White Knight 3.5kg tumble dryer - Opinions please

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thomasortega

thomasortega

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Folks, just as a curiosity

What are your opinions specifically about the White Knight 3.5 kg compact dryer?

How does it compare to one of those Chinese brands sold in the USA, like Magic Chef, Panda, Haier, etc.

Of course I won't expect the same performance as a full size tumble dryer, specially running in 110V 60Hz, but I'm thinking about a scenario where the user doesn't have 220V outlets and also doesn't have room enough for a full size electric or gas dryer.

Thank you for all opinions!
 
Oh I Don't Know

Americans have long had access to small portable dryers by Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, etc... And yes, they aren't in same league as their larger cousins, job will be done if one does things properly.

No, won't be drying huge duvets or whatever; but for a small loads of personal clothing, bed/table linen, etc... they are acceptable. Far more so to many than draping or hanging wet laundry about the place.

 
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Internet is lousy with used Whirlpool, Kenmore, GE

Along with other portable/compact dryers; often going for very little money.

Older dryers pulled slightly more power and are quite well built. At most you'll need to maybe open the thing up, give it a good cleanout and maybe a new belt. But then the thing will be good for another twenty or thirty years.

Vintage units by Whirlpool (also sold as Kenmore) are rather well built and good dryers for their size. At most the older models will lack true two heat settings, and perhaps are timed dry only (no moisture sensors), but otherwise...
 
Folks, The question is because I'm seriously considering a partnership with WhiteKnight to resell their dryer in the US under the brand The Laundry Alternative.

I'm not really concerned about capacity because it is supposed to be the matching dryer for the SCAW2GEN model (it washes only 3.5kg)

This model was sold in Brazil under the brand Continental/Bosch and it was actually a great dryer (of course considering all it's limitations like capacity and long drying time because it's 110V.)

The thing is, it's a dryer for people that don't have space for a bigger dryer (not even a Whirlpool or GE compact) and I want to offer an alternative to the Chinese ones.
The Chinese ones are not a complete disaster (for example Magic Chef, that is actually good) but all the others are a total piece of junk (2.5 hours to dry 5 bath towels)

ALso, one detail that I like a lot in this little UK made dryer is the lint filter on the front, much easier to clean and also difficult to forget because you see the lint right in front of you when you open the door.

Among the several technical details, i want to limit it to 1500W, so it can be used on whatever ordinary outlet and it must come with casters, vent hose, wall-mounting brackets and drying rack as standard.

We're also negotiating including a pair of dryer balls and trying to put a moisture sensor in it.
 
^^^ Wot she said...^^^ Lol

Anyway, that aside, small dryers are useful for small items. They seem to be reasonably popular here because they're quite cheap to buy and due to our cramped houses. Folk have been known to even keep it in the spare room and sling the hose out the window when required.
 
In AU the 3.5kg dryers are basically unusable for more than a couple of pieces. Why not just pair all the machines with a 5kg version and at least then you've got usable capacity. You can dry two queen sheets and 4 pillow cases in a 5kg Model, you'll struggle to do a sheet at a time in the 3.5kg version

The dryers in AU, the only difference between 3.5kg and 5kg is depth.

A 3.5kg dryer in the US will look like a Toy compared to what the users are used to.
 
Launderess, you're completelly right. Mea culpa. I should've been more clear when i started this thread.

Nathan, thank you for your opinions, it was great.

I'm trying to keep this model as small as possible. The "matching" washer can wash 1 king size sheet at once (and nothing else) or one queen size and 2 pillowcases.

Our competitors have models with similar capacity or even smaller. Magic chef recently release a 1.5 CU Ft dryer (that aprox. 1.8kg capacity)

The target is people that live in very small studios.

There will be a bigger dryer (euro size) in our product range, but I didn't even start designing the first sketches (it will be made by us) because I have a ton of projects running at the same time and only one brain. This second model will be aimed to compete with Whirlpool and GE portables.

