If you only have room for one large appliance, a washer-dryer means you won’t need to fit in a second one. Just make sure your loads are sized to its drying capacity, which is often lower than its washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir. If you have space for a second appliance and regularly dry large loads, consider a separate tumble dryer. Or stick with an airer if you can give it a suitably well-ventilated space or a room with ventilation, as recommended by ADEME for drying laundry indoors.
If you can’t install a separate tumble dryer, a washer-dryer could be a good fit. However, compare its washing capacity with its drying capacity, and measure the space available, including the depth. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the two capacities often differ.
A separate tumble dryer is worth considering if you have room for one and can choose a capacity to suit your laundry loads. You’ll need to transfer the laundry after washing and carry out the maintenance set out in the instruction manual.
You can stick with an airer without adding another appliance, provided it can stay somewhere practical while your laundry dries. To limit the moisture caused by drying laundry indoors, ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one with ventilation.
Consider this if: you only have space for one appliance and your laundry load fits within its stated drying capacity.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir notes that drying capacity is often lower than washing capacity, so you may need to split a full wash load before drying it.
Consider this if: you have room for a second appliance and want to choose a drying capacity that suits your usual loads.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to transfer laundry between the appliances and maintain the parts specified by the manufacturer.
Consider this if: you can keep an airer in a sufficiently large, well-ventilated room or one with ventilation.
Bear in mind: drying isn’t automatic, it temporarily takes up space and adds moisture to the air indoors, as ADEME points out.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and drying capacity | Measure the available space, including the door and connections. With a washer-dryer, compare the washing and drying capacities separately, in kg. | I only have room for one large appliance, and I need to be able to dry the amount of laundry that matters day to day. Around 42% of consumers are said to make this their top priority. |
| Laundry routine | Compare the drying capacity with your usual load and check the programme duration for that load, rather than the time for a quick cycle designed for a different load. | When I have several loads to get through, I’d rather not split every load before drying it. This is said to be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Moisture and maintenance | For an airer, check that the room is well ventilated or has ventilation. For a tumble dryer, check the maintenance requirements and how the model handles water. | I can only hang laundry to dry if the room is suitable; with an appliance, I want to be able to manage its maintenance. Around 25% of consumers are said to put these considerations first. |
A washer-dryer may be able to wash more laundry than it can dry. For example, Electrolux states that the EW7IW4966BG model can wash 9 kg and dry 6 kg: a 9 kg wash load cannot be dried in full in a single cycle with this model.
Compare the two capacities for the exact model and start with the amount of laundry you actually want to dry.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, a vented tumble dryer needs an opening or duct leading outside. This connection should not be confused with how a condenser model handles water.
Check the type of appliance and its installation requirements before choosing where to put it.
Drying laundry adds moisture to the air indoors. ADEME describes it as an activity that releases a particularly high amount of moisture, so having enough space isn’t the only thing to consider.
Use an airer in a large, well-ventilated room or one with suitable ventilation.
Maintenance tasks vary by model: fluff filters, the condenser and the water tank don’t all work in the same way. Bosch says that removing fluff helps maintain drying performance and energy efficiency.
Read the manual for the model you’re considering to find out which parts need cleaning or emptying.
These tasks take time, even when some of the maintenance is automated.
The EW7IW4966BG washer-dryer is an example of a single appliance with two different capacities.
Its heat pump tumble dryers offer examples of capacities and maintenance features to compare from model to model.
The F964V72WRHT is another example of a washer-dryer where you need to distinguish between the washing load and the drying load.
These appliances cover two of the options discussed here: a washer-dryer if you only have room for one appliance, or a separate tumble dryer if you can make space for a second. Compare their drying capacities and installation requirements before choosing.
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Worth considering if you only have space for one appliance to wash and dry your laundry.
Stated capacities: 8 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying. Make sure your load is no more than 5 kg when drying.
Check the model’s overall dimensions before confirming that it will fit.
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For drying laundry in a separate appliance, if you can make room for a second one.
Stated capacity: 8 kg. The model is listed with a 2-in-1 Easy Cleaning filter and the option of a direct water connection.
Check its dimensions and the connections required for the space you have in mind.
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For drying laundry in a dedicated appliance, provided you have room for an extra one.
Stated capacity: 8 kg. This model is listed with three drying levels and a double-layer fluff filter.
Check the product information for its dimensions, connections and maintenance requirements.
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An option if you want a separate drying appliance and have enough space for its dimensions.
Stated capacity: 8 kg; listed dimensions: 60 × 65 × 85 cm. The model name identifies it as a condenser tumble dryer but doesn’t confirm that it uses a heat pump.
Check the product information for the connections and clearance required.
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Worth considering for automatic drying if you have space for a separate appliance.
Confirm the capacity for this model: the information available gives conflicting figures of 8 kg and 10 kg. Don’t size your loads based on the product title alone.
Also check its dimensions and connection requirements before buying.
No. On a model rated for 9 kg of washing and 6 kg of drying, a full 9 kg load exceeds the drying capacity. To run both stages without taking any laundry out, limit the initial load to the drying capacity stated for that exact model.
Not for a condenser tumble dryer, including a heat pump model. However, according to UFC-Que Choisir, a vented model needs an opening or duct leading outside. Check the type of appliance and its manual before deciding where to put it.
You’ll need to clean the fluff filters, then check the model’s manual for how to look after the condenser and manage condensation water. Bosch points out that regularly removing fluff helps maintain drying performance and energy efficiency.
Choose a large, well-ventilated room or one with suitable ventilation. ADEME points out that air-drying laundry adds a lot of moisture to the air indoors, so having space for an airer isn’t enough if the room can’t be ventilated properly.