West Bend WB700EDMW Electric Dryer: Efficient, Customizable Drying for Every Load

For many in North America, doing laundry involves more than just washing clothes. The unpredictable weather, especially in regions with long rainy seasons or humid winters, often turns the simple act of drying clothes into a significant challenge. Traditional line drying, while eco-friendly, becomes impractical, leaving clothes damp, musty, and taking ages to dry. This is where the convenience of a reliable clothes dryer becomes not just a luxury, but a necessity. A good dryer can liberate you from the constraints of weather and space, providing a quick and efficient solution to this everyday chore.

Overview

The history of clothes dryers dates back to the 19th century, but it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that electric dryers became a common household appliance in North America. Today, dryers are essential for maintaining a comfortable and efficient lifestyle. West Bend, a trusted name in American kitchens for over a century, brings its legacy of quality and innovation to laundry care with the WB700EDMW Electric Dryer. This appliance is designed to tackle the challenges of modern laundry with efficiency and ease. The West Bend WB700EDMW Electric Dryer is positioned as a mid-range appliance that offers a compelling combination of capacity, versatility, and user-friendly features.

Design Philosophy - Practicality Meets Convenience

The West Bend WB700EDMW Electric Dryer embodies a design philosophy centered around practicality and user convenience. Its clean, white exterior is both classic and adaptable, fitting seamlessly into various laundry room aesthetics. But the design goes beyond mere appearances. The front-load configuration is a thoughtful ergonomic feature, minimizing the need for excessive bending and reaching, thus making laundry less of a physical strain. This design consideration is especially beneficial for individuals with mobility concerns or back problems. The appliance is also designed with a reversible door, allowing it to be customized according to your laundry room’s layout.

Core Features: Tailored Drying for Every Fabric

Let’s delve into the features that make the West Bend WB700EDMW a standout appliance:

Ample Drying Capacity: 6.7 cu. ft. Drum

The 6.7 cu. ft. capacity is a significant advantage, especially for families or individuals with large laundry loads. This generous drum size allows you to dry bulky items like comforters, blankets, and large loads of towels with ease, reducing the number of loads needed.

• Science Spotlight: The larger drum provides more space for clothes to tumble freely. This increased space enhances air circulation, leading to faster and more even drying. It also reduces the likelihood of clothes clumping together, which can cause uneven drying and wrinkles.

Versatile Drying Programs: 10 Automatic Cycles

The WB700EDMW offers a comprehensive suite of 10 automatic cycles, each tailored to specific fabric types and laundry needs:

• Normal: Your go-to setting for everyday cottons and linens. It uses a balance of heat and time for optimal drying.
• Heavy Duty: Designed for durable fabrics like jeans and workwear. It utilizes higher temperatures and longer durations to ensure thorough drying.
• Bulky: Ideal for large items like comforters and pillows. This cycle uses specialized tumbling patterns to ensure even drying of these dense items.
• Towels: Optimized for maximum absorbency. This cycle uses high heat to ensure towels are thoroughly dried and fluffy.
• Whites: Specifically designed for white garments, utilizing higher heat to help maintain their brightness.
• Quick Wash: Perfect for small loads or when you’re in a hurry. It uses a shorter cycle time with higher heat.
• Delicates: Employs gentle tumbling and low heat, protecting delicate fabrics like silk, lingerie, and lace from damage.
• Casual: Suitable for synthetic fabrics and blends, using a moderate heat to prevent shrinking or damage.
• Drain: This cycle efficiently removes any remaining water from the drum, ensuring thorough drainage.
• Spin: Use this cycle to spin out excess water from clothes after washing.

• Tub Clean: A dedicated cycle for maintaining the cleanliness of the dryer drum, preventing the buildup of lint and residue.

• Science Spotlight: Each cycle is calibrated with a specific combination of temperature, tumbling speed, and time. This precision is based on the science of fabric care, ensuring that each garment type receives the optimal treatment for effective drying without damage. For instance, the “Delicates” cycle mimics the gentle drying process of air drying, preserving the integrity of delicate fibers.

