If you do several loads of laundry a week and have space for a dedicated appliance, a heat pump tumble dryer can dry your laundry without a vent to the outside. Check its capacity, dimensions and how it handles condensed water. If there isn’t room for two appliances, a washer-dryer combines both functions, but its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. A dehumidifier or heated airer lets you dry laundry on an indoor airer, so you’ll also need to consider ventilation and any underlying causes of persistent damp.
If you need to dry several loads each week, a separate tumble dryer means you won’t have to keep an airer permanently occupied. Match its capacity to your usual loads, then check the space available, noise level and how it collects water. UFC-Que Choisir points out that the drainage method depends on the type of tumble dryer.
If there isn’t room for two appliances, a washer-dryer combines washing and drying. You’ll need to accept that it can dry a smaller load than it can wash, and check cycle times too, as UFC-Que Choisir advises.
If you continue to dry your laundry in a room, managing humidity and ensuring good ventilation are part of the decision. ADEME highlights the moisture released by air-drying, while Qualitel notes that persistent damp can also have other causes in the home.
First decide whether you want to dry your laundry in an appliance or continue to hang it up. This will help you work out what to check: space and drainage for an appliance, or ventilation and humidity management for an airer.
| Consideration | What to check | Relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Drying in an appliance | Match the capacity to your usual loads. If you don’t have a suitable external vent, check the type of condensation system and how the water is collected. | When laundry loads keep coming, I’d rather dry my clothes in an appliance than leave an airer taking up space in the room; around 33% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Space for just one appliance | For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately. Also measure the depth and allow enough clearance for the door. | If my home can’t fit two appliances, combining both functions matters more than being able to dry a whole washed load at once. Around 27% of consumers put this space-saving benefit first. |
| Humidity around the airer | Check the room’s ventilation. For a dehumidifier, check the conditions used to determine its stated capacity and how the tank is managed. | I still hang my laundry up to dry, but I want to take the room’s humidity into account without overlooking a persistent problem in my home; around 27% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Occasional small loads | For a heated airer, check the permitted load, its dimensions when unfolded and the model’s instructions for use. | For a few items that need drying now and then, I’m mainly looking for a rack that can be put away, while keeping the room ventilated; around 13% of consumers prefer this occasional-use solution. |
UFC-Que Choisir says this type of appliance needs an opening to the outside or access to a ventilation duct. Having enough floor space doesn’t necessarily mean you can install one.
Check the route for the vent before choosing an appliance. If there isn’t a suitable outlet, consider a condenser model and how you’ll collect or drain its water.
A washer-dryer may be able to wash more laundry than it can dry in one cycle, UFC-Que Choisir points out. So a combined wash-and-dry programme may not be suitable for a full washing load.
Compare the two capacities listed for the model and check the duration and energy consumption of the programme you plan to use.
If the load is too large to dry, you may need to remove some items or split the drying across several cycles.
According to ADEME, drying laundry indoors releases moisture into the air. However, Qualitel notes that repeated condensation can also be linked to ventilation, water ingress or insulation problems in the home.
Keep air inlets and ventilation grilles clear. If condensation or mould persists, look for the underlying cause rather than relying solely on a dehumidifier or heated airer.
Whether you can connect a drain hose depends on the tumble dryer and the accessory you choose. Electrolux, for example, advises checking that its E2YH01 kit is compatible with your appliance’s PNC number.
Check the model’s instructions to find out whether a hose is included, whether you need a compatible kit and whether you can use your home’s drainage outlet.
The Bosch WQG2450SFR tumble dryer is an example of a heat pump model to consider if you have space for a separate appliance.
The Tasciugo AriaDry Multi DDSX220WFA is an example of a dehumidifier to consider if you dry laundry on an airer.
The Electrolux E2YH01 drain kit is one example of how water can be managed on some condenser tumble dryers.
These Joybuy models cover drying laundry in a separate appliance, combining washing and drying in one machine, and managing humidity when you use an airer. First choose a solution that suits your home, then compare the specifications of the specific model.
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Worth considering if you want to dry loads of laundry in a separate appliance and have enough space for one.
The model name indicates an 8 kg capacity and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions, energy label and how you’ll manage condensed water in your home.
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This separate appliance is for anyone who wants to dry laundry in a machine rather than on an airer.
The model name indicates an 8 kg capacity and a D energy rating. Before choosing it, check its dimensions, the energy consumption of the programme you plan to use and how the water is collected.
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Consider this if you don’t have enough room for a separate washing machine and tumble dryer.
The model name lists a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, so a 10 kg washing load won’t be a load of the same size for drying. Also check the dimensions, cycle times and energy consumption.
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Consider this separate tumble dryer if you want to dry laundry in an appliance without needing a vent to the outside.
The model name indicates an 8 kg capacity. Check the instructions for details on water collection and any option to connect the appliance to a drain. You can’t assume a kit will be compatible just because it’s from the same brand.
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Worth considering if you’ll continue to use an airer and want to manage the room’s humidity. This isn’t a drum tumble dryer.
The model name lists a 2.8 L tank and a continuous drainage hose. Its stated capacity of 25 L per day is based on conditions of 90 % relative humidity and 95 °F, so it won’t predict how long your laundry will take to dry at home. Keep your home ventilated and investigate the cause of any persistent damp.
Not without an opening to the outside or access to a suitable ventilation duct, according to UFC-Que Choisir. If your home doesn’t have either, consider a condenser model and check how its water will be collected or drained.
Not necessarily: its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity, UFC-Que Choisir points out. Compare the two figures for your chosen model before relying on a combined wash-and-dry cycle for a full load.
No. ADEME recommends keeping your ventilation system working. If condensation or mould persists, also look for an underlying cause in your home, such as poor ventilation or water ingress, rather than relying on the appliance alone.
Compare the specifications for the specific models, including capacity, dimensions, noise level and energy consumption details on their product pages and energy labels. Check separately how each one collects or drains water, as this also affects how it can be installed in your home.