ARTICLE
Ditch the Dry Cleaner: The Laundry Appliances I Recommend for Fabric Care at Home
Published Aug 17, 2025 • Updated Oct 12, 2026 - 4 min read
By Peter Simic, The Good Guys Buyer - Laundry
As The Good Guys’ laundry buyer, I’ve seen how far laundry appliances have come. Today’s machines can wash, dry, steam and press your clothes at home with dry cleaner-style care. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the features I’d look for to keep your clothes looking sharp for longer, so you can choose appliances that'll help save you trips to the cleaner.
Key takeaways from this article
Choose washers with tailored cycles for wool, delicates, sports gear and stain care.
Intelligent sensors and auto-dosing improves results, cuts detergent waste and can lessen the effects of hard water.
Heat pump dryers are gentler on clothes and more energy efficient than standard dryers.
Drying cabinets and steamers help refresh coats, uniforms and travel outfits between washes.
Crisp collars, whiter whites, sharp creases and wool that holds its shape. A lot of that used to mean a trip to the dry cleaner, but now you can do it at home. Today’s laundry appliances are packed with smart features that do much of the job for you.
From front-loader washing machines with cycles designed for delicate fabrics, to drying cabinets that keep suits and coats fresh between washes, I’m seeing more appliances built for busy households who want their clothes to last longer and look better for it.
Here are the laundry appliances I recommend for high-quality garment care at home.
The Fabric-Friendly Washing Machine
Whether it’s your best work shirt, a favourite wool jumper or the kids’ grubbiest footy gear, it all starts with a good wash. That’s why my top piece of advice is to choose a washing machine with the right cycles for the clothes you actually wear.
The washers I rate most highly use smart sensors to read your load and adjust wash time and water to suit. For a solid all-rounder, I’d look for preloaded cycles for wool, delicates, sportswear and stains. If you can, I’d go for a steam cycle too. It helps reduce creases and freshen clothes, which means less time at the ironing board.
In addition, I’d look at an auto-dosing washing machine. It measures detergent from a built-in reservoir for every load, so there’s no guesswork and less chance of residue left on your clothes. You get a more consistent, gentler wash, and depending on how often you wash, one refill can last a few weeks.
Getting a better, gentler wash in hard water areas
In hard water areas, auto-dosing is even more worthwhile. When you’re measuring detergent by eye, it’s easy to use too little and get a dull, less effective wash, or too much and leave residue behind.
Hard water minerals can also affect how your machine performs over time. To keep it running well, I recommend using a water softener, make sure you're cleaning your washing machine regularly and invest in detergents that are designed to combat the effects of hard water.
The Gentle Clothes Dryer
If you care about how your clothes hold up, I’d choose a heat pump dryer every time. It dries at lower temperatures than a vented dryer, which is easier on fabrics, and it’s energy efficient, so it’s kinder on your power bill too.
The models I’m most impressed by have a honeycomb-style drum that cushions your load, and sensor drying that stops the cycle at the right dryness to help avoid shrinkage.
Sensor drying also adjusts the temperature and humidity as it goes, which helps keep colours looking fresh and clothes feeling soft. One handy extra is a removable drying rack, which lets you dry runners and knits without them tumbling around the drum.
The Sanitising Drying Cabinet
The latest innovation putting laundry lovers in a spin, drying cabinets are setting a new standard in garment care and convenience. A heat pump dryer that resembles a narrow closet with hanging space inside, these blow powerful jets of air upwards and downwards, drying and removing wrinkles, dust and allergens from clothes. It’s never been easier to spruce up heavy coats, jackets, blazers and uniforms.
Look for a drying cabinet that uses the power of steam to ensure you get longevity from your clothes. Steam cycles refresh, deodorise, sanitise and smooth out creases between washes so your favourite outfits look good as new for longer.
The High Precision Clothes Iron
For me, the best part of dry cleaning has always been a properly pressed work shirt. The latest clothes irons can get you there at home and save you the cost of sending them out. I’d look for one with sensor technology that sets the right temperature for different fabrics, so you’re not guessing at the dial.
“Powerful wattage, steam options and optimal temperature technology are all must-haves in a hard-working iron,” says Tracey Ellis, The Good Guys Buyer – Portable Appliances. “But, when it comes to perfectly ironed clothes, the little things count too, like a narrow iron tip to manoeuvre around buttons and an easy-to-fill water canister to reduce spills.”
The Go-Anywhere Garment Steamer
If you are away and still need to handle the laundry, this is where a garment steamer comes in handy.
A quick pass of steam can freshen up a creased shirt, blazer or dress while it hangs, with no hunting for a hotel ironing board. Many are handheld or cordless, so they’re quick to use and easy to pack. Because they don’t press fabric under a hot plate, garment steamers suit most fabric types. Just check the care label first.
Ready to ditch the drycleaner and upgrade your garment-care regimen at home? Visit us in-store or online to shop for a huge range of laundry appliances at Pay Less Every day prices.
