GE GTD33EASKWW Front-Loading Dryer Review

Other than its unique controls (which we'll get to later), there isn’t much to say about the GE GTD33EASKWW. It lacks a lot of the extra features we like to see in dryers, like steam and sanitize, but you’re also paying a lot less for the GTD33EASKWW than a dryer that does have those features.

In our tests, we found cycles sometimes took a little longer than average and got slightly too hot, but neither issue was pronounced enough to be considered a dealbreaker.

This run-of-the-mill dryer does a decent job at its core competency: drying laundry.

About the GE GTD33EASKWW dryer

• Dimensions: 44” x 27” x 29.5” (H x W x D)
• Capacity: 7.2 cubic feet
• Finishes: White
• Cycles: Cottons (more dry, optimum dry, less dry), Casuals (more dry, less dry), Timed Dry (10–80 minutes, separated into 10-minute intervals)
• Cycle options: Three temperature settings
• Matching washer: GE GTW335ASNWW
• User manual: GE GTD33EASKWW dryer use and care manual

What we like

It gets laundry dry

While its cycles may take about 10 minutes longer than average to finish, this extra time is spent ensuring your laundry is perfectly dry.

On every cycle we ran in our labs, the GE GTD33EASKWW got our test loads perfectly dry. For this test, we used the "Cottons (More Dry)" and "Cottons" settings on the cycle and heat dials—the closest this dryer has to a bulky cycle—fell just shy of perfect, with 92% moisture removed.

Overall, this is the kind of consistency we’d expect from any decent dryer. And yet, sometimes we see dryers in the same price range faltering, most commonly with their quick cycles finishing with laundry that’s still damp to the touch. The GTD33EASKWW did not have this issue, and we are pretty pleased overall with its drying ability.

It has a unique cycle selection system

Beyond its large capacity, the most unique feature about the GTD33EASKWW is its cycle selection system. Instead of a single dial with tons of different cycle options, the GTD33EASKWW’s main dial essentially contains three main cycles, which are broken up into different options for relative lengths of time. The Cottons cycle has three options for cycle length (more dry, optimum dry, less dry). Casuals is broken down into more and less dry.

The bottom third of the dial is dedicated to Timed Dry, where you can select a set cycle length between 10 and 80 minutes, with 10-minute intervals.

To the right of the cycle selection dial is a temperature-selection knob, which allows you to pick between regular (Cotton), medium (Casuals), or no heat (Air Fluff).

We like this system because, while it might take a second or two to initially parse, it's actually pretty intuitive and gives you exactly the controls you need and none of the extra options you don't. It's a fitting control scheme for a such a no-frills dryer.

What we don’t like

Cycles run long and hot

There really aren’t any areas where this dryer disappoints—but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

Every cycle we've tested took about 10 minutes longer than average to finish. Its fastest cycle took 38 minutes to complete, where other dryers are able to deliver dry laundry in under 30 minutes—in some cases, 15 minutes flat, like the Whirlpool WED9620HC.

While these longer cycle times can inspire impatience, it’s not particularly beyond the pale for a dryer in the GTD33EASKWW’s price range. If you’re a set-it-and-forget it type of person, you probably won't even notice.

When it comes to temperature, the GTD33EASKWW also toes the line.

Ideally, a dryer should never get hotter than 150°F. Overly warm dryer temperatures make fabrics more brittle, increasing the wear-and-tear damage done to your clothes during that cycle.

According to our measurements, several of the GTD33EASKWW’s cycles extend beyond this threshold by relatively small increments. The "Cottons (Optimum Dry)" cycle with "Cottons" setting for heat level was the hottest, getting up to 157°F. Other cycles we tested were only a few degrees over the 150°F mark.

For context, some significantly more expensive dryers (even some by GE) reached temperatures in excess of 170°F.

While not ideal, we don’t think the GTD33EASKWW’s sometimes excessive heat should be disqualifying. This isn’t a super high-end dryer and the degree to which it gets overheated is fairly minimal.

What owners are saying

Owners seem to like the GE GTD33EASKWW, awarding it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars across major retailers. Praise was fairly nonspecific, with owners gushing about how it gets their laundry dry quickly and quietly compared to older models.

Complaints were more specific, but we didn't encounter any of the typically mentioned issues during testing. Many users said the dryer took “forever” to get their laundry dry, and while its cycles performed a bit more slowly than average, they really aren’t anything too far out of the ordinary, especially at this price point.

Another common complaint was that the unit “lost its heating over time,” which is potentially more concerning. While we didn’t see any evidence of heating element failure in our tests, we also don’t perform dedicated durability testing over time. If you’ve run into an issue like this with your GTD33EASKWW, we’d be interested to hear more about your experience.

Warranty

The GE GTW335ASNWW is covered by a limited one-year warranty for parts and labor. This is the baseline guarantee offered on appliances. Some manufacturers provide longer warranties, such as the 10 years offered by Maytag or the lifetime warranty offered by Speed Queen on select parts.

Should you buy the GE GTD33EASKWW?

Yes. While it might be a little slow, hot, and lacking when it comes to extra features, this GE provides a lot of value for its price point.

The main thing people tend to care about in a dryer is if it’s capable of getting their laundry dry—and the GE GTD33EASKWW passes this bar. It just happens to take slightly longer than the average dryer to do so.

If you’re looking for a ton of cycle options or the latest features, this isn’t the dryer for you. If you’re just looking for a new dryer on a budget, however, the GTD33EASKWW is a pretty good pick.

If you’re looking for other affordable options, we’d recommend checking out roundup of the best affordable washer and dryer pairs, specifically the Kenmore 60222, which costs about the same and dries fairly quickly without over-drying and damaging your laundry.