If you can only fit one large appliance, a washer-dryer could be a good choice, provided you size full cycles according to its drying capacity, which is usually lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. If you often dry large loads and have space for two appliances, consider a separate washing machine and tumble dryer instead. An indoor airer can complement either option in a well-ventilated room, in line with advice from Anses.
You want to keep installation to a single appliance and run a wash-and-dry cycle for a load that fits both functions. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a washer-dryer’s drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity.
For bedding, towels or several loads in quick succession, drying capacity and cycle times matter just as much as the space available. With two separate appliances, you can also wash one load while another is drying.
You want to air-dry some of your laundry without giving a tumble dryer a permanent spot. Anses recommends drying clothes outside if possible, or in a well-ventilated room.
Consider this if: you have room for just one washing-machine-sized appliance and your drying loads are relatively small.
The trade-off: the full cycle must fit the drying capacity, which is lower than the washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Consider this if: you often dry large loads and can install two appliances in suitable spaces.
The trade-off: they take up two spaces, but the tumble dryer has its own capacity and can run while another load is being washed.
Consider this: as an additional option for items you want to air-dry.
The trade-off: your laundry temporarily takes up space in the room, which Anses says should be well ventilated.
| Factor | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Available space | Measure the space, access routes and clearances required in the instructions for the exact model. | If I can only make room for one large appliance, its permanent footprint comes before other factors; around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Load size and frequency | Compare the washing and drying capacities in kg, then check the cycle time for the way you plan to use it. | If I regularly dry bedding or run several loads in a row, I want to avoid having to dry one washed load in two batches; this would be the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Water, energy and noise | Check the figures for the cycle you’ll use: washing only, wash-and-dry, or drying in a separate appliance. | If an appliance is near a living area and I use it frequently, I want to consider resource use, cycle time and noise; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this group of factors. |
| Airer and fabrics | Check the care instructions on your clothes and make sure you have a well-ventilated room for the airer. | I want to air-dry some fabrics without letting moisture build up in my home; nearly 14% of consumers would put this concern first. |
A washer-dryer has a lower drying capacity than washing capacity. So, if you fill it to the maximum for washing, you may need to take some clothes out before drying.
Note down both capacities in kg and use the drying capacity as your guide for a wash-and-dry cycle.
Washing only, a wash-and-dry cycle and drying in a separate appliance are different ways of using the machine. One rating on its own won’t let you compare these cycles like for like.
Compare the capacity, cycle time, water and energy use, and noise figures for the cycle you intend to use.
Drying clothes releases moisture into the room. Anses recommends drying them outside if possible, or in a well-ventilated room.
Before choosing an airer for regular use, decide where it can stay open and check that the room is well ventilated.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity provided by a professional seller is separate from an optional commercial warranty. The Ministry of the Economy says you can claim under it for two years for a new product.
Before buying an extended warranty, read the cover, exclusions and terms in the contract to see what extra protection it offers.
The French range includes freestanding and built-in washer-dryers. Electrolux’s PerfectCare 900, for example, is listed with a washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg.
Miele’s WT1 washer-dryers are designed in particular for households without room for two appliances. Its WTI360 WPM PWash specifications list a washing capacity of 8 kg and a drying capacity of 5 kg.
Bosch’s French range includes separate heat pump tumble dryers, with capacities of 8 kg and 9 kg among the options.
The French range includes separate washing machines and tumble dryers as well as washer-dryers. Samsung’s AI ecobubble washer-dryer, for example, is listed with a washing capacity of 11 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg.
These products cover wash-and-dry in a single appliance, as well as an indoor airer to complement your setup. Focus on the load you can actually dry and the space you’ll need; if you choose an airer, make sure you have a well-ventilated room.
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Combines washing and drying in one appliance, with a listed washing capacity of 10 kg but a drying limit of 6 kg. App control is mentioned in the product name; check the dimensions and details for the cycle you’re interested in before choosing where to put it.
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Wash and dry with one appliance if a 5 kg drying capacity is enough for your planned load; its listed washing capacity is 8 kg. The 15-minute quick programme mentioned in the product name is for washing, not a full wash-and-dry cycle. Check the exact dimensions before planning where to install it.
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Use it to complement machine drying or air-dry clothes in a well-ventilated room. Its three tiers offer a listed 35 m of drying space, and the frame folds away for storage; check its open dimensions and maximum load for your needs.
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Designed for very small amounts of laundry rather than a regular wash: the listed capacities are 1 kg for washing and 0.5 kg for drying. The product name mentions low-temperature drying; be sure to follow the fabric care instructions too, and check the appliance dimensions.
Only if the load is also within the drying capacity of the programme you’ve chosen. UFC-Que Choisir points out that washer-dryers have a lower drying capacity than washing capacity. Check both figures in the model specifications before planning a full wash-and-dry cycle.
Compare figures for the same use, and distinguish washing only from wash-and-dry on a washer-dryer. ADEME recommends checking the label for water and energy use, spin performance and noise. For a separate tumble dryer, also look at its capacity and the stated programme time.
Choose a well-ventilated room rather than somewhere moisture could build up. Anses recommends drying clothes outside if possible, or in a well-ventilated room; also consider how much space the airer takes up when it’s open.
No. A commercial warranty is optional and separate from the statutory guarantee of conformity. For a purchase from a professional seller in France, the Ministry of the Economy says you can claim under the statutory guarantee for two years; check the extended warranty contract separately to see what it covers.