Need to know
- Vented clothes dryers are expensive to run but cheap to buy, so they can be a good option if you only use your dryer occasionally
- The vented clothes dryers we've reviewed are priced from $519 to $849. Condenser and heat pump dryers are more expensive to buy, but generally cheaper to run
- When our experts tested an earlier Aldi vented dryer, it scored 68%
With winter fast approaching, you might be on the lookout for a cheap clothes dryer for those cold, grey days when your clothes take forever to dry.
Aldi must have read your mind: the supermarket is selling a bargain vented clothes dryer as part of its Special Buys sale.
Its $279 pricetag is certainly appealing, but is it worth buying or will you only get what you pay for?
We share the pros, cons and need-to-knows to help you decide.
What is a vented dryer?
Aren't clothes dryers all the same? You just throw your clothes in, turn the dial, and your clothes come out toasty warm and perfectly dry, right?
Not quite. There are a few different dryer types: vented, heat pump and condenser dryers. The type you buy can impact what you'll pay upfront and in the long run.
Vented dryers can be an economical option if you rarely use your dryer.
Vented clothes dryers can be an economical option if you rarely use your dryer
They're usually quite a simple, light design, which means they can generally be wall-mounted to save space.
But they're more expensive to run than heat pump or condenser dryers, and will pump hot, wet air into your laundry, so you'll need to ensure your space is quite well ventilated.
If you only use your dryer occasionally for emergencies, and don't have the cash available to buy a more expensive (and more efficient) dryer, a vented dryer might be worth considering.
The $279 dryer goes on sale on Wednesday 17 April.
Is the Aldi clothes dryer any good?
We haven't tested the exact model of this dryer, but we have tested a 4.5kg vented dryer from Aldi, and it received a score of 68%.
CHOICE laundry expert Ashley Iredale says this is quite a typical score for vented dryers.
"Due to their energy inefficiencies, vented dryers usually only score around the 70% mark in our expert CHOICE reviews," says Ashley.
"Although we haven't tested the model being sold at Aldi, it's very cheap, even for a vented dryer, and could be worth looking at for people who want a dryer only for occasional use.
It's very cheap, even for a vented dryer
Ashley Iredale, CHOICE whitegoods expert
"However, if you anticipate using your dryer daily, you should look at a heat pump or condenser dryer. Although these are more expensive, they are more efficient to run so will cost you less in the long run."
If you're considering picking up this $279 Aldi clothes dryer while you do your grocery shopping, we've put together some pros and cons to help you decide if it's right for you.
Check our clothes dryer reviews to see what other options might be better suited to your needs.
What's to like?
Price
We've reviewed 10 vented dryer models, ranging in price from $519 for a 4kg-capacity dryer to $849 for a 7kg-capacity model. So this Special Buy from Aldi is cheap at $279 for a 6kg-capacity machine.
We haven't tested this exact model so can't vouch for its performance, but Ashley notes that "vented dryers are very simple appliances, so in our experience they tend to perform very similarly in our tests".
Three-year warranty
This Aldi Special Buy dryer comes with a three-year 'in-home' warranty. This means that if a service under warranty is required within three years, a technician from the product manufacturer will come to your home.
All other dryers we tested (including heat pump and condenser dryers) come with just two-year warranties.
Brush up on how to use your consumer guarantees if you have a problem.
What's not to like?
We haven't tested it
Our experts haven't reviewed this model, as Aldi products pop up at short notice and usually sell out quickly, so unfortunately we can't tell you exactly how it will perform. (However, we've been testing clothes dryers for years so we know a thing or two about dryers.)
No delivery – and it's heavy
Aldi doesn't deliver, so you have to head in-store to pick up the dryer yourself. It weighs 29kg, so you'll need a trolley, and a very helpful assistant.
Limited stock
As with all Aldi Special Buys, stock is limited, so there's no guarantee this product will be available at your local store.
You can check stock levels at stockcheck.aldi.com.au, but you can only use this one day after the products appear in store, by which time they may have sold out if they're popular.
Returning it will be a pain
If things go awry with your new dryer, it's a bit harder to return to the store than, say, a packet of biscuits that were past their use-by date when you bought them.
Just like getting it home, you'll need a trolley and an assistant to get it into and out of your car and back into the store.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
