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  • Introduction

  • Front

  • Controls

  • Interior

  • Sides

  • Back

  • Speed & Performance Overview

  • Normal Cycle Performance

  • Delicates Cycle Performance

  • Bulky Cycle Performance

  • Quick Dry Cycle Performance

  • Dry Cycles

  • Customization

  • Additional Drying Options

  • Controls

  • Door

  • Lint Trap

  • Comparison Overview

  • Performance

  • Customization & Features

  • Design

  • Comparison Overview

  • Performance

  • Customization & Features

  • Design

  • Comparison Overview

  • Performance

  • Customization & Features

  • Design

  • Conclusion

  • Introduction
  • Front
  • Controls
  • Interior
  • Sides
  • Back
  • Speed & Performance Overview
  • Normal Cycle Performance
  • Delicates Cycle Performance
  • Bulky Cycle Performance
  • Quick Dry Cycle Performance
  • Dry Cycles
  • Customization
  • Additional Drying Options
  • Controls
  • Door
  • Lint Trap
  • Comparison Overview
  • Performance
  • Customization & Features
  • Design
  • Comparison Overview
  • Performance
  • Customization & Features
  • Design
  • Comparison Overview
  • Performance
  • Customization & Features
  • Design
  • Conclusion

Introduction

Front

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The {{product.name}} is a stackable dryer that's about as simple as an appliance gets. Every expense was spared in its creation, which is apparent in its lack of a digital display or even a manual wash timer. The flimsy-feeling door can be hinged on either side, though the visible external hinges are more about function than form.

Controls

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Interior

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The interior of the CDWT980VSS.

The small, flimsy lint trap is easy to remove and clean.

Sides

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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS side views

Back

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Speed & Performance Overview

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Most of the few cycles on the {{product.name}} take longer than an hour. The Normal and Towels cycles do a good job, but the Quick and Delicate cycles disappoint.

Normal Cycle Performance

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After an hour and 13 minutes, the {{product.name}} beeped to let us know the clothes were dry. Turns out, they actually were -- 100 percent of the water had been removed from our test cycle.

Delicates Cycle Performance

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Most dryers take a very, very long time to dry delicates. The {{product.name}}'s Delicates cycle only took an hour, and the result was wet clothing.

Bulky Cycle Performance

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The {{product.name}} had no trouble with towels, completely drying a bulky load of bedding in an hour and 13 minutes.

Quick Dry Cycle Performance

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It's no small feat to remove 72 percent of water from a load of laundry in less than 30 minutes. The {{product.name}} does a good job -- but we want our clothes dry, not less damp.

Dry Cycles

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Aside from time drying cycles between 15 and 90 minutes, the {{product.name}} features six drying cycles. Since temperature must be set manually, each cycle really only controls the sensitivity of the dryness sensor. Neither the owner's manual nor display give any hint as to how long these cycles are supposed to take or how much time is left. That's disappointing, since dryers have offered manual timers since the '70s.

Customization

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The {{product.name}}'s antiquated controls require that the user selects a temperature to go along with a cycle. The user can also adjust the sensitivity of the dryness sensor. Other than that, there aren't any ways to adjust cycles.

Additional Drying Options

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There's only one additional drying option on the {{product.name}}: A "wrinkle release" setting that continues to tumble clothes after they're dry to keep them from getting too wrinkled.

Controls

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Controls are straightforward but sparse. Having to manually choose a temperature for each cycle is an inconvenience compared to slightly more expensive dryers with automatic settings.

Door

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An extremely lightweight door is easy to open and close.

The interior of the CDWT980VSS.

Lint Trap

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The small, flimsy lint trap is easy to remove and clean.

Comparison Overview

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Got an extra $85? That's what it'll take over the cost of the Frigidaire to buy one of the best sub-$1000 dryers we've tested. The GE gets clothes dryer faster than the {{product.name}}, plus it's got a sturdy feel and better controls.

Performance

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The {{product.name}} took longer to get clothes as dry as the GE did. Drying delicates, the GE can't be beat. Clothes emerged bone dry just 46 minutes after the cycle started.

Customization & Features

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Though neither one offers the bespoke drying functions of higher-end units, the GE at least has a display to give you an estimate of how much longer your clothes will take to get dry.

Design

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Both are plain, stackable dryers, but the GE feels sturdier than the {{product.name}}

Comparison Overview

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Electrolux owns Frigidaire, but the two dryers couldn't be more different. The {{product.name}} costs less than half as much as the Electrolux and offers far better drying performance.

Performance

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Customization & Features

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The Electrolux obviously wins here, as the {{product.name}}'s bare bones control panel and few features aren't very competitive.

Design

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Sure, the Electrolux is more stylish and feels more rugged -- but wouldn't you rather have dry clothes?

Comparison Overview

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Performance-wise, the Maytag is a marginally better dryer than the {{product.name}}. However, when it comes to drying features and cycles, the bare-bones Frigidaire just can't compete.

Performance

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Customization & Features

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The Maytag wins on features, too, with more cycles than the {{product.name}}.

Design

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The Maytag feels sturdier than the Frigidaire, plus it offers a digital display.

Conclusion

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The {{product.name}} feels flimsy, takes a long time to dry clothes on the normal cycle and lacks user-friendly controls. On the other hand, it's very inexpensive for a stackable dryer, and clothes emerge dry on most cycles.

If you're on a very tight budget, the {{product.name}} is an adequate dryer for the money. But if you search around for sales and spend a little more money, you can get a dryer with stellar performance.

Meet the tester

Keith Barry

Keith Barry

Former Editor in Chief, Reviewed Home

@itskeithbarry

Keith was the Editor in Chief of Reviewed's appliance and automotive sites. His work has appeared in publications such as Wired, Car & Driver, and CityLab.

See all of Keith Barry's reviews

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