If you mostly dry your laundry indoors, start by comparing a washing machine’s spin-drying efficiency class, noise level and Eco 40-60 programme duration, rather than focusing solely on its maximum spin speed. Drying on an airer requires a well-ventilated room: ADEME points out that air-drying releases moisture into your home. If you regularly need dry laundry sooner, also consider the capacity, size and energy consumption of a washer-dryer or a separate tumble dryer.
You want to reduce the amount of water left in your laundry after washing, while continuing to use an airer. Compare spin-drying efficiency and noise, then choose a well-ventilated room for drying, as recommended by Anses.
If you do laundry frequently, the actual drying capacity and cycle duration matter just as much as washing capacity. A washer-dryer or separate tumble dryer is worth considering, depending on the space available and the model’s stated energy consumption.
Check where the appliance will go and how noisy it is. A washer-dryer combines two functions in one appliance, but its drying capacity may be lower than its washing capacity, as the Bosch WNA13400FF and LG F854G63WR models illustrate.
If you dry laundry on an airer, spin-drying and ventilation go hand in hand. If you’re considering a drying appliance, compare its capacity and installation requirements with your usual laundry loads. For a dehumidifier, check its operating conditions, noise level and energy consumption before comparing it with these options.
Worth considering: if you can leave your laundry to dry in a well-ventilated room.
The trade-off: spin-drying doesn’t eliminate the time needed to hang laundry out or the moisture released as it dries, as noted by ADEME.
Worth considering: if you want to wash and dry with one appliance and its drying capacity suits your loads.
The trade-off: you may need to split a full wash load before drying it. Bosch lists an 8 kg washing capacity but a 5 kg wash-and-dry capacity for the WNA13400FF.
Worth considering: if you often need dry laundry quickly and have space to install a second appliance.
The trade-off: you’ll need extra space, and you’ll use energy for a drying cycle. Check the label for the model you’re considering.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this is for |
|---|---|---|
| Residual water after spin-drying | Compare the spin-drying efficiency class and noise level of the exact model, rather than focusing only on revolutions per minute. | I dry my laundry on an airer and want it to come out of the wash with less water to evaporate; around 36% of consumers make this a priority. |
| Ventilation in the drying area | Choose a well-ventilated room and check that air inlets and existing ventilation are working as they should. | If my airer is in a room inside my home, I want to avoid letting moisture build up there; around 29% of consumers share this priority. |
| How quickly laundry is ready to wear | Check the drying capacity and the duration of the cycle suited to your load, then consider the appliance’s energy consumption. | I do several loads in a row and regularly need dry clothes quickly; around 21% of consumers prioritise a short turnaround time. |
| Noise and space | Check the noise level, installation dimensions and the space needed to open the door. | In a home where every bit of space matters, I want to avoid an extra appliance getting in the way or a cycle being too noisy; around 14% of consumers prioritise these factors. |
Maximum spin speed alone doesn’t tell you how effective or noisy the spin cycle will be. Bosch notes that the speed of the WAN2827ZFR may be reduced automatically if the load is unbalanced.
Also check the model’s spin-drying efficiency class, noise level and Eco 40-60 duration, as well as the programmes suited to your fabrics.
You may not be able to dry a full wash load in a single cycle with a washer-dryer. The Bosch WNA13400FF, for example, is listed with an 8 kg washing capacity and a 5 kg wash-and-dry capacity.
Compare the two capacities separately with the size of your usual loads.
According to the European Commission, the A to G label applies to household tumble dryers placed on the market from 1 July 2025; the previous scale ran from A+++ to D.
If two appliances have labels from different generations, compare their energy consumption per cycle, cycle duration, capacity and noise level instead of comparing their letter ratings directly.
ADEME says that air-drying laundry releases moisture into your home. Anses recommends drying laundry outdoors if possible, or in a well-ventilated room.
Decide where you’ll dry your laundry before choosing an additional appliance, and check that your existing ventilation is working properly.
Two Bosch models offer a useful comparison between a washing machine and a washer-dryer.
The W1 range provides a useful reference when looking at the spin-drying and operating details of a front-loading washing machine.
The F854G63WR washer-dryer illustrates the separate capacities to look at when choosing a combination appliance.
These products suit three ways of managing laundry that usually dries indoors: spin-drying before hanging it out, using a washer-dryer or opting for a separate tumble dryer. Choose based on the capacity you need and the space available in your home.
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Worth considering if you spin-dry your laundry before hanging it indoors. The model title lists a 9 kg capacity and a maximum spin speed of 1,600 rpm. Also compare its spin-drying efficiency class and the duration of the programme you’re interested in.
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Worth considering if you regularly wash large loads before drying them on an airer. The title lists an 11 kg capacity; check spin-drying efficiency and noise separately, as neither can be determined from the washing capacity.
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Worth considering if you want to wash and dry with one appliance. The title lists an 8 kg washing capacity, a 5 kg drying capacity and a spin speed of 1,400 rpm. An 8 kg wash load will need to be split to dry it all. Check the model’s dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering if you have space for a separate tumble dryer. The title lists an 8 kg capacity and a heat pump. Compare the duration and energy consumption of the cycle suited to your load, and check the space needed for installation.
Start by comparing the spin-drying efficiency class, then check the noise level, capacity and Eco 40-60 duration of the exact model. Maximum spin speed alone doesn’t tell you what to expect: Bosch notes, for example, that the WAN2827ZFR’s speed may be reduced if the load is unbalanced.
Not necessarily: check the washing and drying capacities separately. Bosch lists the WNA13400FF with an 8 kg washing capacity but a 5 kg wash-and-dry capacity, so you’ll need to reduce a full wash load before drying it.
Choose a well-ventilated room. Anses recommends this if drying your laundry outdoors isn’t possible. Make sure you don’t block any air inlets and check that your existing ventilation is working properly.
If the labels use different scales, compare energy consumption per cycle, capacity, cycle duration and noise level rather than looking only at the letter ratings. According to the European Commission, the A to G scale applies to household tumble dryers placed on the market from 1 July 2025, while the previous scale ran from A+++ to D.