If you have the space and time to air-dry your laundry, start by checking your washing machine’s spin efficiency: ADEME recommends choosing class A spin efficiency to speed up indoor drying. If you want to dry clothes without an airer, a condenser tumble dryer doesn’t need an external vent, according to UFC-Que Choisir, but it does take up space for a second appliance. A washer-dryer combines both functions in one machine; however, check its drying capacity, which is lower than its washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
If laundry piles up between washes, compare the amount you usually need to dry with the capacity of any tumble dryer you’re considering. Make sure you also have room for it and check the maintenance requirements in the manual.
A washer-dryer lets you wash and dry clothes in the same machine. To run both cycles without removing any laundry, the load must be within its drying capacity, not just its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If you have somewhere to hang your laundry and can wait for it to dry, you won’t need a drying appliance for every wash. ADEME recommends checking your washing machine’s spin efficiency class to speed up indoor drying.
Worth considering if: you can set aside space for your laundry and are happy to let it air-dry.
The trade-off: your airer will be in use while the laundry dries; ADEME encourages this practice as a way to save energy.
Worth considering if: you want to dry regular loads without tying up an airer and have room for a second appliance.
The trade-off: you’ll need to plan for its installation and follow the maintenance instructions for your model.
Worth considering if: you don’t have room for two appliances but want to combine washing and drying.
The trade-off: according to UFC-Que Choisir, drying capacity is lower than washing capacity, so you may need to split a full wash load before drying it.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Spin cycle | Check the washing machine’s spin efficiency class. ADEME recommends choosing class A if you need laundry to dry quickly indoors or in a tumble dryer. | I can wait for laundry to dry on an airer, but I want it to be well spun before I hang it up. |
| Space and installation | Measure the available space, access to the doors and the clearances required in the manual. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a condenser tumble dryer can be installed without a vent to the outside, unlike a vented model. | I want to dry laundry without an airer, but I need to know whether there’s room for a second appliance and whether its installation requirements are suitable. |
| Drying capacity | Compare the load you need to dry with the tumble dryer’s capacity in kg. For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately: UFC-Que Choisir says the drying capacity is lower. | Does a full load need to be dried in one go, or can I remove some of the laundry before the drying cycle? |
| Energy and water use, and cycle time | Check the figures for the cycle you’re interested in, rather than relying on the energy class letter alone. For a washer-dryer, pay particular attention to the wash-and-dry cycle; UFC-Que Choisir found that most models in its test use water during drying. | If I use the drying function regularly, I want to compare the consumption and cycle time for the programme I’ll use. |
| Maintenance and stacking | Check the manual for filter care and other maintenance tasks. If you’re planning to stack two appliances, check which models and depths the stacking kit supports: Bosch requires a washing machine depth of over 55 cm for its 00717525 kit. | I need to be able to access the parts that require maintenance and, if the appliances are stacked, confirm that the kit is suitable for both exact model numbers. |
UFC-Que Choisir says the drying capacity is lower than the washing capacity. You may therefore need to remove some of a full wash load before drying it.
Compare both figures in kg and make sure your wash-and-dry load is within the drying capacity.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, this type of appliance needs an opening to the outside or access to an air duct.
If your home doesn’t have a suitable outlet, consider condenser tumble dryers and check the installation requirements in the model’s manual.
A kit may have specific size and compatibility requirements. For example, Bosch specifies that the washing machine must be over 55 cm deep for its 00717525 kit.
Note down the model numbers of both appliances and the kit, then check that they’re compatible before stacking them.
You may also need to buy a compatible kit in addition to the two appliances.
Maintenance tasks vary between tumble dryers. In its support instructions, LG says to remove fluff and dust from the filters and put them back correctly.
Check the manual for the model you’re considering to find out which parts need cleaning and how easy they are to access.
Bosch offers stacking accessories to help you arrange a separate washing machine and tumble dryer.
Miele offers washer-dryers for spaces where you want to combine both functions in one appliance.
LG offers washer-dryers that combine washing and drying in one appliance.
This Joybuy selection includes three washer-dryers that combine both functions and a separate heat pump tumble dryer. Compare their capacities with your usual laundry loads and check the installation requirements for each model.
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For washing and drying in one appliance, this model has a washing capacity of 11 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg. This means an 11 kg load can’t be dried in one go at the stated capacity. The product information lists a wash-and-dry cycle time of 7 h 32; check that the programme and its requirements suit your needs, then consult the manual for installation details.
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This model combines washing and drying, with stated capacities of 10 kg and 6 kg respectively. If you want to run both cycles without removing any laundry, keep the load within the 6 kg drying capacity. Also check the energy and water use and cycle time for the wash-and-dry programme, along with the connections and dimensions required for installation.
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This separate tumble dryer has a stated drying capacity of 8 kg. Its product information lists a 2-in-1 filter and a stated noise level of 64 dB, although this figure alone can’t tell you how noisy it will be in your room. Check the dimensions, clearances, programme time and energy use, as well as the maintenance requirements in the manual.
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This model has a stated washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg, so base the load size on the drying capacity if you’re running both cycles one after the other. Its product name lists 27 wash programmes, app control and automatic dosing. Check the product details and manual for the dimensions, energy and water use, cycle times and maintenance requirements, including those for the advertised LintClear function.
It depends on the type. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a vented model needs an opening to the outside or an air duct, while a condenser tumble dryer, including a heat pump model, doesn’t need an external vent. Check the manual for any other installation requirements.
If you want to run both cycles without removing any laundry, check the drying capacity first. UFC-Que Choisir says it’s lower than the washing capacity, so a load that’s suitable for washing may be too large for a complete wash-and-dry cycle.
Compare figures for the same type of appliance and the cycle you plan to use, rather than relying on the energy class letter alone. For a washer-dryer, pay particular attention to the wash-and-dry cycle and its water use; UFC-Que Choisir’s tests found that most of the models studied use water during drying.
No. Check that the stacking kit is suitable for the exact models of both appliances. For example, Bosch says that a washing machine must be over 55 cm deep for its 00717525 kit; this requirement applies to that kit, not all models.
Check the model’s manual to find out which parts need cleaning and how often. For the relevant filters, LG’s support instructions say to remove fluff and dust and make sure the filters are put back in place correctly; the exact tasks may vary between appliances.