Dryers with steam function - Is it useful?

Apr 15th, 2021 4:37 pm

#1

nonlinear [OP]: Sr. Member; Mar 15, 2007; 552 posts; 126 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 15th, 2021 4:37 pm

Dryers with steam function - Is it useful?

We just took delivery of a new LG washer and dryer from the recent Costco sale. The Dryer has a steam function, described as follows:

"LG's new steam technology injects fabrics with a swirling jet of hot steam to refresh clothes, reduce static, and make ironing easier."

For anyone who has a dryer with a similar function, how or when is it useful? I'm a little hesitant to add two more possible sources of a water leak with the splitter hose and an extra hose to go to the dryer if this function is not going to improve my life in any way.

Share:

Apr 15th, 2021 4:57 pm

#2

The Canterbury Tail: Deal Addict; Jan 10, 2009; 1327 posts; 777 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 15th, 2021 4:57 pm

What's ironing?

+2

Apr 15th, 2021 5:16 pm

#3

BoatyMcBoatface: Member; Jul 31, 2017; 330 posts; 343 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 15th, 2021 5:16 pm

We never hooked ours up and I can't say my life is the worse for it

Apr 15th, 2021 5:31 pm

#4

redflagjj: Jr. Member; Sep 12, 2013; 115 posts; 67 upvotes; Markham

Apr 15th, 2021 5:31 pm

i used mine once, didn't notice any difference, so haven't used it since

Apr 15th, 2021 5:43 pm

#5

GSD: Deal Addict; Jul 5, 2005; 3360 posts; 1238 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 15th, 2021 5:43 pm

Have it, never used it

+1

Apr 15th, 2021 5:45 pm

#6

Ballroomblitz1: Sr. Member; Oct 2, 2018; 712 posts; 598 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 15th, 2021 5:45 pm

We have the feature and have never used either.

Youth is the gift of nature, while age is a work of art.

Apr 15th, 2021 5:50 pm

#7

bubuski: Deal Addict; May 23, 2009; 2875 posts; 1341 upvotes; Mississauga

Apr 15th, 2021 5:50 pm

I use mine about once a month mostly to remove odors from items. Pillows, winter jackets, stuffed toys etc. Mostly items that are stuffed and won’t be washed often.

Mine has about 6 years of use. I have a hammer arrestor on the line and replaced the hose last year.

+4

Apr 15th, 2021 5:57 pm

#8

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 17082 posts; 14461 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

Apr 15th, 2021 5:57 pm

Have it.
Use it occasionally.
Best used for the 2 functions it’s described for:

1- Taking wrinkles out of the load you forgot about in the dryer
2- Customized Refreshing for things that are not quite dirty enough to clean ... in our house that has been mostly Drycleanables ... Blazers / Suit Jackets - Dress Pants - Ladies Fancy Clothing / Formalwear etc

So I think it comes down to what type of lifestyle you have
Super busy with kids so laundry gets forgotten
Or upscale enough that you wear Suits, Businesswear, and Fancier Clothes

Lol, if you are busy dual income 2 professionals with kids ... you’ll probably like it / use it a lot

From our Maytag manual :

Use Steam Cycles to help smooth out wrinkles from dry items, such as clothes that have beenworn or clothes that have been left in the dryer too long. When a Steam Cycle is selected, theestimated time remaining display shows the actual time remaining in the cycle.NOTE: Results may vary depending on fabric. 100% cotton garments with wrinkle-freefinish may yield better results than those without.Use of a fabric softener sheet is not recommended with steam cycles as it may causetemporary staining on the clothes.Rapid Refresh Small LoadThis cycle is best for smoothing out wrinkles and reducing odors from loads consisting of oneto four dry items of wrinkle-free cotton, cotton-polyester blend, common knits, and syntheticgarments. In this cycle, a small amount of water is sprayed into the dryer drum after severalminutes of tumbling with heat. The dryer will continue to tumble with heat followed by a briefcool down. The heat level and cycle time are not adjustable.Custom RefreshThis cycle is best for touching up clothes that have been left in the dryer too long. In thiscycle, a small amount of water is sprayed into the dryer drum after several minutes oftumbling with heat. The dryer will continue to tumble with heat followed by a brief cooldown. The dry time and temperature can be adjusted for this cycle

+4

Apr 15th, 2021 9:02 pm

#9

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 16831 posts; 18545 upvotes; Oakville

Apr 15th, 2021 9:02 pm

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Have it.
Use it occasionally.
Best used for the 2 functions it’s described for:

1- Taking wrinkles out of the load you forgot about in the dryer
2- Customized Refreshing for things that are not quite dirty enough to clean ... in our house that has been mostly Drycleanables ... Blazers / Suit Jackets - Dress Pants - Ladies Fancy Clothing / Formalwear etc

So I think it comes down to what type of lifestyle you have
Super busy with kids so laundry gets forgotten
Or upscale enough that you wear Suits, Businesswear, and Fancier Clothes

Lol, if you are busy dual income 2 professionals with kids ... you’ll probably like it / use it a lot

From our Maytag manual :

We also use it on our LG dryer occasionally. Mostly for sanitizing kids toys or pillows.
I also sometimes use it for a wrinkly shirt.

