If you can dry your laundry in a well-ventilated space, compare your washing machine’s spin efficiency with the space needed for an airer. ADEME also recommends considering capacity, energy consumption and noise. If space is limited, a washer-dryer combines both functions, but its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. If you do laundry frequently, two separate appliances let you wash one load while drying another, provided you have enough space and a suitable installation.
If you mainly use an airer, compare spin efficiency to reduce the amount of moisture left in your laundry without adding a drying appliance. ADEME recommends considering spin performance when drying clothes indoors.
A washer-dryer combines washing and drying in a single space. Compare both capacities: the drying capacity may be lower than the washing capacity, as Que Choisir Ensemble points out.
If you want to get through several loads in a row, two separate appliances can let you wash one load while another dries. Check that you have enough space and that the appliances can be installed as intended.
Choose this if: you have room to hang out your laundry and can maintain good ventilation.
Bear in mind: an effective spin helps with drying, but it won’t remove the need for space to hang out your laundry or for moisture to be ventilated.
Choose this if: you only have room for one appliance and your load fits the model’s drying capacity.
Bear in mind: the models mentioned by Que Choisir Ensemble have a lower drying capacity than washing capacity; compare the full cycle too.
Choose this if: you do laundry often and have room for both a washing machine and a tumble dryer.
Bear in mind: check the installation requirements and, if stacking the appliances, make sure they and the stacking kit are compatible.
Choose this if: you prefer to air-dry your laundry and can set up the airer without blocking walkways.
Bear in mind: the airer takes up floor space while in use, and you’ll still need to consider ventilation in your home.
For drying laundry in a flat, ADEME highlights spin efficiency, capacity, energy consumption and noise. The percentages below link each concern to the main priority of consumers in France who regularly dry laundry in a flat.
| Concern | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Drying time and laundry routine | Spin efficiency class; washing and drying capacities; duration and energy consumption of the full cycle. | When I have several loads to get through, I want to know which load can be dried without any intervention and how long the full cycle takes. Around 31% of consumers prioritise drying time and their laundry routine. |
| Available space | Space and access dimensions; how much room the airer takes up when open; compatibility of the appliances and stacking kit if stacking. | In a small home, I need to be able to install the appliance and keep walkways clear when the airer is open. Around 25% of consumers put saving space first. |
| Noise and vibrations | Noise emissions during the spin cycle; installation, levelling and load distribution requirements in the instruction manual. | If the washing machine is near living areas or neighbours, I want to keep noise down without confusing the appliance’s noise rating with vibrations caused by its installation. About 25% of consumers make noise their top priority. |
| Energy consumption and maintenance | Energy consumption for a comparable cycle; filters and condensate collection or drainage; repairability index where applicable. | To assess what the appliance requires over time, I compare cycles and the maintenance involved for the model I’m considering. Nearly 19% of consumers prioritise running costs and maintenance. |
Its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity, so a full washing load may not be suitable for the complete wash-and-dry cycle.
Check both capacities and compare the length of the wash-and-dry cycle for the load you expect to put through it.
Stated noise levels and vibrations caused by installation are two different things. Electrolux lists an incorrectly levelled machine, transport bolts that haven’t been removed and an unevenly distributed load as possible causes of shaking.
Compare the stated noise level, then follow the instruction manual’s installation and loading guidance separately.
A condenser model doesn’t need an air-exhaust duct leading outside, but you should still follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take ventilation in your home into account.
Check the model’s instruction manual and don’t block air inlets or extractor vents in your home, as ADEME recommends.
The European Commission states that the new energy label for tumble dryers, on a scale from A to G, has been used for in-store and online displays since 1 July 2025. The old classes use a different scale.
Compare labels issued under the same scheme and for comparable cycles.
Washer-dryers and heat pump tumble dryers in the range let you explore different set-ups.
The WD10HG6U34BEU3 is an example of an appliance that combines washing and drying.
The WF5I8043BWF washing machine is an example of a model that you could pair with an airer or a separate tumble dryer.
The T1 range includes separate heat pump tumble dryers.
The brand’s folding airers can be used on their own or alongside an appliance.
These models cover washing followed by indoor air-drying on an airer, as well as separate mechanical drying with a tumble dryer.
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Worth considering if you wash your laundry before drying it on an airer or in a separate appliance.
Washing capacity: 8 kg; spin speed: up to 1 400 rpm; stated depth: 470 mm.
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Worth considering for separate mechanical drying; you’ll also need a washing machine for the complete set-up.
Stated capacity: 8 kg; energy class shown in the product name: C.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a washing machine for loads up to the stated capacity, with laundry then dried on an airer or in a separate appliance.
Washing capacity: 10 kg; 16 programmes; energy class shown in the product name: A-10 %.
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Worth considering for drying loads separately; you’ll also need a washing machine to wash them.
Stated capacity: 10 kg; energy class shown in the product name: D.
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Worth considering if you wash your laundry before hanging it out or transferring it to a separate tumble dryer.
Washing capacity: 8 kg; stated depth: 48 cm; 16 programmes.
No, a condenser model doesn’t need an air duct leading outside. Water is collected in a tank or directed to a drain; check the instruction manual and make sure the room is well ventilated.
No. Check the instruction manuals to make sure the two models and their dimensions are compatible, and that you have the right stacking kit. The tumble dryer goes on top of the washing machine.
The stated noise level describes the appliance under the conditions specified for its label, while vibrations can also depend on how it is installed and loaded. Electrolux lists transport bolts that haven’t been removed, insufficient levelling and an unevenly distributed load as possible causes.
Check the instruction manual for your model to find out how to clean the filters and, depending on the appliance, empty the condensate tank or connect it to a drain. The water collection system varies by model.
For goods bought by a private individual from a professional seller, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies subject to its conditions; it is separate from any commercial extended warranty. For the applicable front-loading and top-loading washing machines, the repairability index was replaced by the durability index on 8 April 2025. Since 1 July 2025, displayed tumble dryers have used the new A to G energy label, according to the European Commission.