Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
This mid-range dryer from Maytag offers a host of convenient features, straightforward controls, and good, reliable drying performance. Read More
With great cycle performance, excellent custom features, a large drum, and a sensible user interface, the LG DLEX6700B offers exceptional performance. Read More
The Maytag MED6630HC features an Extra Power button located in the center of the cycle dial that increases the performance of every drying cycle. Read More
This Whirlpool dryer features a touchscreen panel with an intuitive app that helps you monitor your laundry as well as set your perfect preferences. Read More
The Maytag MEDB955FC boasts a huge 9.2 cu. ft. drum and has a speedy Rapid Dry cycle that gets laundry dry in just 14 minutes. Read More
In our humble opinion, steam is one of the best features to have in a dryer.
A dryer with steam cycles can help you to refresh your summer wardrobe at the end of winter, get the wrinkles out of your premium tops and pants for a special dinner, or smooth away creases in a load of freshly washed clothes that sat in the dryer for too long.
Finding a dryer that meets all of your needs and has a steam cycle can be a little challenging, but we’re here to help. Based on research and our in-house lab testing, these are some of the best steam dryers you can get online right now. Our best overall winner is the Maytag MED7230HW (available at Maytag) , because it offers excellent performance for its price and had no real shortcomings.
The LG DLEX6700B features a profile that's inarguably aesthetic and a feature set you'll love.
Features the Extra Power button
Comes in a Metallic Slate finish
Lint trap is not well-aligned
Most cycles are fast and get laundry 100% dry
Door-mounted touchscreen controls
Intuitive App
Need to bend over to read control panel
Huge 9.2 cu. ft. drum can fit large laundry loads
Metallic slate finish looks high end
Rapid Dry cycle is really speedy—14 minutes
Normal cycle takes an hour and a half
Sensor inaccurate
Fast, effective cycles
High capacity
Steam features
The lint trap is so large it's unwieldy
Pet Pro features only shine with paired washer
Hi there—we're Reviewed's appliance testing team. We've spent many years testing major appliances, including washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and robot vacuum cleaners.
We have plenty of experience testing these products in the lab, but we've also used them like normal people would in the course of their daily lives, which means that we have a great sense for what appliances are bargains at their price points, and which appliances have genuinely useful extra features (as opposed to the kitchen-sink approach to features).
With all this in mind, you can feel confident that when we recommend a product, we're giving it our Reviewed stamp of approval, which means two things: firstly, this appliance performs well, and secondly, this appliance is easy to use. We're always reviewing new products, so stay tuned for our reviews and roundups of the latest products in laundry, refrigerators, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners.
Most dryers have capacities ranging from 7.3 to 7.5 cubic feet, enough to deal with the laundry that can fit in most washing machines.
Every dryer that comes into Reviewed’s labs gets put through the same testing regime, which addresses both performance and user-friendliness.
Our lab-based performance tests include drying ability and maximum temperature; you can read more about how we test dryers at the Reviewed lab.
The best dryers completely dry your clothes at a temperature that is hot (140°F-150°F), but not too hot (lest your clothes be scorched or damaged), and have short cycle times.
Beyond these performance tests, we also assess the usability of each dryer, based on our experience, both during testing and during more casual use (one perk of working at Reviewed is that there are plenty of laundry machines on premises!). Our main goal is to discern: How easy is it to actually use this dryer? This involves cumulatively assessing the control panel, the door, the vent, and any smart features.
By combining the performance data with our own observations, we can make solid recommendations for any type of dryer at any price point.
Steam dryers are just like normal dryers, and they still use hot air to dry clothes. They just also have some additional features that utilize steam and, therefore, require a water hookup.
Steam lets dryers sanitize clothes without drying them out, reduces wrinkles, and can help get rid of particularly stubborn stains.
While steam dryers can function like a normal dryer without a water hookup, you won't be able to use their steam features without one.
Since you're paying extra for its steam features, we wouldn't recommend buying a steam dryer if you're not planning to hook it up to a water source—you can find a normal gas or electric dryer with equivalent performance at a lower price.
Once your steam dryer is hooked up to a water source in your laundry room, you can use all its steam features.
The sanitize cycle utilizes steam to reach temperatures high enough to eliminate most bacteria and viruses. Non-steam clothes dryers typically lack sanitize modes because it requires hitting temperatures near 150°F, which is hot enough to dry out fabric fibers, making it more prone to wear and tear damage. By introducing some moisture via the steam, the dryer is able to hit those temperatures without desiccating your laundry.
The fine mist of steam reduces wrinkles, making your clothes look more fresh and pressed after you wash and dry them.
Yes! Steam options refers to the general suite of steam features on the dryer, while the sanitize cycle is just one of those potential features.
Other potential features include a dedicated steam cycle (where the steam is used to permeate and treat difficult stains), a sanitize cycle (where the steam kills germs), and wrinkle removal and prevention.
Steam dryers don't shrink clothes any more than a normal dryer would. Most dryers get up to around 150°F on non-delicates cycles, and steam dryers are no exception. If you're worried about something shrinking, we advise using the machine's delicates cycle or its built-in temperature settings to ensure temperatures stay low.
We would also recommend avoiding the sanitize cycle on any garment you're worried may shrink, since that feature's sole purpose is hitting temperatures hot enough to kill germs.
While every steam dryer is different, in general they all connect to a water source the same way as a washer might. They have an intake on their back that has threading for a water supply line.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
Julia is the Senior Scientist at Reviewed, which means that she oversees (and continually updates) the testing of products in Reviewed's core categories such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more. She also determines the testing methods and standards for Reviewed's "The Best Right Now" articles.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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