Ours just had a small container you fill up when you want to use it. Not sure I would have bothered if it required a splitter and hose.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+3

Apr 15th, 2021 9:09 pm

#10

DoorCrasher: Deal Fanatic; Nov 21, 2013; 5940 posts; 4248 upvotes

Apr 15th, 2021 9:09 pm

Own a LG set, with steam function on the dryer. We use it to ''sanitize'' pilows, refresh duvet cover, and cloths that we wash less often like winter jackets

never tried for wrinkled cloths tho

+2

Apr 15th, 2021 9:16 pm

#11

Manatus: Deal Fanatic; Mar 21, 2010; 5917 posts; 2772 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 15th, 2021 9:16 pm

I use it on mostly every dryer load. I find it helps reduce static a lot, and for things like dress shirts/chinos or even polos, it helps a ton (do those separately and in small loads). In my experience, things like that generally don't need ironing afterwards unless you want it to be perfect (so for everyday office work it's fine straight out of the dryer). Used it for things like pillows, duvets, jackets etc. too just on its own (i.e., the item is dry when it goes in).

+2

Apr 16th, 2021 7:01 am

#12

nonlinear [OP]: Sr. Member; Mar 15, 2007; 552 posts; 126 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 16th, 2021 7:01 am

Thanks for all the feedback, I think the steam function will be a pass for us.

+1

Apr 16th, 2021 9:48 am

#13

EPcjay: Deal Fanatic; Nov 11, 2008; 8145 posts; 1804 upvotes

Apr 16th, 2021 9:48 am

Wife never uses it. I use it to iron,

Apr 16th, 2021 10:06 am

#14

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 3441 posts; 2418 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 16th, 2021 10:06 am

I rented a condo in the US for the last 2 years for work and it had a good old fashioned agitating washing machine and basic dryer.

Made me miss my old Maytags that I bought 20 years ago, had disassembled and put back together in our 2nd floor laundry (only machines I could do that to and maintain warranty and was necessary to fit up the stairs).

Drum started leaking on it so I ended up with 24" compact units which sucked and I got rid of in under a year. Now I have top loading HE washer and dryer - both good, but nothing like the good old fashioned simple fast basic units.

Skip all this fancy BS and get the most basic, cheap washer and dryer you can find.

+1

Apr 16th, 2021 10:22 am

#15

Beneful1: Sr. Member; May 21, 2015; 964 posts; 514 upvotes; Sarnia, ON

Apr 16th, 2021 10:22 am

I thought all recent, as in the last couple of years, LG steam dryers didn't need to be hooked up to a water line and used a refillable water container in the drawer on the top left of the machine?

+1

Apr 16th, 2021 10:28 am

#16

walleye*guy: Deal Addict; Mar 30, 2004; 2360 posts; 1083 upvotes; Edmonton

Apr 16th, 2021 10:28 am

Occasional use of steam, older LG model with the container for water. Remember to use tap water!!

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten....

Apr 16th, 2021 11:38 am

#17

EPcjay: Deal Fanatic; Nov 11, 2008; 8145 posts; 1804 upvotes

Apr 16th, 2021 11:38 am

Beneful1 wrote: ↑ I thought all recent, as in the last couple of years, LG steam dryers didn't need to be hooked up to a water line and used a refillable water container in the drawer on the top left of the machine?

The latest models hook up to a water line. I have a 3900 dryer.

+1

Apr 16th, 2021 12:30 pm

#18

elpaso: Deal Addict; Aug 15, 2009; 1586 posts; 1260 upvotes; Montreal

Apr 16th, 2021 12:30 pm

Beneful1 wrote: ↑I thought all recent, as in the last couple of years, LG steam dryers didn't need to be hooked up to a water line and used a refillable water container in the drawer on the top left of the machine?

My old dryer had that and it worked. Less conduit and water leaking in the future.

EPcjay wrote: ↑ The latest models hook up to a water line. I have a 3900 dryer.

Wish it was the old method with a refillable container.

Apr 16th, 2021 12:41 pm

#19

Beneful1: Sr. Member; May 21, 2015; 964 posts; 514 upvotes; Sarnia, ON

Apr 16th, 2021 12:41 pm

I'd rather have the refillable water container as it's just one less thing to possibly leak and create major water damage. I'd use it if I had that. For now if I need wrinkles out of something I'll just toss the item in the dryer with a wrung out damp cloth or something and let it run for a few minutes, not perfect but it does help.

+1

Apr 16th, 2021 12:47 pm

#20

chimaican: Deal Guru; Oct 23, 2008; 12736 posts; 9480 upvotes; GTA, ON

Apr 16th, 2021 12:47 pm

bubuski wrote: ↑ I use mine about once a month mostly to remove odors from items. Pillows, winter jackets, stuffed toys etc. Mostly items that are stuffed and won’t be washed often.

Mine has about 6 years of use. I have a hammer arrestor on the line and replaced the hose last year.

I agree, I've used it before too.

Mainly use it as the above, to freshen or sanitize items that can't be ironed or normally thrown into the washing machine: stuffed toys, puffy jackets etc. If I'm in a rush in the morning, then I may toss a pair of pants in there for a quick freshening and take out gentle wrinkles.

What you want OP is to NOT use the supplied Y splitter and hose that comes with the dryer but buy a proper kit from the hardware store. https://www.homedepot.ca/product/eastman-stainless-steel-steam-dryer-installation-kit/1001033736

Tis banana is IRIE

10% off is cold, 50% off is warm, 75% off is hot, but FREE IS RFD!

+5