Laundry Marathon
Written: Aug 09 '07 (Updated Aug 09 '07)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
| Ease of Cleaning: |
 |
|
| Style: |
|
|
|
Pros: Decreases the amount of wrinkles.
Cons: Not designed for laundry marathons.
The Bottom Line: Nice choice for those who don't want to rush to the dryer when the buzzer goes off.
|
|
|
| xyzwyatt's Full Review: KitchenAid KEYS750LQ / KEYS750LT Electric Dryer |
I purchased this particular model based on capacity, wrinkles, warranty and price. In retrospect, I wish I would have chosen a different brand.
Capacity
I don't have any complaints about the capacity of the dryer. Since we chose a high capacity washing machine we really had no choice but to accompany it with a high capacity dryer.
Since we have the matching high capacity washer, anything that fits in the washer can fit easily into the dryer. I always do super sized loads. A queen comforter is the largest item that I've had in the dryer but requires frequent checking to get all areas dry. It's designed for clothes and is not efficient with large blankets or comforters.
Although the dryer looks a little larger it fits in the laundry room just fine. The dimensions of the dryer is 29” width x 27 3/4” dept x 36” height. The inside capacity is 7 cubic feet.
Dryer Options
This is a front loading electric dryer. I love how the door comes straight down. It can be used to assist in sorting and folding. The door is sturdy and my toddler has even sat on it before.
Select fabrics from delicates, knits/permanent press, or cotton towels. Cycles include electronic sensor dry, air dry, and timed dry. “Extra care” and “end of cycle” can be turned on or off.
End of Cycle
You are probably already familiar with the loud obnoxious noise that emits from the dryer once the cycle is over. I hate it and don't use it. I generally hear the dryer kick on for the extra care and make my way to the dryer at that time. With the extra care feature, there's no pressing reason to dash for the dryer when the buzzer goes off anymore.
Extra Care/Wrinkle Control
There is an on or off knob for extra care. Extra care is what reduces the wrinkles. Once the dryer finishes its cycle, the extra care periodically turns the drum to stir up the clothes as they cool down which reduces the chance of wrinkling. Extra care is heat-free. No more burning fingers on hot clothes.
I have found this to be very effective so long as the clothes are removed in a timely fashion. If they clothes sit in the dryer over night, they will be wrinkled.
If the load wasn't completely dry when extra care kicks in, the clothes will be wrinkled.
What exactly do you mean by wrinkle? The clothes sure don't come out pressed. However, you can definitely tell the difference. The clothes look fresh and clean, not like they've been slept in. Different materials like rayon and polyester blends produce better results than 100% cotton.
Electronic Dryness Senor
I can't be certain if this electronic sensor is broken on my dryer or if it's a fancy name that implies more than it does. It doesn't “seem” like it works to me. I tested it by putting some moist clothes in the dryer with the objective to get the wrinkles out. I “assumed” the dryer would turn off when they were dry. Nope. It kept going and the items felt like they were on fire. Occasionally I have noticed the cycle was done before I expected. Really, I don't pay that much attention to what's going on inside the dryer. If the sensor does actually work, it's an upgrade I could live without.
Sound
I find this to be very quiet. We close the laundry room door and it's not really noticeable.
My Experience
In my mind, I expected the dryer to work fine for a few years. I clean the lint drawer every single cycle and unhook the dryer and clean the hose and pipes every 3 months for preventative maintenance and because it really piles up. Why so much lint gathers while using this dryer is speculation but I haven't had any other dryers collect as much lint in such a short time. Despite my cleaning, the heating coil went out just before the one year mark. The repair man implied that it was very unusual for the coil to go out and respectfully implied that it was my fault that the coil went out due to the vent being clogged....however he did agree that there wasn't a significant amount of lint to be removed. He replaced it without charge as a “courtesy” but indicated that we would not be able to use the warranty on that particular part again. Regardless, if the dryer was overheating why didn't the overheat safety feature turn it off or trip the breaker like it's suppose to?
Performance
Where you live may have an impact on the performance of this dryer. When I lived in Florida my loads rarely were completely dry within one cycle and any wet clothes would smell by morning. I had a friend who had the exact same model and had the same trouble getting clothes dried. The more it runs, the more it costs. I was disappointed that this dryer wasn't any better at drying than my original dryer. Once I moved to Tennessee even the largest loads were done in less than one cycle and I'm a lot happier with the performance. Maybe it's performing better because the coil was fixed, could be the weather, or maybe it has to do with how the house is vented. All I know is that I simply haven't had this problem with other dryers.
The dryer is heavy and a pain in the back to move it around and get behind especially if it's in a laundry closet.
Price
We found this to be nicely priced. In comparison to other dryers, this one is larger and has a longer manufacturers warranty.
Warranty
I've never had to use a warranty on any appliance before Kitchen Aid came into the picture. We've had warranty work on both the washer and dryer the first year. We did receive quick, friendly no-hassle service. The warranty requires the original sales receipt. They do check the receipt and dryer numbers.
Overall
Just because this dryer is a little bigger doesn't mean that it's sturdy. It's not an industrial dryer and shouldn't be used as such.
Right size, quiet, and minimizes wrinkles. I suppose this is an average dryer that's priced right. My next dryer will be very much like this one, but I'll probably explore a different brand.
This may offer a few more features than other dryers, but I don't think it is any better at getting laundry dry. And don't get too excited about the wrinkle feature, you can achieve the same results by standing by any dryer when the buzzer goes off.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 350.00
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
xyzwyatt
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Location: Nashville, TN
Reviews written: 542
Trusted by: 172 members
About Me:
Be a coffee-drinking individual - espresso yourself!
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.