Kenmore 69133 Dryer Review

Now, that doesn’t mean this Kenmore is for everyone—some cycles might be superfluous and the $999 sale price might feel a touch expensive, especially if you’re buying a washing machine alongside. But compared to some of the other top-scoring high-end dryers we’ve tested, though, it’s relatively affordable.

If you’re looking for something sleek, need lots of space and custom cycle, and have the cash to spend, this Kenmore should definitely be at the top of your list. And if you don't care about color, the otherwise-identical Kenmore 69132 is the same dryer with a white finish.

Design & Usability

Unexpected elegance

The 69133 is based on similar machines from Whirlpool and Maytag, but features a totally different design language. Where Whirlpool ditched the dial in favor of a unique menu setup, and Maytag has a very traditional interface, Kenmore's newest dryers have a modern twist.

A metallic grey finish almost always looks better than basic white, while the black background on the controls makes the white text and display lights really pop.

Inside, we were a bit disappointed to find a white internal drum—typically, dryers this expensive will have a stainless interior, which is less prone to rust and discoloration. However, the bright LED drum light helps illuminate the interior. It should help you track down runaway socks, especially if you’re doing laundry in a poorly lit basement.

Instead of a lint screen, the 69133 has a lint trap, which has to be popped open to clean. The idea here is that you can easily move the trap over to your trash bin, while minimizing the risk of lint falling into the air or onto freshly washed clothing.

Strangely enough, our biggest complaint was actually the dryer’s door. The reflective, translucent black front and silvery trim looks great... but it was so big that it flexed a bit on its hinges. Therefore, it didn’t want to shut unless we gave it a good slam.

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Controls & Features

Versatile and practical

Unlike some other high-end dryers, which include so many specialty cycles that nobody could possibly use them all, everything on this Kenmore is practical. Basic cycles, like Delicates or Casual, serve as workhorse cycles for large quantities of similar garments.

Fancy extras, like Sanitize, Touch Up, or Steam Refresh, also serve useful purposes. A dryer this size is ideal for large families, and whether you’re washing cloth diapers, fluffing up a dress shirt that you didn’t have time to iron, steam cleaning a stuffed animal,or refreshing winter clothes you just pulled out of storage, this dryer has features to help.

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We also like the Energy Save mode, which lowers temperatures and increases drying times when clothes don't have to be finished right now, as well as the more common Wrinkle Guard and Damp Signal.

Drying Performance

Effective all around

The Kenmore 69133 was able to handle everything we threw at it in our bevy of dryer tests. The Normal cycle removed all excess moisture in a reasonable amount of time, while the Delicates cycle did the same at a much cooler temperature.

Most impressive was the dryer’s ability to tackle our bulky comforter. In just an hour, it removed roughly 90% of all excess moisture. That’s better than almost every other dryer we’ve tested, and could be attributed to the Kenmore’s 8.8-cu.-ft. interior that's large enough to keep items from bunching up while drying. If you’ve got heavy blankets to clean, this dryer should be able to handle them.

Watch out for the 15-minute Express dry. While some dryers have a Quick cycle meant for small loads (indeed, our standard Quick Dry test uses a 4-lb. load, or about 10 items) the user manual recommends this cycle be used for just four or five items at a time.

For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page.

Warranty

To quote from the user manual, "For one year from the date of sale this appliance is warranted against defects in material or workmanship when it is correctly installed, operated and maintained according to all supplied instructions. With proof of sale, a defective appliance will receive free repair or replacement at option of seller."

In other words, you get a year for manufacturer's defects, and—if the dryer breaks—Sears determines whether they fix it or replace it. Kenmore does point out, though, that the warranty is only good for 90 days if you ever use the dryer for anything other than private household purposes.

A Top Contender

Great performance, and still a fair deal

$1,000 may feel like a lot to spend on a dryer, but in the case of the Kenmore 69133, the expense is justifiable. With a huge drum and a cycle list that combines practicality and versatility, this stylish machine is well suited for households that tackle a lot of laundry.

Effective drying performance should be a given—especially for more expensive models like this one—and the 69133 doesn’t disappoint. And speaking of expensive, it’s actually relatively affordable compared to many top-end machines on the market today. It's even cheaper if you buy it in white.

We don’t get to say this often, but we wholeheartedly recommend this dryer.

By the Numbers

As long as you follow the recommendations in the user manual, the Kenmore 69133 (MSRP $1,299.99) should be able to tackle anything you throw at it. This electric dryer certainly passed our exam with flying colors—even one test that’s designed to fail! For more information on how we test, click here.

Normal & Delicate

The Kenmore’s workhorse Normal cycle did exactly what it was supposed to do: In about 54 minutes it removed 100% of the excess moisture added to our standardized 8-lb. load. What’s more, it did this using temperatures that peaked at 150.3°F. That’s not as cool as we’d like, but still gentler than some of the other 2015 models coming out onto the market.

Unlike many of those other models, though, this Kenmore knows when to cool it down. The Delicates cycle peaked at 115.2°F, perfect for more fragile garments. After about 1 hour and 27 minutes on average, it removed 95% excess moisture. That’s great if you plan to finish up your laundry with some line drying or ironing.

Quick Dry & Bulky

Our Quick Dry test produced the most questionable results. Using the 15-minute Express cycle, our 4-lb. test load came out only 57% dry, with temperatures having peaked at 126.2°F. To be fair, the user manual recommends this cycle only for small loads—about four to five garments at a time. If you use the cycle as intended, we think you’ll be pleased with the results.

Our Bulky test is essentially designed to fail dryers: It's nearly impossible to fully dry a big down comforter in one cycle without manually turning it... which most consumers don’t do. In the spirit of actual consumer habits, we don’t either, so our comforter usually end ups dry on the outside with a big damp ball in the middle.

Not so with the 69133. After just 1 hour on the Bulky/Bedding cycle, our large comforter came out 90% dry—which is almost unheard of in our tests. The large 8.8-cu.-ft. drum likely helped the comforter spread out, as did temperatures that peaked at 148.7°F.