel between stores to compare features and prices while also dealing with limited stock and strict store hours. At Appliances Online, you get to experience seamless shopping where you can compare appliances swiftly and effortlessly with our easy-to-use site.
At Appliances Online, you can say goodbye to searching for 'Car Fridge Portable', 'Laifen Hairdryer' and 'Rice Cooker For Brown Rice', as we offer Free Next Day Delivery covering 95% of Australia's population and Free Connection for appliances like fridges, washing machines and dryers in areas where we offer free delivery by our own trucks. Our Paid Same Day Delivery is available in NSW, QLD and VIC metro areas for orders placed before 12 p.m., Monday to Friday, if you need your orders quickly.
We make it easy for you to shop however it suits you best since we've got plenty of payment options available, including buy now, pay later services like Zip, Klarna and Afterpay. Experience how Appliances Online can transform your shopping experience and leave your search for 'fridge', 'Westinghouse Fridges' and 'microwaves' - order today and enjoy Free Next Day Delivery!