If you have space for a separate appliance, consider a heat pump tumble dryer and compare its capacity, programme length and energy label. If you can only fit one appliance, a washer-dryer saves space, but its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. If you want to keep using a clothes airer, ADEME recommends a large, well-ventilated room or one with suitable extraction; a dehumidifier is no substitute for checking this.
You dry your laundry in a small room with little ventilation or no suitable extraction. According to ADEME, air-drying laundry adds a lot of moisture to your home, so the room’s conditions matter just as much as drying speed.
You need one machine to handle both washing and drying. The space saved needs to be weighed against how much laundry it can dry and how you organise your loads, as UFC-Que Choisir points out when discussing washer-dryers.
You can install a separate appliance, but want to compare its capacity, stated energy consumption, programme length and noise levels for the space where it will go.
First, work out whether your home really has a suitable place for a clothes airer, then count the available spaces for appliances. Drying capacity and practical features will help you narrow down your options.
Consider this if: you have space for a second appliance and want to avoid using an airer in an unsuitable room.
Bear in mind: you’ll need an extra appliance, and should check its space requirements and installation conditions.
Consider this if: one space needs to serve both purposes.
Bear in mind: its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, so you may need to remove some laundry before drying, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Keep using one if: you can dry laundry indoors in a large, well-ventilated room or one with suitable extraction, in line with ADEME’s recommendations.
Bear in mind: the laundry releases moisture into the room as it dries.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture in the room | Check whether the room where you dry your laundry is large and well ventilated, or has suitable extraction. ADEME advises against treating a small, poorly ventilated room as a regular drying space. | If my laundry currently dries in a poorly ventilated room, I want to avoid regularly adding moisture to it; around 36% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Space and capacity | Measure the space, including the door and connections. For a washer-dryer, compare its washing and drying capacities separately. | If I can only install one machine, it also needs to dry my usual loads without disrupting every laundry day; nearly 29% of consumers would prioritise this constraint. |
| Energy use, programme length and noise | Compare the energy label, stated energy consumption, programme length and noise level for similar capacities and uses. | With an appliance near my living areas, I need to balance its operation with cycle times and energy use; around 21% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Combining drying methods | If you keep using a clothes airer, check the ventilation or extraction conditions. If you’re considering a dehumidifier as an additional appliance, check the model’s specifications without overlooking ventilation. | I want to keep using an airer for some loads, but only in a suitable room; around 14% of consumers would put this flexibility first. |
A full load of laundry may not be able to go straight from washing to drying in one go: UFC-Que Choisir points out that drying capacity is lower.
Compare both capacities with your usual load and, if necessary, plan to remove some laundry before drying.
Wet laundry adds water vapour to the room. ADEME and Qualitel recommend taking its ventilation into account rather than choosing a spot simply because it is free.
Use an airer in a large, well-ventilated room or one with suitable extraction.
A short programme alone tells you nothing about the appliance’s energy use or the load it is designed for. UFC-Que Choisir highlights, in particular, the difference in energy use between heat pump tumble dryers and conventional technologies.
Compare the energy label, stated energy consumption, programme length and capacity of the specific model.
An additional appliance is no substitute for fresh air. ADEME recommends finding the cause of persistent damp and reviewing your ventilation.
Check the air inlets and extraction vents before deciding whether a dehumidifier is right for your home.
Bosch offers 8 kg and 9 kg heat pump tumble dryers in France.
Miele’s French range includes T1/T2 heat pump tumble dryers, including 8 kg and 9 kg models.
The Electrolux EW9W1166RA washer-dryer advertised in France has a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
These Joybuy appliances cover two options discussed here: installing a separate tumble dryer or combining washing and drying in one machine. First compare the space available with the load you need to dry. Compact models designed for very small loads are not suited to the same tasks as an appliance for a regular laundry load.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you only have space for one appliance to wash and dry your laundry. The title lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, so size your load to suit the latter.
The title mentions Zeo-Cycle drying, 27 wash programmes, app control and the LintClear system. Before choosing a spot for it, check the model’s dimensions, noise levels, cycle times and energy consumption.
Image unavailable
A separate appliance for drying laundry if you have space for a second one. The title lists an 8 kg capacity and a C energy rating.
Check the depth, how water is collected, programme lengths and stated energy consumption to make sure it suits your installation.
Image unavailable
Another option if you have space for a separate tumble dryer. The title lists an 8 kg capacity and a D energy rating.
Compare its stated energy consumption and programmes with those of appliances sized for your laundry loads. Also check the dimensions and noise level for the space where you plan to put it.
Image unavailable
Only consider this for very small loads: the title lists a 1 kg washing capacity and a 0.5 kg drying capacity, not the capacity needed to dry a regular laundry load.
The title also mentions Zeo-Cycle drying and the LintClear system. Check the dimensions, programme lengths and energy consumption before opting for this size.
Image unavailable
This model is for drying laundry in a separate appliance. Be sure to confirm the capacity of this version before matching it to your loads: the title lists 10 kg, while the detailed description states 8 kg.
The title lists a D energy rating. Then compare the energy consumption, programme lengths, dimensions and noise level of the exact model.
Yes, if the room is suitable. ADEME recommends using a large, well-ventilated room or one with a suitable extraction vent. A bathroom with no window or mechanical ventilation is not suitable for regular indoor drying.
It depends on the technology: a vented tumble dryer needs an outlet to the outside, unlike a condenser model. For the latter, check how the water is collected or drained, and follow the model’s installation and maintenance instructions.
For new tumble dryers covered by the rules on the EU market since 1 July 2025, compare the label on the A to G scale. The European Commission explains this scale, and you can also find energy information for the model in the European EPREL database.
Not necessarily: its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Check both figures for the model you choose. For example, Electrolux lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity for its EW9W1166RA.
No, you shouldn’t treat it as a replacement for ventilation in your home. If damp persists, ADEME recommends finding the cause and reviewing your ventilation system. Assess any additional appliance separately, based on its specifications and your installation.