![COSTWAY Compact Laundry Dryer, 110V Electric Portable Clothes Dryer with Stainless Steel Tub, Control Panel Downside Easy Con]({"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/IMAGERENDERING_521856-T1/images/I/61JZ9wO6HtL._AC_SS130_.jpg":[130,130],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/IMAGERENDERING_521856-T1/images/I/61JZ9wO6HtL._AC_SS260_.jpg":[260,260],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/IMAGERENDERING_521856-T1/images/I/61JZ9wO6HtL._AC_SS390_.jpg":[390,390]})
This is a well-executed product. It pretty much nails its use case, with no drawbacks, other than those inherent to the limitations of any such product in its class (i.e., its small size).
It dries very well. In "auto" mode it will dry your clothes until it detects that they are no longer wet, and then it continues blowing unheated air until time runs out. If the unit is loaded with clothes that all dry at a similar rate, the results are very good.
I was surprised to find that the unit can have a lot of things in it and perform very well, as long as none of the items are large things that will bunch up. So for example, it does very well drying a dozen or more T-Shirts, but you can only really put in 2 bedsheets at a time, and even then you should probably check in on them once in a while to see if they are getting bunched up.
It has a high heat and low heat setting, which also correspond to longer and shorter times. These are a lot less hot than on a typical dryer. I've never had a problem with something not getting dried. I've done loads with 5 pairs of jeans and kakis, with the knob turned only to the end of the low heat range, and they always come out dry.
The one confusing thing about the machine is how to deal with the filter system. But once I figured out a system, it's very easy. I will save you the agony and experimentation.
The filter in the back has what looks like a typical mesh filter you would see in normal dryers. Additionally, there is another thicker felt filter. This is because the unit vents inside your house, so without this extra filter you would get a lot of fine particles in your air. The documentation makes the completely absurd and untenable suggestion that you clean this felt filter with a vacuum or a brush every single load. First of all, you would never make any progress cleaning the filter with a vacuum. It's way too flimsy and the lint is way too embedded. The only way to clean it is indeed with a brush, and it takes a lot of diligent brushing, maybe for 3-5 full minutes, to clean the thing. Afterward, you are left with a mess in the area where you were doing the cleaning.
For a while I had resigned to doing this every 5 loads or so -- furiously brushing the filter. But then I happened to see another reviewer say that they had luck putting the filter into a washing machine, and I thought I would give that a try. So, long story short, here is my system:
1. Buy a set of extra felt filters. here are the ones I got: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JDS9Q3C/
2. Every single load, clean the normal mesh non-felt filter, just like you would on a normal dryer
3. Every 3-4 loads, swap out the felt filter for a clean one. Keep the dirty ones all together somewhere.
4. When you have put the final clean filter in place and you have no more extras, put the dirty filters into the washing machine. I've been washing them with hot water and have excellent results. I've also been putting them in with their own load. I have a smaller HE washing machine so this isn't as absurd as it sounds. I may experiment with putting them in with another load. But anyway as you might guess, if they are in by themselves you need very little soap.
5. You don't need to dry them; because of their material, they will air-dry very quickly, so you can just stick them back in the clean pile where they were.
Easy as pie, no scrubbing. I'm guessing the filter set will last at least a year, so the added cost isn't a big deal.
Overall I'm extremely happy with this product, and in fact I think I like it better than a normal dryer. Seriously.
I like the one-knob user interface.
It does a great job at detecting when the heat should go off, and any remaining dampness gets taken care of safely by the blowing air as the knob winds down. (It isn't able to stop itself until the timer is done, it's only able to stop blowing heat).
It doesn't buzz when it's finished! Hallelujah!
It's small and light.
It requires no installation.
It has a window!
yay!
December 2014 update: I had one of the plastic nubs break on the "exhaust vent shroud" in the filter assembly. I called customer support and dealing with them was a pleasure, they had a new one queued up to ship to me with no fuss. When on hold there is no advertisement or music. This company understand user experience, both in their products and their support.
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Great so far! Some of the reviews kind of scared me. One day in working great clothes dry reasonably fast and lint trap and filter work fantastic. Have dried a massive backlog of clothes been running it non stop for 2 days. It comfortably fits 2 pairs of jeans and a couple shirts and takes about an hour and a half. I'm a size 40 with XL shirts.
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