Maytag MED6230HW dryer review

The Maytag MED6230HW dryer has a standard design, with a large cycle-selection dial on the center of its back panel and a small touchpad and display off to the right for cycle settings. Inside the door is a typical 4.7-cubic-foot drum.

About the Maytag MED6230HW dryer

• Dimensions: 41.3” x 27” x 29.88” (H x W x D)
• Capacity: 4.7 cu. ft.
• Finishes: White, metallic slate ($100 extra)
• Cycles: Regular, Heavy Duty, Whites, Towels, Bulky Items, Quick Dry, Delicates, Wrinkle Control, Normal, Timed Dry, Custom
• Cycle options: Damp Dry Signal, Wrinkle Prevent, 5 temperature settings, 5 dryness levels
• Matching washer: Maytag MVW6230HW
• User manual: Maytag MED6230HW dryer manual

Whirlpool owns the Maytag brand and has since 2006, but while each brand has a devout following, they're aimed at slightly different consumers. Whirlpool is more progressive with its features, eschewing a traditional cycle selection dial in favor of a two-part "What to wash/dry" and "How to wash/dry" system. Maytag, on the other hand, draws much more inspiration from models of the past, offering more traditional designs with minor modern touches.

The MED6230HW finds itself between these two approaches by mixing its traditional-style controls with its hamper-style door and smart features. While these more modern features can be helpful for everyone, they seem to be aimed at increasing its usability for those with physical limitations.

What we like about the Maytag MED6230HW dryer

The Regular cycle emphasizes efficiency

During our lab testing, most of the MED6230HW’s cycles performed better than average, but the Regular cycle outshone them all finishing slightly faster than the average dryer’s normal cycle and got our test load 100% dry in the process. This is incredibly efficient, especially considering that the dryer didn’t cheat by using dangerously high temperatures: The hottest it got was 148°F, safely shy of the 150°F threshold where heat starts to cause wear and tear damage.

Most users tend to just leave their dryer on its normal or default setting, so it’s really important for dryers to nail the functionality here, which the MED6230HW definitely does.

Cycles finish fairly quickly

While the 15-minute Quick Dry cycle is certainly the star of the show, all the cycles we tested were able to finish faster than the average dryer.

Compared to average, the MED6230HW’s Bulky Items cycle finished two minutes faster, the Regular cycle finished five minutes faster, Delicates finished seven minutes faster, and the Quick Dry cycle finished 12 minutes faster. None of these differences are huge, but they do add up to far less time spent waiting and far less energy consumed.

It's easy to use, thanks in part to extra features

The MED6230HW is compatible with Maytag’s smart platform, SmartThings. Like most smart platforms, the two best features here are remote control and notifications. We like remote control as an accessibility consideration, as tapping a button in an app is a potentially easier than needing to reach up and over the top of the machine. It’s also super handy to get a ping on your phone when a cycle completes—leading to far less wrinkled clothing.

Another feature that helps fight wrinkles? Wrinkle Control keeps your load of laundry tumbling after a cycle completes, just in case you aren’t able to get up immediately after being notified.

We also love the dual-hinged, hamper-style door, which can make loading and unloading laundry a lot easier: It can form a chute to funnel laundry more easily into the drum, and gives you a platform you can place the clothes during unloading. While this feature might not add a ton of value for every user, it can be a boon for those who sometimes struggle with lifting heavy laundry.

The MED6230HW isn't all modern, though: It still features a traditional cycle selection dial. If you've owned a dryer in the past, this one will feel very intuitive to use.

What we don’t like about the Maytag MED6230HW dryer

The Bulky Items cycle disappoints

This is one of those complaints where we’re not angry, just disappointed. The Bulky Items cycle isn’t bad by any stretch; it finished just a few minutes behind the average dryer and got out almost as much water.

That being said, the average dryer typically costs between $500 and $700 and the MED6230HW finds itself off the high side of that range. Given that the average dryer was able to get out 10% more water with a faster cycle time, the MED6230HW's Bulky cycle seems disappointing in comparison. It's especially noticeable given how much better it did on every other cycle we tested.

Still, no dryer is perfect—this issue is minor compared to the overwhelmingly great performance it demonstrated on other cycles.

What owners are saying

Owners tend to love their Maytag MED6230HW, awarding it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Those who love this machine are impressed by its capacity, love its dual-hinged door, and find it dries their laundry without issue.

Warranty

Maytag has one of the best warranties in the appliance industry. Typically, you’ll see a company cover parts and labor for a single year. Maytag additionally covers the drum and motor for up to 10 years. When you buy a Maytag, you’re making a decade-long investment.

Should you buy the Maytag MED6230HW dryer?

Yes

The Maytag MED6230HW is a good dryer at a good price. The controls are simple and intuitive to use. The cycles we tested were either roughly average or faster and more efficient than other dryers at this price point. The hamper door helps make loading and unloading less of a physical chore. The MED6230HW also has smart features with notifications when a cycle completes. In all, there’s just not a whole lot to dislike about this dryer. It will make a good pick-up for anyone looking for a solid mid-range dryer, though its hamper-style door and app support make it ideal for someone who may struggle to use a dryer that lacks these features.

Maytag has been killing it in the laundry space lately—the brand is all over our list of the best dryers currently available. If you don’t mind spending a bit more for better performance, you should check out the MED7230HW. If need a budget buy, the MEDC465HW is the best value dryer you can find. If you’d prefer something outside of the Maytag brand, the Samsung DVE45R6100C has a similar price point, great drying power, and steam features.