My 92 year old mother needs a new clothes dryer. Having a dryer enables her to keep living in her home as she is no longer able to do tasks like hanging washing out. She does have homecare but it's better for her independence if she can still do these tasks some of the time. She has macular degeneration so I'm wondering if someone can recommend a dryer either condenser or vented type that has easy controls for someone with poor vision?
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Clothes Dryer Easy to Use
karenestelle on 28/07/2022 - 08:27
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I'm two hours drive away and she wants to stay in her own home.
Keep an eye out for the simpler, cheaper models of dryer - they tend to have little else than a mechanical turn knob that sets the timer for the dryer (think like a simple egg timer) as opposed to the button-laden modern models. Something like this Westinghouse for example (though this one is a bit small).
Then get a label printer, print some nice big labels and stick them on the dial where your mother usually needs to set the machine (e.g. if she finds it takes 90 minutes to dry her usual washing loads, stick a big label at the 90 minute mark on the knob).
True. But do also consider that most of these dials are spring loaded and may require good force to turn. Probably not something we often think about but for people with various limitations in ability it might be important.
Opening the door requires more force than turning the knob.
It's more about what muscles are in use. Opening a door requires relatively little effort as you use your larger arm muscles, whilst turning a knob utilises hand/wrist muscles which are more easily strained.
Like how you can push something big that's a few dozen kg because you can put your whole body behind it, but you might struggle to open that one stuck jar lid.
As for the knob… I was thinking that maybe one could stick a long lever onto the knob to take advantage of leverage to reduce turning force. But I'm not sure how you'd do that on a rounded knob like the Westinghouse one.
@toomuchdogfur: If you're right and it would be too hard for them, then my suggestion of the 5.5kg version which i bought myself last week.
The knob does not have a spring, it requires basically no force to turn and the on button is capacitive so it requires no force at all.
Only thing is the selector know you'd have to select an option and leave it there as the writing is small.
Thanks that's very helpful👍
In this case, a washer dryer combo might be best. That way, she won't have to transfer the heavy wet clothes from the washer to the dryer.
This dryer that goes on sale often is very easy to use https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/esatto-ehpd7 Just leave the knob at auto. Press the power button and press start. The hardest bit is emptying the water canister, but it comes with a pipe to automatically drain the same way as a washing machine if you have a spot for it.
Keep in mind you also need to empty the lint trap frequently, but this would be the same for any dryer.
Come up with a strategy too to ensure she remembers to regularly empty the lint bit, so there’s no fire hazard.
What about a washer dryer combo btw?
mrkorrupt on 28/07/2022 - 08:42 Comment score below threshold.