I always wanted one of those too; they are hard to find.

never ever seen hamper style door and I am in my 50s

Instead of the door opening to the side, the door opens from the top and creates a little table.

Whirlpool / Kenmore produced numerous hamper door models for many years. Kenmore units date to the 1950s, Whirlpool since the mid/late 1960s.

Norge offered it, door had three positions ... partially open as a loading chute, open horizontal/flat, and dropped down below horizontal.

Apparently the hamper-door style is going out-of-fashion.
Whirlpool currently lists three models (electric / gas):
WED4915EW / WDG4915EW
WED5000DW / WDG5000DW
WED49STBW / WGD49STBW

Kenmore one model (electric / gas):
65132 / 75132

A larger choice of models may be available used via CraigsList and 2nd-hand/reseller storefronts.

1957 Lady Kenmore

Mid/Late 1960s Whirlpool

2002 Whirlpool

thanks for the photos, Dan

May just have to go back with a whirlpool. I looked it up, and it's a 1994 model. Still going strong. Sorry it's dirty, but here's pics.

Well, pics aren't wanting to upload right now.

I have a kenmore/whirlpool from 2004 with a hamper door. It's the one feature of this dryer I will miss when I find the elusive SQ electric. My cats use the open dryer door as a springboard to the warm dryer interior. Very entertaining.

When I bought my first set, we went for the budget Estate models. The hamper door was something I always missed. A few years ago my parents built a new house and put in duel fuel sources everywhere they could. She got a new gas dryer and asked if I wanted her to leave this one for me. I was so happy to go back. My estate is still here as a backup (13 years old), but I really think I'd have to replace it as soon as possible with another hamper door model. For me and my knee/back problems, there is no comparison.

I never understood hamper doors. With your dryers being so deep, how do you get stuff out? A stick? Unload it from the side? Climb into the drum like the witch from Hensel and Gretel?

It's not that deep.. reach in, pull from the front onto the door platform. No clothes on the floor. There can be a problem if sheets or jeans have balled up. Another case of local custom I think

I have my older Kenmore hamper door style dryer and love it. It's not so deep that you can't pull something and the rest of the load comes forward with it for easy access. Handy for folding and stacking too.

Right, not very deep. I stick my laundry basket under the door and reach in from the side and scoop everything out basically in one go. It either ends up in the laundry basket or on the door. Finish sweeping them off the lid into the basket and then head up to my bedroom to sort and hang/fold. Except for sheets and towels which I often fold, stack on washer or dryer, then put back in the basket to take upstairs.

No hamper door for me, but that's fine, and I fold/ hang up each piece as I take it out.

Dadoes, very cool. Does it tumble like a traditional dryer?

I love my hamper door dryer! Years ago I had a little dog (hairless chinese crested) That would jump on the door and drag the laundry to the front of the dryer where I could reach it. On command of course. I wouldn't want him to mouth sensitive items for cleanliness purposes.

The SmartLoad dryers were very cool:

https://youtu.be/oN5FZmedKtA

Has anyone tried the Nova for handicap people?

for anyone reading this thread--LG has many model with a door that opens as a hamper and also can open to the side. It works both ways at all times. I guess you get the best of both worlds. I have not tried it yet, but the hamper door does not open 90 degrees/all the way down so maybe it is not good for folding laundry just for ease of stuffing it in from washer. I think the idea is the hamper is good for loading and side door is easier for unloading..

There's not much to go wrong with an old school electric dryer. Good thing is that you can keep rebuilding them practically forever. Easy DIY. So, there's usually no need to give up a hamper style dryer if you have one. (Would be a good idea to buy a back-up timer to keep on the shelf, though.)

I started this thread a few years ago. I did end up having to get a new dryer. Did not get a hamper door. I think the LG mentioned above would be great, but I'd use it opposite of how you suggested. Side open would be for loading and hamper door for unloading. We now have a front loader and I can see where the hamper door being open could get in the way of where I stand to swap the laundry over. I do miss the hamper door for unloading, although not too big of a deal. My back cusses regardless - it might just save a little wear and tear on me being able to pull it all out in one swoop versus the lean over and drag, then pick up the sock or underwear that missed the basket, routine I do now. Moving the laundry from washer to dryer is the worst part anyway, and I think the hamper door would not help with that.

Thanks for the info everyone! We just bought a dryer with a hamper style door and was questioning whether we should've purchased one with a side opening door. I hope I love it as much as you all do!

OMGosh! That pink washer and dryer! I NEED it! It would look perfect in my glam laundry room :)

Not shown on the SmartLoad dryer video linked above is that tumble reverses for 30 seconds every 4.5 minutes.

Hi aa62579, do you remember the model number of your old Whirlpool electric dryer? My mom has a same model but the user guide (Part no. 3401083) does not match. Thanks!

Because the panel is heavily rusted, I can no longer see the words and not sure how to operate it.

@YS Wang,

The part number or document number on the user guide does not reflect the model number of the appliance. The model number of your dryer should be on a tag affixed by the loading port, visible when the door is open. Search it online for a user manual. Directly at Whirlpool's website under the Service & Support function. Also Google the model number. There are various sites that have appliance instruction manuals, one or more of them may have yours.