UK members, what do you think about this dryer? I have good opinions about the version that was sold in Brazil 20 years ago, but that is ME only. White Knight engineers and I are also working together to make it as attractive as possible, with a good "cost vs benefit" relation. But again, lab testing is one thing, consumer opinions is much, much better and more important.
 
Personally, I always considered them with a certain degree of haughtiness, rather basic machines with small capacity. Suitable for singletons, elderly people, and folk who normally line-dry their washing - but need an occasional machine to deal with the vagaries of the great British weather.

I have a sneaking feeling that Currys, Clydesdale and Comet (circa 1990) used to do special promotions, selling a full-size washing machine with a White Knight compact dryer.

I haven't used the White Knight version, but I have used the compact Hotpoint/Creda competitor model. It seemed to work okay, but lb for lb of clothing, the standard dryers were more efficient.
 
Philips Whirlpool White Knight

If you are short of space these dryers are great !! they stem from the 1980`s and where first released by Philips, taken over by Whirlpool and then a management buy out which formed Crosslee PLC in 1986. They operate out of the same Philips factory in Halifax Hipperholme. Been selling these years.

So they have a great track record, I had one in a slim laundry cupboard in a London apartment, had a Philips Whirlpool slimline autowasher and one of these dryers sat on a shelf over it. Was perfect for what I needed it to do.

A great pedigree.....Thomas let me know who you are speaking with, we know the team very well !!


chestermikeuk-2018031208160003052_1.jpg
 
Dear CHestermike

Thank you very much for your opinions. Considering your advanced technical knowledge and expertise, it is even more important.

I had no idea this dryer was originally made by Philips-Whirlpool. I like Philips products a lot.

Our version will be 3kg (not 3.5 because it will be 110v), reversing, moisture sensor (thermostat, not a humidostat), wall mounting brackets longer power cord (4 meters) and will come with vent hose and a free dryer ball kit (two balls). We're also discussing the possibility of making a drying rack for it.

I am not authorized to comment publically who are our contacts.
 
Small White Knight dryer

I have only met one White Knight small/countertop dryer in my travels, and have no idea as to it's exact capacity, but have to say that it was a near-indestrucable workhorse. It belonged to a family with 3-4 teenagers (it varied according to whether the husband's son from a previous marriage was living with them at the time). Why she had a compact dryer, I have no idea, I assume it was all she could afford at the time, or it had been 'donated' by a friend. For much of the year that dryer ran (grossly overloaded) for 12 hours plus per day, 3-4 days per week for at least 7 or 8 years that I know to. She may still have it, I don't know, as I am no longer in close contact with that family.

The only failure which occurred in that time was when a spade terminal on one of the bimetal switches overheated, which I think may have loosened through vibration, and was quickly and easily repaired.

In common with other White Knight products of which I have had experience, it was/is a basic but very reliable workhorse and represented excellent value for money.

Hope this is of interest....

Dave T
 
Dave Thanks for the comments!

I'm sorry for the delay to reply. I just saw it!

We now have a partnership with WHiteKnight and in a few weeks the first lot of the American version will arrive in our warehouse and immediately reach the market.

I've made several changes to the original:

Voltage is 110v and amps limited to 14. so it can be safely plugged to any regular outlet.

It has the reversion, but also a little bit different from the UK version (it continues blowing correctly during the reversion instead of blowing backwards)

The airflow was improved so we could keep a lower temperature, perfect for delicates and it can dry a duvet (it will be wrinkled as hell because of the tiny drum, but it will dry)

The lint filter was changed (not a removable cartridge filter, just a ring around the door that you can wipe with a finger).

The American version will also come with a drying rack and the vent hose with a window trim kit almost like a portable air conditioner casters and a super long power cord.

The model name is Mojave and I made sure to include the English flag on the control panel, so people can easily see it's not "made in China".

As all The Laundry Alternative Inc. products, it will come with the 3-year "hassle-free" warranty. If something goes wrong, instead of trying to fix, we will immediately replace the product at absolutely no cost for the customer.
 

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