dryer is additionally equipped with a device for detecting and evaluating residual wetness of the laundry as well as the quantity of the load a microprocessor control 9 is provided for controlling various drying programs for different loads the microprocessor control 9 is connected to several sensors and operating elements by means of signal lines 10 the control 9 issues signals depending upon time and condition over control lines to various actuators and thus functions as a control for setting the drive motor 14 to run at different numbers of rotations for instance the drum 12 is rotated in alternating directions during part of a drying program with idle periods interspersed between individual rotary cycles after sensing the quantity of the load and or any residual wetness the rotations within individual parts of the drying program are adjusted to the quantity or residual wetness of laundry in the drum 14 for this purpose the microprocessor control 9 as the control unit for setting the drive motor 14 in accordance with dryer specifically stored load quantities and residual wetness stages sets lower limits n min and upper limits n max for the rotational speed of the drum the applied profiles of the number of rotations are substantially similar to those described supra in connection with the washing program one of the sensors of the laundry dryer in accordance with the invention is a sensor arrangement 15 for detecting residual.