-3-year 'in-home warranty'
-Freestanding or wall mountable
-2 star energy rating
-4 drying programs
-Electronic controls
-Overheating protection and safety thermostat
-Front air venting
-Easy to clean lint filter
-Child lock
-Size: 840(H) x 595(W) x 555(D)mm
Model no: MDR70-VR031
In terms of due diligence, my observation of reviews for similar Aldi clothes dryers, such as the 6.5kg and the 6kg indicate that past Aldi dryers only spin in one direction, thus resulting in bundled up sheets and towels, which may not dry them properly. I cannot confirm whether this dryer suffers the same fate, but at this price point I would be inclined to expect it.
General observation of reviews for the 6kg Stirling dryer indicates a litany of mechanical (and more importantly safety) issues with that model - hard to know whether these have been ironed out or carried forward in the current 7kg model - i'll leave the in depth research and review to you, my OzB friends.
Other observations from reviews of the similar 6.5kg Aldi dryer include:
- some cite poor placement of the lint filter (at the back of the drum) providing difficulty for those with mobility/accessibility concerns - although this may have been addressed with this model ("Easy to clean lint filter");
- some say that these can be relatively quiet and low maintenance;
- several say that in spite of mechanical or general issues within the warranty period, the manufacturer performed well during the return or replacement process;
Again, take these reviews with a grain of salt, as I have not referenced reviews for the identical model.
Otherwise, at this price, this seems like a relatively big dryer for a very modest price - perhaps perfect for those who need a dryer for drying emergencies (read: Sunday night realisations of "Oh <expletive>, I forgot to hang out my work shirts today..!") or the occasional fluffing.
These also seem to be par for the course in terms of energy ratings, with similar drying weight bosch and fisher and paykel appliances also having 2-star ratings. Considering myself somewhat of an environmentalist, I would encourage the use of clothes dryers as an occasional appliance anyway - citing suggestions that using a clothes dryer repeatedly is not all that good for your clothes.
I digress, but I will say that if you like your Sunday night sleep, this dryer may be a solution for you, and with a 3-year warranty i'd say you can probably rest easy with relative peace of mind.
+1 for the effort put into making this post! Will definitely look into this. Thanks OP