Review: Miele Tumbe Dryer TQ 1000 WP Nova Edition

There was a time when tumble dryers had a dial to set the drying time and a start button to get the machine going.

Miele’s TQ 1000 WP Nova Edition features an M Touch Pro display that you can swipe and tap just like a tablet. To call it an improvement would be an understatement.

There was also a time when it took three hours and a long weekend to dry a batch of laundry.

Miele’s TQ 1000 WP Nova Edition has an express programme that actually got our entire pile of laundry dry in 49 minutes. Yes, you read that right. But that isn’t even our favourite feature of this tumble dryer.

Smart filter

Quite a few tumble dryers have been tested in this writer’s laundry room over the years, but never one with a filter like the one Miele has fitted to the TQ 1000. Its genius lies in its simplicity.

Whilst some manufacturers produce filters that are almost like a jigsaw puzzle to assemble and position correctly, this machine’s filter is both quick and easy to remove, clean and put back in. Why make something difficult when it can be so simple?

It’s the sort of detail that really makes a difference to the average hard-pressed laundry owner. Thank you for making (that part of) our lives easier!

Anti-crease

The hunt for crease-free shirts and trousers that don’t need ironing or pressing has been on for decades. Everything has been tried by now, from polyester and nylon to inflatable robots.

Miele has built a weapon into the TQ 1000 WP Nova Edition. It’s called SteamCare, and it works on both dry and damp clothes.

We tested it on damp clothes with a freshly washed shirt and trousers straight from the washing machine, and the result is clear. We wouldn’t dream of going out in those clothes without giving them a quick press with the iron first. Others might feel differently, as the clothes naturally don’t get that crisp, pressed feel that an iron can provide. But the visible creases and folds were virtually gone. Quite impressive.

SteamCare is, as the name suggests, a steam programme, and rather ingeniously, Miele has found a way to use the water from the condensation tank to create steam that smooths out the clothes. It’s a really clever idea and an example of the many small details we discovered and appreciated during the test period.

There’s no getting round it

A tumble dryer in this price range naturally comes with an app, and we’re pleased to report that it simply works. Miele’s app has clearly been thoroughly tested and is based on logic and intuition. Even those most wary of technology will be able to connect it to the tumble dryer and quickly get started using it.

We also love the detail that you can switch the machine on via the app itself and thus select (and read about) the programmes without first having to go to the machine and switch it on manually. As a safety measure, however, it is not possible to switch on the machine without enabling remote start. So those of you who have a cat that likes to curl up in the tumble dryer can rest assured.

Conclusion

You’d almost think this tumble dryer was designed by people who’ve actually tried drying clothes in a tumble dryer themselves.

So much thought has gone into the little details that are such a nuisance on other machines. Like fiddly filters and long programmes that still leave your clothes feeling damp. When you select a high drying level on this machine’s touchscreen, you actually get clothes that feel dry.

The app is intuitive and works well, and it’s easy to connect to the machine in just a few moments.

Finally, we’re also quite impressed by the SteamCare function, which uses steam to smooth out the clothes and transforms a creased shirt into a reasonably smooth state.

In short, an excellent tumble dryer.