Precision Temperature Control: 4 Temperature Settings

With four temperature settings – Air Dry, Low, Medium, and High – the WB700EDMW offers precise control over the drying process.

• Air Dry: Simply tumbles clothes with unheated air, ideal for refreshing items or fluffing pillows.
• Low: Best for delicate fabrics, preventing shrinkage and damage.
• Medium: Suitable for most everyday items, balancing drying speed and fabric care.

• High: Used for heavy-duty items like towels and jeans, ensuring rapid and thorough drying.

• Science Spotlight: Temperature control is crucial in preventing fabric damage. High heat can cause shrinkage and weaken fibers, while low heat might not be sufficient for effective drying. The WB700EDMW’s range of settings allows you to match the heat level to the fabric’s needs, based on scientific principles of textile care.

Intelligent Moisture Sensing: 4 Dryness Levels

The four dryness level settings – Damp Dry, Less, Normal, and More Dry – provide further customization, allowing you to choose the desired level of dryness for your laundry.

• Damp Dry: Leaves clothes slightly damp, ideal for items you plan to iron immediately.
• Less: A gentle dry setting, suitable for delicate items or those prone to shrinking.
• Normal: The standard setting for most everyday drying needs.

• More Dry: Ensures thorough drying, perfect for thick fabrics or large loads.

• Science Spotlight: This feature utilizes moisture sensors within the drum. These sensors detect the moisture level in the clothes and automatically adjust the drying time accordingly. This not only saves energy but also prevents over-drying, which can damage fabrics and waste electricity.

Convenient Timed Drying: Preset Drying Times

For those who prefer manual control, the WB700EDMW offers four preset timed drying options: 20, 30, 40, and 60 minutes. This feature is useful for specific items or when you have a precise drying time in mind.

• Science Spotlight: Timed drying provides a predictable drying duration, allowing users to plan their laundry routine effectively. It’s based on the principle that different fabrics and load sizes require varying amounts of time to dry completely under specific temperature settings.
  

User-Friendly Design: Front-Load and Reversible Door

The front-load design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about ergonomics and ease of use. It reduces the need to bend and reach, making loading and unloading laundry less strenuous.
The reversible door adds another layer of convenience, allowing you to adjust the door’s opening direction to suit your laundry room’s layout. This flexibility ensures that the dryer can be seamlessly integrated into various spaces.

• Science Spotlight: The front-load design is based on ergonomic principles, aiming to minimize physical strain during laundry tasks. The reversible door adds an element of spatial adaptability, a key consideration in home appliance design.

Important Safety Consideration: 240V Requirement

The West Bend WB700EDMW requires a 240V electrical connection. This is a standard requirement for most electric dryers in North America, as it provides the necessary power for efficient operation.

• Important Note: Ensure your laundry room is equipped with the correct voltage outlet before installation. Consult a qualified electrician if you are unsure about your electrical setup.

Use and Maintenance: Keeping Your Dryer in Top Shape

Proper maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity and performance of your West Bend WB700EDMW dryer.
The “Care and Use Manual” provided with the dryer offers detailed instructions.
Here are a few essential tips:

• Regularly clean the lint filter: This should be done after every load to maintain optimal airflow and prevent fire hazards.
• Periodically clean the dryer vent: A clogged vent can reduce efficiency and pose a safety risk.
• Wipe down the drum: Use a damp cloth to clean the interior of the drum periodically.
• Use the “Tub Clean” cycle regularly: This helps remove any built up residue and keeps your drum fresh.

Conclusion

The West Bend WB700EDMW Electric Dryer offers a powerful combination of capacity, versatility, and user-friendly features. Its range of drying programs, customizable settings, and thoughtful design make it a valuable addition to any home. By understanding the science behind its features, you can harness the full potential of this appliance, ensuring your clothes are dried efficiently and effectively, while also extending their lifespan. This dryer is not just an appliance; it’s a testament to how thoughtful engineering and scientific principles can simplify and improve our daily lives. It helps people enjoy the convenience of modern living.