Start by matching your washing machine’s capacity to your usual loads and checking its spin performance. ADEME says that 7 kg is usually enough and recommends choosing a good spin-drying class when you dry laundry indoors. If space is limited, a washer-dryer can save you from needing a second appliance, provided its drying capacity suits your loads. If you regularly dry large loads, consider a separate tumble dryer if you have room to install one. An airer is another option, but you’ll need to make sure the moisture it produces can escape.
Choosing a washing machine matters, but so does choosing where to dry your laundry. The Q-WASH project, cited by ADEME, highlights the moisture released when laundry is air-dried. So even a good spin cycle doesn’t remove the need to ventilate the room.
A washer-dryer combines both functions in one appliance. However, compare its washing and drying capacities separately: Bosch models, for example, have a lower capacity for drying than for washing.
If you want to avoid taking some laundry out before drying, choose a separate tumble dryer with a capacity close to the size of your usual wash loads. You’ll also need space for the second appliance.
First decide how you’ll dry your laundry, then compare the capacity and specifications of a model suited to that approach.
Consider this if: you can dry your laundry in a well-ventilated room and are happy with the drying time.
Bear in mind: even well-spun laundry releases moisture as it dries indoors, as the Q-WASH project cited by ADEME points out.
Consider this if: you don’t have room for two appliances and your loads fit within the stated drying capacity.
Bear in mind: you may need to split a full wash load before drying. Bosch’s range, for example, includes models with an 8 kg washing capacity and a 5 kg drying capacity.
Consider this if: you regularly dry large loads and have enough room.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to install two appliances. Check the capacity and installation instructions for the specific tumble dryer before choosing.
| Criteria | What to check | To suit my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor humidity | Check the washing machine’s spin-drying class. If you use an airer, make sure the room is well ventilated or has an extractor fan. | My laundry mostly dries indoors, so I need to be able to remove the moisture it releases. The Q-WASH project cited by ADEME highlights the moisture produced by air-drying. |
| Capacity | Start with the size of your usual wash loads. For a washer-dryer, check the washing and drying capacities separately; for two appliances, compare their load capacities. | I’d rather not have an oversized drum, but I also don’t want to split every load I dry. ADEME says that a 7 kg washing machine is enough most of the time. |
| Water and electricity | Compare the labels and specifications of models in the same category. For a washer-dryer, check the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle, not just the washing cycle. | If I use the dryer regularly, I want to take that cycle into account when choosing an appliance rather than relying on its stated class alone. |
| Noise and installation | Check the noise level, dimensions and instructions for the exact model. For a separate tumble dryer, also check its operating requirements and how it collects water. | The appliance will be close to the living areas, so its noise and the space it takes up matter just as much as its capacity. |
| Durability | Check the washing machine’s durability index and the model’s repair information, as well as its washing specifications. | I want to compare the washing machine’s reliability and repairability without confusing these factors with its spin performance. |
Washing capacity alone doesn’t determine how much moisture an airer will release or how long your laundry will stay on it. ADEME says that 7 kg is enough most of the time.
Check the size of your usual loads before choosing a capacity, then look at the spin-drying class and the noise, water and energy figures.
A load that fits in the drum for washing may exceed its drying capacity. Bosch, for example, offers washer-dryers with a 9 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
Compare both capacities of the model you’re interested in with your usual wash loads. If a load exceeds the drying capacity, you’ll need to take some laundry out.
A suitable spin cycle leaves less water to evaporate, but drying laundry on an airer still adds moisture to the air indoors. The Q-WASH project cited by ADEME highlights how much moisture this can release.
Use an airer in a well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan. If your home already has a damp problem, choosing an appliance won’t replace investigating the cause.
A description such as ‘low energy consumption’ doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much energy the model uses for the cycle you’ll need. Energy, water and noise figures also vary between appliance categories.
Use the label and specifications for the exact model, and compare appliances in the same category using equivalent cycles.
These product ranges offer examples of features to look out for; their specifications don’t apply to every model from each brand.
Bosch’s French range of washer-dryers shows how a combined appliance can work well when two separate appliances would take up too much room.
Electrolux’s French range of heat pump tumble dryers offers examples to consider if you have room for a separate appliance.
Miele’s French range of heat pump tumble dryers offers another option to pair with a washing machine.
This selection includes washer-dryers, which combine washing and drying in one appliance, as well as tumble dryers to pair with a separate washing machine. Compare their drying capacities with your usual loads. A tumble dryer on its own won’t wash your laundry.
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The integrated dryer means you can take care of both tasks with one appliance. Its stated capacity is 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so if you want to dry a larger wash load, you’ll need to take some laundry out first. Check the installation instructions for this model before deciding where to put it.
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This combined appliance handles washing and drying in homes where a second appliance would take up too much space. Its stated capacity is 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so bear this difference in mind if you usually have large loads. Class D appears in the product name; check the label to see which cycle it applies to and compare energy use.
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This washer-dryer combines both functions, so you won’t need a separate tumble dryer. This version has a stated washing capacity of 10 kg and a drying capacity of 6 kg, so check that any loads you plan to dry stay within the latter limit. The product name mentions app control, LintClear and automatic dosing; check the model’s specifications to see which features you’ll find useful.
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This standalone tumble dryer suits a two-appliance set-up if you already have a washing machine or are planning to buy one. Its stated capacity is 8 kg and its product name lists a C energy class. Compare the capacity with your usual wash loads, then check the model’s dimensions and installation instructions.
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This model dries laundry alongside a separate washing machine. Its stated capacity is 8 kg and its product name lists a D energy class; that class alone isn’t enough to compare how much energy it will use. Check the label, dimensions and instructions for the model before deciding where to put it.
Not always: the drying capacity may be lower than the washing capacity. Bosch, for example, offers configurations of 8 kg/5 kg and 9 kg/6 kg. Check both figures for your chosen model and take some laundry out before drying if the load exceeds its limit.
Choose a spacious, well-ventilated room or one with an extractor fan. The Q-WASH project cited by ADEME shows that air-drying releases moisture into your home, so you’ll need to use your airer in a suitably ventilated space.
For a washing machine, look at capacity, spin performance, water and electricity use, and noise. For a washer-dryer, also check the figures for the wash-and-dry cycle and its drying capacity. For a separate tumble dryer, compare the specifications for its own appliance category. The label and specifications for the exact model help you make like-for-like comparisons.
It depends on the model and how it handles condensed water. For the EW6HI6284BN, Electrolux lists a water collection tank and an optional direct-drain kit. Check the instructions for the model you’re considering rather than assuming all tumble dryers work the same way.
It helps you assess the washing machine’s reliability and repairability, but it doesn’t tell you how quickly laundry will dry. ADEME says washing machines have also been covered by this index since April 2025. Use it alongside capacity, spin performance and the energy label.