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    CR Tech testing a clothes dryer
    Photo: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports
    Laundry Lab

    We test thousands of products in 63 labs at our headquarters.

    Data is the basis for almost all the work that Consumer Reports does—ensuring that our state-of-the-art tests and reliability surveys reflect how consumers actually use products.

    Inside the labs

    CR's lab technicians test every model by drying multiple loads at different settings.

    CR's Richard Handel and Mike Sedlak demonstrate how CR tests dryers to see how well they handle clothes without damaging them.

    Did you know?

    CR staff shoppers buy every product we use as a test sample from retail stores, helping maintain our objectivity and independence.

    Meet the Laundry Team

    Consumer Reports Senior Test Project Leader, Richard Handel

    Richard Handel

    Senior Test Project Leader, Laundry & Cleaning

    Consumer Reports Assistant Test Project Leader, Michael Sedlak

    Mike Sedlak

    Assistant Test Project Leader, Lab Operations

    Consumer Reports Assistant Test Project Leader, Patrick Severin

    Patrick Severin

    Assistant Test Project Leader, Lab Operations

    Consumer Reports Multimedia Content Creator - Home, Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer

    Multimedia Content Creator, Home

    Clothes Dryer Testing

    We test how well each dryer handles laundry as well as its ease of use

    A good dryer dries clothes without damaging them, is easy to use, and is quiet.

    Convenience

    Convenience

    We base a dryer's convenience score on its controls and ergonomics, including how easy it is to load and unload, whether the door clears a typical laundry basket, and how simple it is to access and clean the lint filter.
    Noise

    Noise

    Our panelists judge both the quality and level of noise each dryer makes while drying an average load of laundry.
    We test how well each dryer handles laundry as well as its ease of use
    Performance

    Performance

    We time how long it takes to dry each load of laundry using the most appropriate setting. Our lab technicians then set each dryer to a minimum dryness level to find out if clothes come out damp (ideal for ironing) and a maximum level to see if clothes are completely dry in the shortest possible time without being exposed to high temps that can fry fabric.