LG DLEX3900W Dryer Review

There’s a lot to like about the LG DLEX3900W dryer. At a glance, you can tell a lot of thought was put into its design, from its modern contours to its intuitive and easy-to-use controls. Opening the door reveals an internally lit, 7.4-cubic-foot drum, which has enough capacity to allow heavy loads and bulky bedding to fit comfortably.

On the drying side, most of the cycles we tested had solidly above-average performance. All of them finished faster than average and got our test laundry much dryer than average. The one notable exception, however, is the Normal cycle. We clocked the Normal cycle at 86 minutes—almost 50% slower than the cycle time on most dryers. The cycle also reached 170°F, far in excess of the 150°F threshold that is best for clothes.

That being said, we think that this is a great-looking, high-performance dryer. Its upsides outweigh this one stumbling point since you can manually turn down the heat when you choose to use the Normal cycle.

About the LG DLEX3900W dryer

• Dimensions: 27" x 38 11/16" x 30" (H x W x D)
• Capacity: 7.4 cu. ft.
• Finish: White; black stainless steel (costs about $100 more)
• Fourteen cycles: Normal, Heavy Duty, Bedding, Small Load, Antibacterial, Steam Sanitary, Steam Fresh, Permanent Press, Delicates, Sportswear, Towels, Speed Dry, Air Dry, and Downloaded
• Cycle features: Steam, sensor dry, custom programs, static reduction, wrinkle care, energy saver, and a damp-dry signal that alerts users when the load is about 80% dry.

What we like

A large capacity to get bulky items dry

The drum size for the LG DLEX3900W is a spacious 7.4 cu. ft. If you’re frequently washing bulky items or have family-sized loads of laundry, this drum has enough space to make sure they dry completely.

Loads of useful features

Between its 14 cycles, multiple steam options, wrinkle shield, and static reduction, this dryer has a lot of options for customization to satisfy your personal laundry needs.

Most cycles get laundry dry fast

The Bedding, Speed Dry and Delicates cycles were excellent at drying laundry efficiently: Across the board, these cycles were faster than average and got laundry drier in that amount of time. The Speed Dry cycle finished in about 26 minutes and was able to get laundry nearly 85% dry. The Delicates cycle took 57 minutes, and got our test load nearly as dry as the Speed Dry cycle. The Bedding cycle took 65 minutes, and did an impressive job of removing 88% of the moisture from our wet queen-size comforter.

What we don’t like

The Normal cycle is too hot and too slow

There are two things a dryer can do to exacerbate wear and tear: excessive mechanical action and heat in excess of 150°F. We measured the Normal cycle reaching temperatures of just over 170°F—far above the ideal cutoff point. The Normal cycle also takes almost an hour and a half to finish, which is 50% longer than most dryers. We’d strongly recommend using one of the other cycles if you’re in a hurry to dry the clothes. And anytime you use the Normal cycle, lower the temperature.

Warranty

LG will cover one year of replacement parts and labor and will replace the drum for up to 10 years. We always like to see additional coverage beyond the initial year and LG’s decade-long extension for the drum is one of the better perks out there.

What owners say

Across major retailers, this dryer is highly reviewed, averaging 4.6 out of 5. Users praise its design, aesthetics, fast-drying, and what many describe as “just the right amount” of customization. Most owners who left negative reviews seemed to have gotten lemons or had issues with installation.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Despite its slow, hot Normal cycle, we think the LG DLEX3900W has a lot to offer. You can use its customization to turn down the heat on that Normal cycle or use one of the other excellent options available. This dryer looks great, is easy to use, and gets laundry dry, fast.

If you’re in the market for a high-capacity LG and don’t mind spending a bit extra for better performance, the LG DLEX9000V and its enormous 9-cubic-foot drum will manage your laundry throughput with ease. If you’d prefer something different at a similar price point, we recently updated our rankings of best dryers with steam.