If you dry clothes on an airer in a suitable room, prioritise your washing machine’s spin efficiency. ADEME says this can help clothes dry faster indoors, although it won’t eliminate the moisture produced as they dry. If you regularly want to dry clothes without using an airer, consider a separate tumble dryer if you have the space. If you can only install one appliance, a washer-dryer combines both functions, but its drying capacity is generally lower than its washing capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If bedding, towels and regular loads take up the airer for a long time, it’s worth considering a separate tumble dryer, provided you have a suitable space for it. Compare its capacity and programme times, and check the installation instructions for the model you’re considering.
A washer-dryer combines washing and drying in one appliance. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that its drying capacity is lower than its washing capacity. Check how much laundry you can dry without removing anything from the drum.
If you prefer to air-dry your clothes, check your washing machine’s spin efficiency. ADEME links efficient spinning with faster indoor drying, while highlighting that air-drying indoors produces moisture. Make sure you have a suitable, well-ventilated room.
Start by deciding whether you’ll keep using an airer, then consider how the available space measures up against the size of your loads and how often you do the laundry.
Consider this if: you want to keep air-drying your clothes and have a suitable room for drying them.
Bear in mind: spinning won’t eliminate the need to hang clothes out to dry or the moisture released as they dry indoors, as ADEME notes.
Consider this if: you regularly dry large loads and can make space for a second appliance.
Bear in mind: this appliance needs its own space. Cycle times, maintenance and installation requirements vary by model.
Consider this if: you only have room for one appliance and want to wash and dry your clothes in the same machine.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, drying capacity is lower than washing capacity. You may need to reduce a full wash load before drying it.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Spin efficiency | Compare the washing machines’ spin efficiency ratings. ADEME recommends choosing a class A rating to speed up indoor drying. Also check the noise level if the appliance will be near living areas. | I’ll keep using an airer and want my clothes to be less damp when they come out of the washing machine. |
| Space and capacity | Measure the available space, including room for the door and connections. For a washer-dryer, compare the washing and drying capacities in kg separately. | I only have room for one appliance, but I want to know how much laundry I can dry without doing anything between cycles. |
| Cycles and energy use | Check the programme durations and energy use for the cycles you’re interested in. UFC-Que Choisir describes heat pump technology as a less electricity-intensive option for tumble dryers. Still, compare the figures for the models you’re considering. | I do several loads of laundry and need to plan my cycles without assuming a full load will be dry as soon as the wash finishes. |
| Installation and maintenance | Check the model’s instructions for clearances, permitted temperatures, water management and filter maintenance. If you’re considering a vented tumble dryer, check the air outlet requirements. | The room I’ve chosen must be suitable for the appliance under the conditions specified by its manufacturer. |
A load that reaches the maximum washing capacity may exceed the drying capacity. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this difference, which may mean taking some clothes out before starting the drying cycle.
Compare both capacities in kg for the model you choose. If you want to run a wash and dry cycle without having to intervene, base your load size on the drying capacity.
If the space doesn’t allow for the setup specified in the instructions, you may not be able to install the appliance as intended.
Before choosing this type of tumble dryer, check the air outlet requirements for the model and make sure they can be met in your room.
Operating temperatures can vary by model. For example, Electrolux specifies a temperature range of 5 °C to 35 °C for the EW6HI5829SB.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering against the room temperature, usable space and required clearances.
ADEME identifies air-drying laundry as a source of moisture in indoor air. A more efficient spin won’t eliminate this effect.
Use a suitable, well-ventilated room for air-drying. If your home already has a damp or ventilation problem, get it assessed separately from your choice of appliance.
These models illustrate features to compare on specific products. They don’t represent every appliance from each brand.
The WTH83V01FF is a useful point of comparison for a separate heat pump tumble dryer.
The EW6HI5829SB shows why room conditions matter for a heat pump tumble dryer.
The EFFWDB864349BVFR shows which figures to look at when choosing a washer-dryer.
These options cover the three needs discussed here: washing and drying in one appliance, using a separate tumble dryer, or keeping an airer for clothes after spinning.
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For washing and drying in one appliance, keep loads to the stated drying capacity of 6 kg; the stated washing capacity is 10 kg. Check the instructions for the connections and installation requirements for your chosen space.
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This separate tumble dryer is worth considering for regular loads if you have space for a second appliance. Before choosing it, compare the duration and energy use of the programmes you need, then check the dimensions and operating temperature in the instructions.
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This model is worth considering if you’re looking for a washing machine and plan to dry your clothes on an airer; it doesn’t dry clothes. Its stated spin speed alone doesn’t tell you its spin efficiency class. Compare the class on the energy label and make sure you have a suitable room for air-drying.
Yes, as long as the load doesn’t exceed the model’s drying capacity, which is generally lower than its washing capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir. For example, the Whirlpool EFFWDB864349BVFR product details list an 8 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity, so an 8 kg load can’t be dried in full based on these figures.
Check the instructions for the exact model’s dimensions, clearances, water management and permitted operating temperature. Electrolux specifies 5 °C to 35 °C for the EW6HI5829SB; this range doesn’t automatically apply to other tumble dryers.
No. It can speed up drying, but it won’t eliminate the need to hang clothes out or the moisture they release into the room. ADEME recommends prioritising good spin efficiency for indoor drying and identifies air-drying as a source of moisture. Make sure you have a suitable, well-ventilated room.
First, check the technology used by the model you’re considering and its installation instructions. A vented appliance needs the air outlet specified in its instructions. For any other type of tumble dryer, also check the manufacturer’s requirements for the room and water management.